The 2023 CQWW SSB competition results have finally been released. After seeing the forum, everyone immediately started summarizing the competition. As this was my first time participating, I had already created a draft after the contest. I thought it would be better to wait for the official results and then summarize everything thoroughly.
Overview
Mode: 10m single-band low power simplex
Match dates: 2023-10-28/29
Equipment: IC-705 + MX-P50M
Antenna: MA-12
Location: BY-0281 Park Campground (also did a POTA activation...)
Pre-game
Obtaining the B-class license was around April 2023, and I missed CQ WPX and WAPC. My initial experience with shortwave radio was also challenging; I couldn't set up a station at home, so I had to go out and operate from outside. During this time<del>Gradually refine equipment.</delete>After some trial and error, I started using the IC-705 and MX-P50 consistently from July/August onwards, and also replaced the antenna with a GP antenna.
Initially, all contacts were made using FT8. After SSB started to be used successfully, the operators would use the first half of the contact window for FT8 and the second half to try SSB. The frequency was primarily around 21 MHz, as this band allowed for relatively easy communication with Japanese stations. In September and October, the 10-meter band also showed promising results, allowing for SSB contacts with some European stations.
Therefore, for my first competition, I decided to choose the 10m single-band mode (I later realized that choosing the single-band mode was the right decision...).
While considering switching to a 100-watt setup, there's a risk involved in changing equipment at the last minute. It was decided that using the equipment I'm most familiar with is safer. Furthermore, the competition provides an opportunity to test the equipment, so the location of the antenna will remain unchanged.
Start the competition
I arrived around 8:00 AM on the first day and quickly set up my equipment in a suitable location. At the beginning of the competition, I was a bit nervous as all the frequencies were filled with signals. I started by scanning the streets. Initially, I would try to make contact with the person calling, wait for one or two QSOs (communications), and confirm the correct call sign before responding. If I encountered a popular station, and couldn't clearly identify them or lacked confidence, I would have to wait for the caller to repeat their call sign several times ("QRZ?") to re-establish contact and confirm… This situation could waste a lot of time and significantly reduce efficiency.
After completing a few QSOs, my confidence grew, and I got a better sense of the situation. If I encountered a weak station that couldn't connect after three attempts, I would move on to the next one. Strong stations, however, I would try for several more rounds. There wasn't really any strategy; I just tried to make as many QSOs as possible.
In terms of time, I closed up and ate lunch around noon on the first day, then went back out to set up my stall for another 3 hours. Fortunately, I was able to return and work for another 3 hours, or I could say that I worked for a total of 13 hours over two days. Finally, after reviewing the logs, it seems like an average of 5-6 minutes per contact.
The chair wasn't very comfortable, and operating the radio and computer back and forth while sweeping was tiring. After a while, both physically and mentally, it became exhausting. The QSO efficiency was low, and even after two sweeps, I felt quite tired. Sometimes, after a long time, I even felt like I couldn't concentrate anymore. Fortunately, I didn't mess things up by trying to cover multiple bands.
There were also a few operational errors. After taking breaks, the computer would sometimes lose its connection to the radio and take some time to recover from sleep mode. This resulted in several QSOs being missed, and I only realized later that the logging frequency hadn't changed. This was quite frustrating. Later on, I made sure that the radio frequencies matched those used by the software.
Summary
Overall, there is still room for optimization in many areas, and it's clear that the importance of logistical support within a team's competition is understood. The competition isn't just about QSO; food, drinks, and rest also need to be arranged properly. For field competitions, it's best to make thorough preparations, otherwise it can be quite frustrating. Fortunately, on the first day of the competition, there was a family activity nearby, so the timing worked out…
Our team ultimately finished fifth in the national competition, and we are quite satisfied with this result. We hope to improve further this year, and I wish all my colleagues a happy New Year!
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