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On weekend 26–28th september 2009 I participated again in hamradio CQWW RTTY contest. As usually my setup was Icom756pro2 with max output power 100w, sometime much less depends on band and situation. Antenna multiband vertical after repair. It got new trap and much better adjustment than before. On the desktop computer Writelog with MMTTY plugin and connected TRX via CIV.

It was big expectation what stations is possible work with 100w. After I logged first and then second JA, I understood that power is not marginal on my side.. So, during day I harvested 40/20/15m and later afternoon 20M. I jumped from band to band more often than in previous contests, usually after first/second band crossing. As I was unassisted, I used bandmap for visualization of worked stations which made whole S&P operation more smooth.

On 15M I heard a lot of DX. Unfortunatelly, with current setup it was not easy call them. I.e. VU2NKS did not hear my long calling(I wanted India a lot – succed later on 40M) and CR3L did not respond my calling for long time. But it was pleasure add to log such entities like 9M2, HS, A6, A7, 4K, UN, PY, LU, CX, K or VQ9. In my opinion, simple beam antenna like moxon would improve performance on 15M and surely give chances for more QSOs..

On 20M was highlight of the contest contact with DP1POL – Antarcita, it was pretty easy, I could not believe. And many qso to USA and Canada. I was even able work stations from west coast like CA, AZ, OR and WA. Signals from there were fine copied and most of them without flutter effect. Many times I ask myself what antenna and power they use, that I can work them quite easily despite most signals were only close upper noise floor..

Wkd US stated on 20M

I had luck and I could made 4 QSOs on 10M – A7, CT3, HZ and OK. It was only quick moment and then signals dissappeared..

I enjoyed this contest very much. I worked all QSOs in S&P. It was real joy, because there were a lot of stations and finally I logged 444 QSOs in 16 hours by radio.

HF prop info:

• Solar Flux: 72 | Ap: 2 | Kp 0 (3 nT) at 0000 26 Sep 2009
• SSN: 14 (09/26/2009)
• Solar Flux: 72 | Ap: 2 | Kp 2 (16 nT) at 0000 27 Sep 2009
• SSN: 11 (09/27/2009)
• Solar Flux: 72 | Ap: 9 | Kp 0 (04 nT) at 2100 27 Sep 2009

..and it was not end yet. The idea about ask all american and canadian stations about their used equipments was always on my mind. I started write letter where I explained my station, my feelings in contest and then placed my questions. Another task was collect email address where to send my letter. Qrz.com and Hamcall.net were my friends, google.com usually did not give relevant results on entered US vanity calls. I opened new spreadheet, imported contest log and inserted collected emails. And, I had sent it to all addresses, I was thinking long time about it and finaly I found enough courage to do it. First responses came back after few mintes rest in next 3 days..

Once again, thanks very much for all feedbacks and privillege use your information in this blogspot. This experience extended this contest to next dimension to me. Very informative to me and surelly better than collect QSL cards :-)

My brief conslusion:

• asking about RX antenna on 20m was stupid from me :-) RX antenna is used usually on 160/80/40M. I know it now.
• MMTTY was used 99% of stations that responsed. Makoto Mori JE3HHT developed outstanding software and we should be happy he released it as freeware !!
• I made several stations who mentioned they were in RUN only for short while – so longer and detailed search has sense, when condx are positive.
• Power is not everything, good antenna high above ground is key to success
• Traps do not like too much power :-)

Table with all stations I worked in CQWW RTTY 09. My setup 100w and multiband vertical at 15m above ground level.

List of some antenna with link that I checked upon rensponded emails:
- Bencher Skyhawk yagi
- Cushcraft A4S
- Cushcraft X9
- Force 12 C19XR
- Force 12 C3S
- Force 12 C3SS
- Force 12 C31XR
- Force 12 Dxer
- Force 12 XR5
- Hygain 204BA
- Hygain 205CA
- Hygain TH3MK4
- Hygain TH7DX
- Hygain TH11DX
- KLM KT-34A
- M2 KT36XA
- Mosley Classic 33
- Mosley PRO-96
- Optibeam OB11–5
- SteppIR product overview