Russian DX Contest 2017

as I have already posted about the Russian DX Contest. this one goes in the diary at the end of each RDXC contest. excellent contest and good support.

I entered SINGLE OP-ALL BAND-MIXED
everyone is deemed to be assisted in the RDXC, no non-assisted category.

results are in

pleased with that.
as I remember 20, 40 were the money bands. no QSO's on 10 and a handful for Mults on 160.

roll on march 2018. Russian DX Contest Page

73....

Innov Antennas OP-DES Yagi

first outing for my 4 element OP-DES 14Mhz Yagi, was in the ARRL DX CW contest last February.
I entered in SINGLE BAND, 14MHZ.
results are in,

First in G-20Mtr's, a good number of QSO's and score.

this shot is ALL G and ALL class of entry.

very pleased with that.

Innov OP-DES YAGI


73.....

40mtr vertical antenna

after taking down a 2 ele yagi for 40 and replacing it with the OP-DES 14mhz yagi I needed another 40mtr antenna. I decided to put up a quarter wave vertical. I had thought of a 2 ele array switchable, end fire and broadside.
after looking at the logistics and control required, compared to gain, I just went with a single quarter wave radiator.
I had already 120 10mter radials for a 40mtr vertical in the shed.
I made the radiator from 2" aluminium rubing 7mtr's, then a fiberglass fish pole to make up the remainder with #12 copper wire taped to the outside of it.

I installed a 100x100x2.6mtr post to hold the radiator, buried 4ft in the ground.
the copper pipe bus bar was already made.
stauff clamps purchased from antenna engineering. not sure if this company is still trading.
#18 single wire radials.

after installing and testing with MFJ259, resonance was to high. so I lengthened the radiator 0.4mtr to drop resonance to 7.120mhz.
1.1:1 from 7.06 to 7.170. no higher than 1.2:1 between 7.0 and 7.2mhz.
happy with that.

some photos below

73. si......

UKEICC Random numbers contest

The UKEICC are trial running a contest but with a difference.
serial numbers are randomly generated. this imposes more skill on the operator, less so in a normal serial number sequence starting at 001.

they are using a four digit serial number, each QSO it changes.
the problem at the moment is that only two log book suites fully support these contests.
SD Log and Skookumlogger for mac.

I have however found a work around for these trial runs.
I tried this in DXLog and it will work in Wintest. N1MM wont allow you to do this.

heres what to do.

1. open a new log in CQWW WPX CW or SSB, whichever mode the UKEICC contest is in.
2. CLICK EDIT
3. EDIT SERIAL NUMBER
4. input a four digit number, any
5. CLICK OK

now your logbook will start from the number you just entered.

although it will still only increment by ONE each QSO at least you are generating a four digit serial number.

 

give it a try.

 

 

73.... 

28Mhz Yagi Cont.....

here are a few more photos of the build.

Feed point detail.

Finally in the air under a 3 ele for 21Mhz.

 

 

On air it has been performing very well. F/B I am seeing 3 to 4 S units difference and 5 to 6 S units side rejection.

the VSWR is also very good. no higher than 1.4:1 between 28 and  29Mhz. it dips 1.1:1 at 28.480.

 

although there hasn't been much propagation for 28Mhz I have made some QSO's on SSB. unprompted reports of very loud, good signal cant be bad for something I made out of the shed.

 

Link for MMANA GAL

 

 

73....

28Mhz Yagi Build

couple of weeks ago i completed the build of a 3 ele 28mhz yagi.
i had been looking to buy a yagi from innovantennas, but i decided to try and build one.
using mmanagal antenna modelling software i optimized a 3 ele design.
my main parameters were, having a 50ohm feed point and a good bandwidth.
i could of got more gain but the feed point impedance dropped and i would of needed to use some sort of matching device. i dont like using matching devices.

so, here are the dimensions I ended up with from mmana gal.

these are the final dimensions

PLOTS, SWR, FB/GAIN

i had been given a 3 ele yagi years ago and never used it. it is a trapped yagi of some design, but with a phasing line from center element to the rear element.
i dragged it out of the sehd and dismantled it. the inner sections were just right for the element lenghts. it also had the boom, boom to mast bracket, element clamps which are insulted.
time to set about putting it togethere for real.

elements. boom.

 

element clamps. test set up

 

 

test set up. checking with MFJ 259B.

 

 

Balun. FT240-43. RG142.

 

Stub mast to boom bracket set up.

 

element detail. 1" 1/5 dia.

 

 

 

More to follow.

 

73

 

UKEICC DX Contest

Any users of DXLog this coming weekend 22/23rd April you will have to modify the contest database to correspond with a change made by the UKEICC organisers.
I did send it to kris 9A5K for inclusion in latest release but it has not appeared.
the change is the regional locator in NORWICH, NR to NK.

below is a step by step of how to update the contest logfile for the UKEICC DX Contest.

WARNING- if you are not competent with a PC or just not confident doing this, THEN, DONT DO IT. you have been warned.


locate your DXLog database file on your PC.

 

once you have located the DXLog database file, DOUBLE CLICK "CONTEST"

 scroll down that page opened in NOTEPAD or any other text editor.

OPEN "UKEIDX" open it in a text editor, I used NOTEPAD.

scroll down the page to find NORWICH.

delete NR and replace it with NK.
you will probably have to save your altered file to your PC and add it to your DXLog directory in a minute.

save it to your desk top.

go back and reopen your DXLog CONTEST file, scroll down to find, UKEIDX again.
DELETE this file.
now drag and drop your recently saved UKEIDX file from your desktop into the open CONTEST, file.
reopen the UKEIDX file to check that NR is now NK.

now close all files.

open your DXLog logger and set up a contest file for UKEICC DX Contest.
enter some dummy QSO's with NR as locator, it should not log it, it should log as NK.

IF you have done it correctly, then all should be ok.

screen shot showing NR as INVALID MULTIPLIER

screen shot showing correct MULT, NK

also these changes will update the MULTIPLIER list.

73.