QRP Contesting in Wyoming

Contest Modifications to Scout/Argo-556 radios:
Full QSK up to 50+ wpm.
Optically-coupled PTT output for keying DSP filters (or an amplifier).
Optically-coupled CW keying for most contest software.

These photo's were taken at the end of October and early November, 1997.

1997 QRP Amateur Radio Club International Fall QSO Party (CW)
October 18-19, 1997

View to the north - Blazer with pop-up camper on 8300 ft (2550 m) hill
in the Medicine Bow National Forest, southern Wyoming.

80m Carolina Windom and camper, looking SE.

Portable QRP contest station: Ten Tec Argo-556 5-watt xcvr, DSP-59+ audio filter,
Super-CMOS III keyer, Jones Key paddle. Above cab (upper left) is LDG AT-11
Autotuner and band modules for Argo. Not shown is laptop with logging software.

5-watt Argo-556 attached to camper table in mobile-mount. Opto-coupler in Argo
keys the PTT input of DSP-59+ to allow sidetone to be heard while sending. Another
opto-coupler circuit keys rig from laptop during contests (TRLog software).

Final Score (Portable, Single-Op):

445 QSO's, 131 W/VE mults, 10 DX mults = 1,711,458 points.
1997 ARRL Sweepstakes (CW)
November 1-2, 1997

Two weeks after the first picture (above) I went back for the CW SS contest. Same
antenna and location, with a foot of fresh snow on the hills. The tall tree on the right
side of the photo supports one end of the 80m Carolina Windom.

My portable contesting platform: You can tell that the SS contest hadn't started yet
because I'm still smiling... Very windy and temp around 15 deg F (-10 C).

Almost at the end! - Late Sunday afternoon, still need more multipliers.. The laptop
(TRLog) keys the radio via an optocoupler. The Argo-556 has been modified for
full QSK up to 50+ wpm and has an opto-coupled PTT output for the DSP-59+ filter.

Final Score (QRP Single-Op): 618 QSO's, 71 Sections = 87,756 points.
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