Introduction:
This article was published on HelloCQ in early April, and HamCQ was one of the earliest users to register. However, he was not very active on this platform before... (deep reflection)
I've been reviewing HamCQ's articles lately, and I noticed that content related to competitions seems relatively scarce. So, with the intention of enriching the forum content, I decided to bring over some of the previous month's posts. Of course, we will also share any new content as soon as it becomes available! (Don't say I'm just rehashing old material...)🤓）
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Radio station: Flexradio 6400
Amplifier: 3MN 1200T
Transmitter: JYR 14/21/28 Yagi @ 2/3/3, 28MHz 4el Yagi, 7MHz fishing rod.
Location: Tai Shan Hai Yan Chicken Farm
Caller: BA7LTM, VR2VRC, BG7IEJ, BD7LNE, BG0COH
The scores and related data for this competition are as follows:
In short, I was quite disappointed with the outcome of the match.🙁The OST has too many tracks. But the logistical support was excellent.😍！！！
The competition setup was relatively simple, consisting of a three-band Yagi antenna (14/21/28MHz @ 2/3/3el), a single-band 28MHz 4el Yagi, and a 7MHz fishing rod. However, the results were unsatisfactory, and it could only be said that it was better than nothing. The competition only had one power source, without a backup generator. This was due to unstable base station power supply; while the system could theoretically handle up to 8kW of power, it still needed to meet the power requirements of devices such as air conditioners, radio transmitters, amplifiers, lighting, pumps, and water heaters... Over 48 hours of operation with only essential loads (radio transmitter, amplifier, air conditioner), the generator tripped at least twenty times, which had a significant impact on the competition.
There was also a minor issue with the antenna installation. The three-band Yagi, which had been used in the previous CQWW SSB competition and had gotten wet from rain, caused the coil labels to become illegible. As a result, most of the coils could not be identified during the installation for this competition, as there were no dimension drawings available. In the end, the installation was completed only three hours before the start of the competition, using experience and trial-and-error methods.
Then there was the issue with the base station's network hardware. As everyone knows, Flexradio has very strict EMC requirements for network hardware. Before the competition, the router would be interfered with and disconnected almost every half hour when it was transmitting on the radio. Eventually, the router even started smoking and shutting down... In the end, the only solution was to directly connect the computer to the radio with a cable, which solved the problem of the radio disconnecting from the network.
In terms of amplification, the 3MN 1200T solid-state amplifier performed very stably, with minimal impact even under such unstable voltage conditions. There were no anomalies observed throughout the competition! The 2023 CQWW SSB used a certain B whose name is not disclosed.7The large tube amplifier, which I borrowed without thoroughly checking beforehand, malfunctioned during the competition, leading to a situation where only LP participated in the HP category.
The competition isn't just about demonstrating skills; the setup and coordination of equipment, along with the overall strategy, are all interconnected and contribute to the final results.
In the competition, on the first day, the 10-meter band saw a lot of activity in North America and some in South America. Surprisingly, the 20-meter band performed well overnight, with almost continuous activity from around midnight until after 2:00 AM! The 15-meter band generally performed well throughout the morning, but the 10-meter band, which had the highest expectations, did not perform as well as anticipated. This may be related to recent solar activity.
Besides not having a digital mode station, the main disadvantage in this competition was the lack of QSOs in the low band. I only managed to make a few contacts on the 40-meter band, and gave up on the 80-meter and 160-meter bands, losing many opportunities for digital modes!
For most of the match, BA7LTM and VR2VRC were in control. The home team, BG7IEJ and BD7LNE, had limited opportunities due to their roles, so they primarily focused on team logistics and occasional operation during breaks. While BG0COH, the gold operator, only operated for a short period before leaving early due to an emergency, which was unfortunate since there were no designated judges in this match.
Even though located in a remote area, I was well taken care of by BD7LNE and BG7IEJ. They ensured that I had three meals a day with both fish and meat, and most importantly, they provided freshly ground coffee from BD7LNE. I am deeply grateful!
The break room for crane operators and container handling personnel is shown in the figure below:
However, there were many valuable takeaways from this competition, such as communication with teammates, judgment regarding propagation, the development of a band plan, and the proper arrangement of shift handover times. Most importantly, there was a noticeable improvement in understanding the significance of the "Q" factor compared to before! This competition clearly demonstrated that it's not just about shouting into a radio and constantly working without understanding the rules or focusing on QSO numbers. The goal is to achieve a high score, not simply accumulate QSOs. While the results were significantly different from expectations, they were still acceptable...
Areas for improvement:
1. The immediate priority is to restore power. Options include using diesel generators to supplement power or utilizing UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) for energy storage; however, re-running the 2 km of cable is not practical.
2. Replace non-compliant EMC equipment and conduct joint stress testing with amplifier stations.
3. The antenna must be set up and tested well in advance of the competition. Do not install it right before the event! This includes configuring and testing the radio amplifier, network software, etc., all prior to the competition.
4. Pay attention to low-frequency bands and improve related antenna installation, do not think that having fewer channels is unimportant; even a small coefficient can have thousands of times the impact!
5、 It is essential to have a coefficient table, and the weights of the coefficients need to be increased.
6、The O-P shift needs to be clearly defined, as it's simply impossible to maintain focus and performance for a 48-hour competition without breaks.
7. Next time you visit the base, be sure to bring cookware, a barbecue grill, lamb, sweet potatoes, and chicken, etc.😼....
I would like to thank BG7IEJ again for providing such a great venue. I also want to thank BD7LNE for his meticulous attention to logistics, and VR2VRC and BG0COH, both of whom are gold-medal operators, for working together as teammates!
I started participating in competitions from the age of fifteen or sixteen. Back then, we didn't even have call signs; now, it has been over six years and I already have a C-level license. It seems like I haven't posted any reflections after competitions on forums. This is my first time doing so! It's worth commemorating, and I definitely need to post about it!!
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