Getting Started in Digital Contesting

Getting Started Getting Started in Digital in Digital

ContestingContestingSteve Ford, WB8IMYSteve Ford, WB8IMY

Why Contest at All?Why Contest at All?

To enjoy the pleasure of the challenge – To enjoy the pleasure of the challenge – you against the world or just you you against the world or just you against yourselfagainst yourself

To sharpen your operating skillsTo sharpen your operating skills To better understand your stationTo better understand your station To better understand the vagaries of To better understand the vagaries of

propagationpropagation To contact states, grids, counties, DXCC To contact states, grids, counties, DXCC

entities, etc for various awardsentities, etc for various awards

Contesting is Growing Contesting is Growing and Breaking Recordsand Breaking Records

Despite poor HF propagation, the 2008 and Despite poor HF propagation, the 2008 and 2009 ARRL CW and Phone Sweepstakes 2009 ARRL CW and Phone Sweepstakes saw a record number of log submissions.saw a record number of log submissions.

The 2011 ARRL 10 Meter Contest log The 2011 ARRL 10 Meter Contest log submissions broke historical records for submissions broke historical records for this contest (more than 5,000 logs this contest (more than 5,000 logs submitted).submitted).

The 2010 and 2011 RTTY Roundups set The 2010 and 2011 RTTY Roundups set records for log submissions at 1500 and records for log submissions at 1500 and 1800 respectively.1800 respectively.

Why Why DigitalDigital Contesting? Contesting?

It is easy on the body – no sore throats or It is easy on the body – no sore throats or worn out fingersworn out fingers

It lets you explore the pleasures of It lets you explore the pleasures of integrating your computer and your radiointegrating your computer and your radio

You don’t need a big station to make a You don’t need a big station to make a differencedifference

It’s It’s quiet!quiet!

RTTY Is the King of RTTY Is the King of Digital ContestingDigital Contesting

Radioteletype (RTTY) is one of the oldest Radioteletype (RTTY) is one of the oldest digital modes in Amateur Radio, but it digital modes in Amateur Radio, but it remains the most popular mode for remains the most popular mode for digital contesting.digital contesting.

RTTY is fast (as fast as most of us can RTTY is fast (as fast as most of us can type) and it avoids the “capture effect” type) and it avoids the “capture effect” common to other digital modes (where common to other digital modes (where the strongest station is the only one the strongest station is the only one copied).copied).

Other Contest ModesOther Contest Modes

There are also PSK31 contests and There are also PSK31 contests and even Hellschreiber contests, but even Hellschreiber contests, but none have yet matched the none have yet matched the popularity of the RTTY slugfests.popularity of the RTTY slugfests.

14 Major RTTY Contests 14 Major RTTY Contests per Yearper Year

First weekend in JanuaryFirst weekend in January ARRL RTTY RoundupARRL RTTY Roundup Last weekend in JanuaryLast weekend in January BARTG RTTY SprintBARTG RTTY Sprint Second weekend in FebruarySecond weekend in February CQ World Wide WPX RTTY ContestCQ World Wide WPX RTTY Contest Fourth weekend in FebruaryFourth weekend in February North American QSO PartyNorth American QSO Party Second weekend in MarchSecond weekend in March BARTG HF RTTYBARTG HF RTTY First weekend in AprilFirst weekend in April EA RTTY ContestEA RTTY Contest Second weekend in MaySecond weekend in May A.Volta RTTY DX ContestA.Volta RTTY DX Contest

Third weekend in JulyThird weekend in July North America QSO PartyNorth America QSO Party Third weekend in AugustThird weekend in August SARTG RTTY ContestSARTG RTTY Contest Last weekend in SeptemberLast weekend in September CQ WW RTTY DX ContestCQ WW RTTY DX Contest Second weekend in OctoberSecond weekend in October BARTG RTTY SPRINTBARTG RTTY SPRINT Third weekend in OctoberThird weekend in October JARTS World Wide RTTY JARTS World Wide RTTY

ContestContest Second weekend in NovemberSecond weekend in November Worked All Europe DX ContestWorked All Europe DX Contest Third weekend in DecemberThird weekend in December OK DX RTTY ContestOK DX RTTY Contest

RTTY and the Casual RTTY and the Casual ContesterContester Casual contesting is competition for the sheer Casual contesting is competition for the sheer

fun of it, on your own terms as your time fun of it, on your own terms as your time permits.permits.

Many contesters have very modest stations (like Many contesters have very modest stations (like this one).this one).

Digital contesting is ideal for modest stations Digital contesting is ideal for modest stations because you can accomplish a lot with relatively because you can accomplish a lot with relatively little power and minimal antennas little power and minimal antennas

What Do You Mean You What Do You Mean You Don’t Have a Digital Don’t Have a Digital

Station?Station?All you need is . . .All you need is . . . An HF SSB transceiverAn HF SSB transceiver A computer with a sound card or A computer with a sound card or

sound chipsetsound chipset A sound card interfaceA sound card interface SoftwareSoftware Refreshments optionalRefreshments optional

Sound Card InterfacesSound Card Interfaces

They can be simple or complexThey can be simple or complex

If All You Want to do Is If All You Want to do Is Control Transmit/Receive Control Transmit/Receive

Switching, a Single Switching, a Single Transistor Does the TrickTransistor Does the Trick

Or You Can Buy an Or You Can Buy an Interface Off the ShelfInterface Off the Shelf

Digital Contest SoftwareDigital Contest Software

Contest-specific programs are best because Contest-specific programs are best because they provide all the features you need . . .they provide all the features you need . . .

Automatic scoringAutomatic scoring

Duplicate contact checkingDuplicate contact checking

Multiplier trackingMultiplier tracking

Log submissionsLog submissions

WriteLogWriteLog

$30 from $30 from http://www.writelog.com/ Includes sound-card based RTTY Includes sound-card based RTTY

functionalityfunctionality

N1MM LoggerN1MM Logger Free for downloading at Free for downloading at

http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/tiki-index.phphttp://n1mm.hamdocs.com/tiki-index.php Does not include a RTTY application, but can be Does not include a RTTY application, but can be

used with the free used with the free MMTTY MMTTY software available at software available at http://hamsoft.ca/http://hamsoft.ca/

Contest Tips and Tricks!Contest Tips and Tricks!

Read the rules before the contest Read the rules before the contest startsstarts

Choose your operating category . . .Choose your operating category . . .

Single Op Single Op All Band or Single Band?All Band or Single Band?

MultiSingle?MultiSingle? (Several operators, but (Several operators, but only one transceiver)only one transceiver)

MultiMulti?MultiMulti? (Several operators on (Several operators on different transceivers)different transceivers)


Know the exchangeKnow the exchange

Examples . . . Examples . . . Signal report, serial number (beginning with Signal report, serial number (beginning with

001) and time001) and time

Signal report and stateSignal report and state

Serial number and ageSerial number and age

Signal report and IARU ZoneSignal report and IARU Zone Many contest programs already “know” Many contest programs already “know”

the necessary exchanges for all major the necessary exchanges for all major contestscontests

OK DX Contest ExampleOK DX Contest Example

Contest Tips and Tricks!Contest Tips and Tricks! ““Running” vs. Searching and Running” vs. Searching and

PouncingPouncing


Make it easy with Make it easy with Macros Macros ((WritelogWritelog examples)examples)

KEY F5 KEY F5 = WB8IMY WB8IMY %E= WB8IMY WB8IMY %E

KEY F4 KEY F4 = %D 599 CT CT DE WB8IMY K %E= %D 599 CT CT DE WB8IMY K %E

KEY F9 KEY F9 = MY STATE CT CT CT CT DE = MY STATE CT CT CT CT DE WB8IMY K %EWB8IMY K %E


Watch out for duplicate contacts, Watch out for duplicate contacts, better known as better known as dupesdupes


IF filters are a must – 500 Hz or even IF filters are a must – 500 Hz or even 250 Hz in extremely crowded 250 Hz in extremely crowded conditionsconditions

Without filters to separate the signals, Without filters to separate the signals, you’ll quickly go insane.you’ll quickly go insane.

ReferencesReferences

Common RTTY Contest Common RTTY Contest FrequenciesFrequencies

3570 to 3600 kHz3570 to 3600 kHz 7030 to 7050 kHz7030 to 7050 kHz 14075 to 14110 kHz14075 to 14110 kHz 21075 to 21100 kHz21075 to 21100 kHz 28070 to 28100 kHz28070 to 28100 kHz

ReferencesReferences Get On the Air With HF Digital Get On the Air With HF Digital ((

www.arrl.org/catalog))

CocoaModemCocoaModem (MacOS) (MacOS) http://homepage.mac.com/chen/w7ay/Site/index.html

AA5AU RTTY Contesting AA5AU RTTY Contesting http://www.rttycontesting.com/

Documents

Getting Started in Digital Contesting