12 to 13 July 2014

Ok, that was fun!! Just spend about 16 hours out of the last 24 competing in the IARU HF championships!

Lots of CW activity. I managed to work most but not all that I wanted to work (since it was not a competitive effort I got tired of working some countries, a few good ones escaped but that is the way it is with QRP. I did fill a few new band slots but no new DXCC entity's for the main logbook. The QRP logbook did gain a few though.

Yes, also found a few weaknesses in the station. I need better antennas! But that is work in progress at the moment. Secondly I need to find a new contest logging program. I the past I used N1MM's software with good results. I tried the same again only to run into a problem! The software is not connected to my radio so it refused to change bands, it insisted on logging all contacts for 14.200Mhz.

So I wasted the first hour trying to sort it out, that will teach me to COMPLETELY test everything before the contest! Anyway, I gave up in disgust and reverted to another non contest logger. That had disadvantages like to showing dupes in real time.

I am also more sure than ever that I need a radio with a better RX. My old IC-756Pro3 got trampled on big time in a few pileups. A few times the front end was so desensitized that the station I was trying to work just disappeared.... At one point I played around with a few radios and ended up working the rest of the contest on my old FT-990, it's main advantage is the bank of Imrad CW filters installed in it.

40m was fun early this morning, added a few band/countries but QRP really struggles on the lower bands.

I am not planning on actually entering my log, it was not a serious effort, but just for the record I entered the Single operator, Multi band, CW, QRP category. I ended up making 420 contacts all using "Search and Pounce", I never even tried calling CQ as the conditions were not great and I realized I stood no chance of hanging onto a frequency. 15m turned out to be the most productive with 20m next. I was also surprised by a few openings on 10m. I made quite a few contacts on 40m and that was really satisfying! I added a few band-countries mostly on 40m. I also mostly only worked stations I was interested in, not every single one I could hear.

Still had lots of fun! I did not do particularly well, spent too much time playing with radios and logging software....

So what did not work well: The N1MM logging software! I am sure it is just a (obscure) setting that will allow me to actually log the frequency I want! Will investigate further....

What worked well: My trusty Yaesu FT-990AC, I still think it has a better receiver than any Icom, but it lacks a band scope and dual RX. I love he spotting button, the solid Imrad filters and the amazingly effective "digital" filter. It might be old but it is still a solid performer. My little G5RV also really worked well, now if I can only get the time and energy to put up a yagi things will be even better! The hunt for a new radio goes on, if only the FTdx-5000MP could run QRP.....