WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.620 This episode of HamTalk Live is brought to you 00:00:02.620 --> 00:00:06.019 by Tower Electronics. For connectors, cables, 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:12.939 and more, call 920 -435 -2973 or visit pl -259 00:00:12.939 --> 00:00:17.640 .com. And by ICOM, heard it, worked it, logged 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:22.859 it. Visit www .icomamerica .com slash amateur 00:00:22.859 --> 00:00:32.409 for more information about ICOM radios. Here 00:00:32.409 --> 00:01:00.000 we go, welcome to... Good evening, everyone. 00:01:00.179 --> 00:01:03.640 It's time for HamTalk Live. It's episode number 00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:10.620 275, a contesting primer with KZeroMD, recorded 00:01:10.620 --> 00:01:16.120 live on Thursday, October 7th, 2021. I'm your 00:01:16.120 --> 00:01:19.659 host, Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. Thanks for tuning in 00:01:19.659 --> 00:01:22.980 to this episode of HamTalk Live. Tonight we're 00:01:22.980 --> 00:01:27.140 joined by... Dr. Scott Wright, KZeroMD, and we'll 00:01:27.140 --> 00:01:30.420 take your calls live in just a few minutes. Last 00:01:30.420 --> 00:01:34.519 week here on the show we had Joe Eisenberg, KZeroNEB, 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:37.140 here to talk about some new kits and some new 00:01:37.140 --> 00:01:40.319 soldering tools and stuff. So if you missed that 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:45.459 you can listen anytime at HamTalkLive .com or 00:01:45.459 --> 00:01:48.900 you can use your favorite podcast app or you 00:01:48.900 --> 00:01:53.959 can also catch us on YouTube. and on the weekends 00:01:53.959 --> 00:01:56.640 uh... on saturday afternoons about three thirty 00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:00.299 p m eastern time uh... the show is rebroadcast 00:02:00.299 --> 00:02:05.700 over on w t w w shortwave that's five zero eight 00:02:05.700 --> 00:02:11.139 five on your am dial and uh... you can take a 00:02:11.139 --> 00:02:15.460 listen to the show uh... over shortwave on on 00:02:15.460 --> 00:02:18.250 saturdays so uh... tonight we're going to talk 00:02:18.250 --> 00:02:22.990 about getting started with contesting so uh... 00:02:22.990 --> 00:02:25.669 if you have some questions get those ready to 00:02:25.669 --> 00:02:28.409 go and uh... here in a little bit we'll give 00:02:28.409 --> 00:02:34.169 you a chance to call in and uh... ask your questions 00:02:34.169 --> 00:02:36.490 the phone number for that i'll go ahead and give 00:02:36.490 --> 00:02:41.870 it to you uh... it's eight five nine nine eight 00:02:41.870 --> 00:02:46.740 two seventy three 73 we'll give out that number 00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:49.319 again here in just a second So you can write 00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:52.199 it down or punch it in have it ready to go You 00:02:52.199 --> 00:02:55.300 can also tweet us. It's at ham talk live on Twitter 00:02:55.300 --> 00:02:58.900 And if you're logged in to Spreaker you can type 00:02:58.900 --> 00:03:02.020 in the comments as well that will work But once 00:03:02.020 --> 00:03:05.599 again the phone number to call later on in the 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:15.949 show will be eight five nine nine eight two 7373. 00:03:16.030 --> 00:03:19.229 So I'll be back with Scott right after this word 00:03:19.229 --> 00:03:23.370 from Tower Electronics right here on HamDog Live. 00:03:23.610 --> 00:03:28.090 Hey honey, have you seen the PL 259s anywhere? 00:03:28.629 --> 00:03:34.340 No I haven't. Come on kids, let's go! There's 00:03:34.340 --> 00:03:36.800 just one place to go for all of your connector 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:42.620 needs. Tower electronics. A giant warehouse of 00:03:42.620 --> 00:03:45.780 connectors and adapters for every occasion. Thousands 00:03:45.780 --> 00:03:48.419 to choose from in every shape, size, and color. 00:03:48.620 --> 00:03:51.340 And they have antennas, soldering supplies, cables, 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:54.360 meters, and more. Where do you go if you want 00:03:54.360 --> 00:03:56.719 to buy a connector at a fraction of retail cost? 00:03:56.840 --> 00:04:02.520 Tower electronics. And this weekend only, take 00:04:02.520 --> 00:04:29.360 advantage of our I'm Scott, KB9AMM of Tower Electronics. 00:04:30.170 --> 00:04:33.290 I like the PL259 connectors so much, I bought 00:04:33.290 --> 00:04:36.110 the company. Tower Electronics, coming to a hand 00:04:36.110 --> 00:04:41.290 -fest near you. Or online at pl -259 .com. And 00:04:41.290 --> 00:04:43.629 we're in the yellow pages under amateur radio 00:04:43.629 --> 00:04:46.750 connectors. My, wherever did you get that lovely 00:04:46.750 --> 00:04:52.250 PL259? Tower Electronics, pl -259 .com. Or call 00:04:52.250 --> 00:04:57.910 920 -435 -2973. Do we sell PL259 connectors? 00:04:58.670 --> 00:05:02.329 Your host Neil Rapp may be too radial short of 00:05:02.329 --> 00:05:05.170 a full ground system, but he's back now with 00:05:05.170 --> 00:05:33.959 more HamTalk Live. Welcome back to HamTalk Live. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:39.819 Tower Electronics will be in Pressview, Florida, 00:05:40.980 --> 00:05:43.560 October the 9th. That's this weekend on Saturday, 00:05:44.100 --> 00:05:49.079 where you can visit them anytime at PL -259 .com. 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:53.040 So welcome back to ham talk live tonight. Dr. 00:05:53.220 --> 00:05:56.379 Scott Wright k0md joins us on the Orlando amateur 00:05:56.379 --> 00:06:00.139 radio club and hamcation zoom line Scott is an 00:06:00.139 --> 00:06:02.660 excellent contester. He's been on several the 00:06:02.660 --> 00:06:05.720 expeditions and he's the past editor of the National 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:10.040 Contest Journal His day job is working for Mayo 00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:13.819 Clinic teaching cardiology Scott lives in Rochester, 00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:18.649 Minnesota and is a graduate of the University 00:06:18.649 --> 00:06:21.149 of Kentucky. So good evening, Scott. Thanks for 00:06:21.149 --> 00:06:24.170 coming on the show and talking about some contesting 00:06:24.170 --> 00:06:26.550 tonight. You're welcome. I don't know if you 00:06:26.550 --> 00:06:28.610 heard my theme song at the University of Kentucky 00:06:28.610 --> 00:06:31.629 fight song. I had to play it for you. It's a 00:06:31.629 --> 00:06:35.149 joy to be with you as always. And my congratulations 00:06:35.149 --> 00:06:37.750 to the men's football team at the University 00:06:37.750 --> 00:06:40.649 of Kentucky who are having a tremendous season. 00:06:40.970 --> 00:06:42.949 I hope my contest season goes as well as their 00:06:42.949 --> 00:06:46.970 football season so far. Yeah, it's been a nice 00:06:46.970 --> 00:06:50.170 change, although we've been on the rise here 00:06:50.170 --> 00:06:53.790 for the last couple of years, but having a great 00:06:53.790 --> 00:06:59.230 season. And I had to text Andy Malusi, KK4LWR, 00:06:59.670 --> 00:07:05.670 after we beat Florida, had to rub it in. So I 00:07:05.670 --> 00:07:12.240 did that. But yeah, it's been nice. It truly 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:14.959 has. I'm so happy for the fan base, the players, 00:07:15.220 --> 00:07:17.319 the coach, the university, everybody involved. 00:07:18.540 --> 00:07:22.920 Yeah, I was down there in Lexington teaching 00:07:22.920 --> 00:07:28.000 yesterday and had a few minutes to spare and 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:30.699 started looking at the basketball schedule to 00:07:30.699 --> 00:07:34.839 see about maybe going to a game this winter. 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:39.670 So we'll see how that goes. Well, anyway tonight 00:07:39.670 --> 00:07:42.790 I thought it'd be a good idea to kind of talk 00:07:42.790 --> 00:07:47.470 about getting started in Contesting because we've 00:07:47.470 --> 00:07:52.370 got some some big contests here You know, it's 00:07:52.370 --> 00:07:56.110 fall and when the winter the weather starts getting 00:07:56.110 --> 00:08:01.310 a little more wintry You tend to be indoors more 00:08:01.310 --> 00:08:06.120 and you have more uh... motivation to be on the 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:08.259 radio because uh... that's one of the things 00:08:08.259 --> 00:08:12.339 that you can do indoors so uh... thought we'd 00:08:12.339 --> 00:08:14.759 talk a little bit about uh... you know some of 00:08:14.759 --> 00:08:18.360 the contest that that come along with that and 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:22.500 uh... how to get started in it so uh... let let's 00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:25.160 just uh... let's just take it from the beginning 00:08:25.160 --> 00:08:30.579 here uh... what would you suggest uh... for someone 00:08:30.990 --> 00:08:33.909 Wanting to get started in contesting, what should 00:08:33.909 --> 00:08:38.250 they do? I think people are really afraid to 00:08:38.250 --> 00:08:41.230 contest. They feel that they will be swallowed 00:08:41.230 --> 00:08:43.850 up in the sea and freeze and not be able to know 00:08:43.850 --> 00:08:47.669 what exchanges to give and how to do it. So what 00:08:47.669 --> 00:08:52.649 I suggest is the following. Look at the contest 00:08:52.649 --> 00:08:56.009 schedule for the next few months, maybe the next 00:08:56.009 --> 00:08:59.950 three months, and just pick one contest a month. 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:04.399 that you might like to try or two or more. For 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:06.659 me, I often have one a weekend I want to do. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:08.720 So it's a struggle to balance that with work 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:12.879 and family and other stuff. So the way to get 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:15.580 started is to really pick sort of pick a contest 00:09:15.580 --> 00:09:17.840 or two or three or four that you want to be involved 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:22.980 in. And those should really probably allow you 00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:26.120 to achieve whatever goals that you've set with 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:29.899 the hobby. And for some of us, the goals are 00:09:29.960 --> 00:09:34.299 very uh well set you know for me i got started 00:09:34.299 --> 00:09:36.820 in contesting because i wanted to get five band 00:09:36.820 --> 00:09:41.820 dxcc and uh i'm such a competitive person once 00:09:41.820 --> 00:09:44.100 i started contesting i started doing it more 00:09:44.100 --> 00:09:46.240 and more i really enjoy it then suddenly contesting 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:48.279 takes over ham radio for me and that's largely 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:52.399 what i do some dxing and mostly contesting Once 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:54.919 you decide which contest you want to do, just 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:58.379 spend 15 minutes reading the rules and then do 00:09:58.379 --> 00:10:00.519 a search on YouTube for that contest. You can 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:02.179 watch how someone operates it and you'll see 00:10:02.179 --> 00:10:05.539 it's a lot simpler than you thought. But once 00:10:05.539 --> 00:10:09.000 you get ready to go, really the first steps with 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:11.700 contesting are to answer just a few questions. 00:10:12.580 --> 00:10:16.039 Is my station able to do the contest? If your 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:18.779 goal is to be part of a VHF contest but you don't 00:10:18.779 --> 00:10:21.659 have any VHF equipment, and that's probably not 00:10:21.659 --> 00:10:24.059 the right contest but if you have a have a radio 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:26.460 and an antenna it doesn't matter whether it's 00:10:26.460 --> 00:10:29.679 a 25 year old or 50 year old radio or a brand 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:32.860 new transceiver and you have any kind of antenna 00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:36.039 portable you know a wire antenna you don't have 00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:38.100 to have towers like i have in stacks you can 00:10:38.100 --> 00:10:40.779 just use wires and portable antennas then you 00:10:40.779 --> 00:10:42.860 can you can do the contest so once you have the 00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:46.480 equipment sorted out the really the biggest step 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:49.799 is to make a commitment that you're going to 00:10:49.799 --> 00:10:53.269 do computer assisted contesting meaning you need 00:10:53.269 --> 00:10:55.389 to have a computer that you can link to your 00:10:55.389 --> 00:10:57.789 transceiver because you're going to have to keep 00:10:57.789 --> 00:11:00.970 an entry a log entry of every station you work 00:11:00.970 --> 00:11:03.529 and the easiest way to do it instead of writing 00:11:03.529 --> 00:11:06.950 it on a log book or on a legal pad is to just 00:11:06.950 --> 00:11:09.830 type it into a computer and you know there are 00:11:09.830 --> 00:11:13.850 multiple logging programs out but for beginners 00:11:13.850 --> 00:11:17.529 I recommend two to think about one is free it's 00:11:17.529 --> 00:11:22.600 called n1 mm It's easy to use. It has a huge 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:25.320 group, support group that will give you advice 00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:28.559 and questions, answer questions. Or you can go 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:31.419 with one that's very popular among newer licensed 00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:33.919 TAMs, more recently licensed TAMs, which is the 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:37.960 N3FJP logging software that Scott N3FJP puts 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:40.200 out. Because it's also easy and interfaces well, 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:41.899 and it has almost everything. It could be a logging 00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:45.179 program, a contest program, and let you do also 00:11:45.179 --> 00:11:48.120 grid chasing and satellite chasing. So really, 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:50.220 you know, once you once you know that you have 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:52.460 the setup to do at the computer link with your 00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:56.220 radio and your equipment, then you're ready to 00:11:56.220 --> 00:11:59.139 actually get started. And there are a few things 00:11:59.139 --> 00:12:01.960 to do before the contest weekend. But those are 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:04.340 the basics. And believe it or not, the hardest 00:12:04.340 --> 00:12:08.620 part for me in the mid 2000s was to accept the 00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:10.759 fact that I needed to put a computer with my 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:13.519 radio station because up until about 2005 or 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:16.759 six, I didn't use a computer in the shack. Hard 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:19.440 to believe, I know, Neil, but I didn't. Everything 00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:24.039 was the EWRL spiral -bound log book. And I'd 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:27.019 had those since 1977 when I was first licensed. 00:12:27.820 --> 00:12:31.059 And boy, that was a painful shift to have to 00:12:31.059 --> 00:12:33.200 realize it because I thought ham radio was one 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:37.299 place I could be free of computers. But now I 00:12:37.299 --> 00:12:40.080 have several in the ham shack, more than I have 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:43.360 in my home office or my work office. But there 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:45.000 are a few things, you know, what you're ready 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:46.899 to do, what you've got everything set up. So 00:12:46.899 --> 00:12:49.299 the first thing to do is just get on the air 00:12:49.299 --> 00:12:51.220 before the contest and just practice a little 00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:54.740 bit. There are plenty of contest -like events 00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:56.759 you could do. So in October, there's the School 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:59.580 Club Roundup. Now, the kids that are doing the 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:01.460 School Club Roundup are somewhat competitive, 00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:03.580 but they're going to treat you nicely and they're 00:13:03.580 --> 00:13:05.240 going to be excited to work you, even if you 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:07.820 work them every day. Same station, because they 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:09.980 don't mind you being a dupe. They're happy to 00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:12.090 work you. So get on and try that. Or if you're 00:13:12.090 --> 00:13:15.110 a CW operator, get onto CW Ops on Wednesdays 00:13:15.110 --> 00:13:17.590 and try their little CW Ops test that they do. 00:13:18.090 --> 00:13:20.470 Or find a state QSO party and just get into the 00:13:20.470 --> 00:13:23.750 groove of working stations, dialing your VFO 00:13:23.750 --> 00:13:25.909 up and down the band, listening and finding a 00:13:25.909 --> 00:13:28.509 station. Or using the spotting cluster and then 00:13:28.509 --> 00:13:30.669 clicking to move from spot to spot so you can 00:13:30.669 --> 00:13:32.789 work the station. So that's one thing to do. 00:13:32.889 --> 00:13:35.250 It's just be on the air, be active, even a few 00:13:35.250 --> 00:13:37.870 days before the contest to sort of get your... 00:13:38.859 --> 00:13:41.580 Get your mind and your body ready to contest. 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:43.759 It's the warm -up that athletes go through before 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:46.559 a competitive game. And I have to do that, especially 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:48.940 when we go overseas. I always try to book two 00:13:48.940 --> 00:13:51.940 days ahead of the contest to be overseas because 00:13:51.940 --> 00:13:54.200 I want to understand what band conditions are 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:56.740 like from wherever we are. I want to understand 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:59.440 how intense the pile -ups will be. And I just 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:01.940 need to get my mind and body into the contest. 00:14:02.100 --> 00:14:05.230 And so once I get used to working, you know, 00:14:05.509 --> 00:14:07.889 people from the new QTH, the new location, whether 00:14:07.889 --> 00:14:10.610 it's the Caribbean or South America or China, 00:14:10.870 --> 00:14:13.669 wherever, then it's easier to work them during 00:14:13.669 --> 00:14:17.789 the contest. So be on the air, be active, too. 00:14:18.269 --> 00:14:22.049 You know, you know, hang on, Scott, let me stop 00:14:22.049 --> 00:14:24.370 you there for a second. You know, practicing, 00:14:24.370 --> 00:14:28.200 you know, with the uh... the radio is definitely 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:31.220 a warm up but i also would would say you know 00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:33.879 uh... warm up with the computer a little bit 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:37.039 make sure that all your settings are right uh... 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:39.419 you know make sure that you you know the software 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:41.860 and there's always that fight between m one m 00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:45.179 m and m three f g p and people get get all you 00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:48.399 gotta use this one you know but but both of them 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:52.740 do the job very well uh... but but yet one that 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:56.509 that you're comfortable with and get used to, 00:14:56.509 --> 00:14:59.909 you know, how you clear everything out. And one 00:14:59.909 --> 00:15:02.110 thing, you know, you've mentioned that you hadn't 00:15:02.110 --> 00:15:08.090 had a computer in your shack until later on in 00:15:08.090 --> 00:15:11.549 your contesting career. One of the things, you 00:15:11.549 --> 00:15:13.929 know, that I've done, which I've always had the 00:15:13.929 --> 00:15:18.029 computers in the shack pretty much, but I didn't 00:15:18.029 --> 00:15:20.850 have it set up to where it would read the frequency 00:15:20.850 --> 00:15:24.669 off of the radio. And it's just so nice to have 00:15:24.669 --> 00:15:27.450 the frequency automatically pop in there. So 00:15:27.450 --> 00:15:29.289 you don't have, that's just one less thing you 00:15:29.289 --> 00:15:33.190 have to worry about. Oh, it sure is. I, it sure 00:15:33.190 --> 00:15:36.210 is with the newer radios that have USB connections 00:15:36.210 --> 00:15:39.870 and all of the major manufacturers now have radios 00:15:39.870 --> 00:15:42.149 like that. It's really simple to set up, but 00:15:42.149 --> 00:15:44.629 you're exactly right, Neil, uh, practice with 00:15:44.629 --> 00:15:50.899 the computer. Um, I used to use a different program 00:15:50.899 --> 00:15:54.340 for logging than for contesting. And then about 00:15:54.340 --> 00:15:57.279 a half an hour before the contest, I would start 00:15:57.279 --> 00:16:00.580 N1MM, but something wouldn't work. Can you imagine? 00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:02.659 It just wouldn't work. It'd have been three months 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:06.039 or four months. It's almost like doing a podcast 00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:08.519 and your audio doesn't work for your guests, 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:14.340 you know? Yes. So I decided after... Hearing 00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:16.940 someone at contest university say this to just 00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:20.519 do it. So now the only logging program I use 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:24.399 for logging Contesting and anything ham radio 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:28.460 is in 1mm That way when I need it, it's there 00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:30.919 it works and it's ready to go and if it doesn't 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:34.080 work I typically find out before the contest 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:37.639 because there's nothing more defeating that's 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:40.080 trying to start the contest and finding yourself 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:43.480 into two hours of scratching your head and trying 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:46.100 to figure out whether the USB cable is dead or 00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:49.179 the computer has a bad port or whether you forgot 00:16:49.179 --> 00:16:52.639 to put one correct COM port or one correct baud 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:57.700 rate setting into your N1MM program. Yeah. Excellent 00:16:57.700 --> 00:17:02.039 advice because that can be very touchy if you 00:17:02.039 --> 00:17:04.839 don't have those settings just right. And what 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:10.599 I do, I use N1MM also. I'm an N1MM fan. But one 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:22.160 of the things That I do is try to Well, I'm losing 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:26.970 my train of thought here Oh the log books I use 00:17:26.970 --> 00:17:29.730 in one of them for look for contesting and I 00:17:29.730 --> 00:17:32.650 use it for special events and I use it for you 00:17:32.650 --> 00:17:35.450 know anything other than very casual you know 00:17:35.450 --> 00:17:38.930 just one contact here one contact there but one 00:17:38.930 --> 00:17:42.329 of the things that that I kind of caught on to 00:17:42.329 --> 00:17:47.039 with somebody in in back in Bloomington and also 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:51.000 kind of stole it from from Val in V9L is You 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:54.140 can have the DX keeper with that's got all the 00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:58.220 log book of the world and all these extra columns 00:17:58.220 --> 00:18:02.559 in there that would slow you down normally and 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:05.019 you just import it at the end of the contest. 00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:08.900 So once you're done, you export it out of N1MM, 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:12.880 you import it into DXKeeper, so that keeps all 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:16.700 of my contacts together. And so that's one way 00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:22.960 you can do it, too. Yes, it is. I say I used 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:25.420 to be a Mac user. Let me clarify. I consider 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:28.400 myself bilingual with computers. Not try, but 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:32.470 buy. I use PC, Windows, and Mac. And that's a 00:18:32.470 --> 00:18:35.529 necessity for work. I used to have a Mac in my 00:18:35.529 --> 00:18:38.250 ham station, but I could never find a good Mac 00:18:38.250 --> 00:18:40.609 operating system for contesting. And I asked 00:18:40.609 --> 00:18:44.829 N1MM at Dayton if he could build N1MM for the 00:18:44.829 --> 00:18:48.269 Mac. And he gave me the most honest answer I've 00:18:48.269 --> 00:18:50.609 ever heard. He said, you're asking me to have 00:18:50.609 --> 00:18:53.269 2000 hours of programming to save you from buying 00:18:53.269 --> 00:18:56.750 a $400 computer. And I said, you have a good 00:18:56.750 --> 00:18:59.490 point there. He said, go buy a used PC at Dayton 00:18:59.490 --> 00:19:01.410 for a hundred bucks, and that's all you need. 00:19:01.869 --> 00:19:07.250 And so I do both. And I used to import into MacLoggerDX 00:19:07.250 --> 00:19:09.990 my contesting. And before that, I was using a 00:19:09.990 --> 00:19:13.730 Windows -based logging program. But now I use 00:19:13.730 --> 00:19:17.650 L -O -T -W as my only logging backup. I mean, 00:19:17.670 --> 00:19:20.289 I store my files. I file on the 3 -2 -1 method, 00:19:20.349 --> 00:19:23.109 where I have three copies of my log file on two 00:19:23.109 --> 00:19:26.450 different media, including one cloud. I mean, 00:19:26.569 --> 00:19:29.900 yeah, one copy on at least two different media 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:32.200 in three locations. So I use the cloud, I use 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:34.180 a flash drive and I store them on a couple of 00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:38.720 hard drives. But I now use N1MM and then Logbook 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:41.599 of the World. So I've simplified my life and 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:44.019 I'll work people outside of contests and they'll 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:45.519 say, oh, it's nice to work you Scott. This is 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:48.119 our first QSO on 15 meters. Remember working 00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:50.680 me in 2018. Well, the truth is I changed my log 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:54.039 out once or twice a year. So I really don't remember 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:57.640 who I've worked. And I feel bad, but you know, 00:19:57.960 --> 00:20:00.720 The goal here for me is to make sure the contest 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:02.980 logging program works when it's time to hit the 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:06.940 go button. And so that's what I give up. So yeah, 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:09.720 Neil, very good, very good advice. I think the 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:11.779 next thing you know, one should do with contesting 00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:13.380 is once you've made that commitment, once you 00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:15.660 have the radio and the computer working and you've 00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:18.680 got your logging program set up before the contest, 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:21.420 just set some goals. You know, how many hours 00:20:21.420 --> 00:20:24.720 can you work? And just whatever you think you 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:27.829 can do, multiply that by point five, and that's 00:20:27.829 --> 00:20:30.910 what you're probably going to do because contesting 00:20:30.910 --> 00:20:34.910 is hard work. You know, most people fail to realize 00:20:34.910 --> 00:20:37.809 that a 48 -hour contest is more time sitting 00:20:37.809 --> 00:20:40.150 in a chair in front of a computer than you spend 00:20:40.150 --> 00:20:44.319 during your regular work week. I cannot do a 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:48.420 48 -hour contest and get home from work on Friday 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:51.259 at 5 or 6, start the contest while I'm eating 00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:53.839 supper, and go to work on Monday morning feeling 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:57.200 decent. So I'm just not able with my profession 00:20:57.200 --> 00:21:00.640 to do a full 48 hours unless I take part of Monday 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:02.559 off and part of Friday off. And I'm not going 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:05.119 to do that for every contest. For a few, I will. 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:08.539 But figure out how many hours you can operate. 00:21:09.169 --> 00:21:12.349 And then set some goals. And what I suggest you 00:21:12.349 --> 00:21:15.470 do is to follow the advice of Bud Trench and 00:21:15.470 --> 00:21:18.690 the November QST, create a little worksheet. 00:21:18.950 --> 00:21:21.049 It can be a hand -drawn one or an Excel spreadsheet, 00:21:21.390 --> 00:21:25.470 putting in 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10. And just 00:21:25.470 --> 00:21:27.289 say, how many QSOs do I want to work on each 00:21:27.289 --> 00:21:29.369 band? And be realistic, right? If you say right 00:21:29.369 --> 00:21:33.349 now you want to work 600 QSOs on 160, I would 00:21:33.349 --> 00:21:35.630 say you're nuts, because no one works that many 00:21:35.630 --> 00:21:39.049 QSOS on 160, except in the 160 contest, you know? 00:21:39.289 --> 00:21:42.890 But maybe 20 or 30 is enough. But, you know, 00:21:42.890 --> 00:21:46.069 for this coming CQ Worldwide Sideband Contest 00:21:46.069 --> 00:21:48.150 at the end of October, you can probably work 00:21:48.150 --> 00:21:51.809 300 or 400 on 20 meters, because the SFI is high, 00:21:52.309 --> 00:21:55.069 and 15 meters will have a few QSOS for you, and 00:21:55.069 --> 00:21:57.990 10 will be open. So just figure out how many 00:21:57.990 --> 00:22:00.670 QSOS you want to try to work. because most people 00:22:00.670 --> 00:22:03.769 work 20 to 40 an hour. The really good contesters 00:22:03.769 --> 00:22:06.970 can do 50 to 100, especially if you're in a high 00:22:06.970 --> 00:22:10.009 populated area like the East Coast or the West 00:22:10.009 --> 00:22:12.490 Coast. Or if you're in the Caribbean, you can 00:22:12.490 --> 00:22:15.950 sometimes work two to 300 an hour. But it's very 00:22:15.950 --> 00:22:19.069 few hams who can work over 200 an hour, very 00:22:19.069 --> 00:22:21.509 few hams in the US who have even 100 an hour 00:22:21.509 --> 00:22:24.609 as a rate or 150 an hour as a rate. Most of us 00:22:24.609 --> 00:22:27.680 are much less. So just be reasonable. and then 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:30.000 divide the number of QSOs per band and then use 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:33.140 that as a guide, you know, of maybe when you 00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:36.960 move from 40 meters to 80 or to 160. A good rule 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:41.799 of thumb as well, Neil, is don't spend hour upon 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:45.480 hour on 160. Go there for 15 to 20 minutes at 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:47.519 the top or bottom of every hour. You know, it's 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:49.660 like the old submarine from the hunt for red 00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:52.920 October. You know, they will turn starboard at 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:55.460 15 minutes past the hour. Well, that was of course 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:58.099 fiction in the movie, but it's true. You know, 00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:00.740 most of us who contest will go to 160. It's been 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:04.509 15 minutes at most every hour at night. and then 00:23:04.509 --> 00:23:07.029 we'll spend time on 80 and 40 and sometimes 20, 00:23:07.049 --> 00:23:10.029 depending on how late 20 is open. But set some 00:23:10.029 --> 00:23:12.250 goals. That's what I'm doing. In fact, I'm just 00:23:12.250 --> 00:23:15.029 starting the process now. For the last weekend 00:23:15.029 --> 00:23:17.549 of October for CQ Worldwide, I've got some due 00:23:17.549 --> 00:23:20.450 diligence to do to figure out how many QSOs I 00:23:20.450 --> 00:23:22.549 want to try to make. It might be 800. It might 00:23:22.549 --> 00:23:25.309 be 1600. I've got to do that figure out because 00:23:25.309 --> 00:23:28.210 I've scored between those two numbers consistently 00:23:28.210 --> 00:23:31.829 the last 11, 12 years. I'll look at my blog postings 00:23:31.829 --> 00:23:33.819 from the past and try to figure out what I can 00:23:33.819 --> 00:23:36.500 do and then I'll add 10 % to push myself to see 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:39.039 if I can do it. So I think setting goals is important. 00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:41.539 I set goals every year for my ham station believe 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:43.440 it or not. Goals on what I want to change and 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:45.900 improve and goals that I want to achieve like 00:23:45.900 --> 00:23:47.819 how many new countries do I want to work? How 00:23:47.819 --> 00:23:51.559 many other awards do I want to try to get so 00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:53.859 that I can make sure that I've achieved something 00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:56.480 with ham radio that I will look back and say 00:23:56.480 --> 00:24:00.089 I'm glad I did it. Now one of the goals that 00:24:00.089 --> 00:24:04.970 you suggested to My high school club back when 00:24:04.970 --> 00:24:09.690 I was teaching high school was to you know get 00:24:09.690 --> 00:24:15.390 on CQ worldwide and and knock out a hundred countries 00:24:15.390 --> 00:24:20.390 or a hundred entities technically and That was 00:24:20.390 --> 00:24:23.069 a good goal because you know we had to come back 00:24:23.069 --> 00:24:26.269 an extra day and a few few more hours to punch 00:24:26.269 --> 00:24:29.799 that out but but we really liked you know getting 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:33.039 the DX and I probably like DX just as well as 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:36.920 contesting so you know CQ Worldwide is a great 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:40.259 time to kind of get some of both you know commit 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:45.180 to a few hours of operating and then you know 00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:48.559 look for the DX and get a bunch of different 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:52.299 countries and you know you can knock out a couple 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:58.160 hundred in a short amount of time but not maybe 00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:03.200 a couple hundred different entities. But the 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:06.180 hundred, I think, was a good goal. But you had 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:08.980 to spend some serious time that weekend to make 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:13.220 it work. Yes, you did. And I remember helping 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:16.059 you all, challenging your team to that goal at 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:20.859 Dayton or around Dayton. And I think we incentivized 00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:23.160 the students to achieve it. And they did. And 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:25.640 they got the incentive. So I was delighted for 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:29.069 them. You know, Neil, I often set a goal of four 00:25:29.069 --> 00:25:32.369 band DXCC for every contest I enter that's a 00:25:32.369 --> 00:25:36.210 DX contest. Now, I have a station and an antenna 00:25:36.210 --> 00:25:38.730 array that allows that. So my goal for every 00:25:38.730 --> 00:25:40.869 contest is to have a hundred different countries 00:25:40.869 --> 00:25:43.970 on four bands. And when the SFI is high enough, 00:25:44.029 --> 00:25:48.230 it's five. I've never tried six band DXCC because 00:25:48.230 --> 00:25:54.230 generally 10 and 160 are hot or open a lot at 00:25:54.230 --> 00:25:57.710 different times of the sunspot cycle. But the 00:25:57.710 --> 00:26:01.970 really good contest stations like K3LR and K5ZD 00:26:01.970 --> 00:26:06.509 and John Doerr, K1AR and Craig Thompson, K9CT, 00:26:06.589 --> 00:26:08.470 and I'm going to stop here because I don't want 00:26:08.470 --> 00:26:10.930 to not mention many others. There are another 00:26:10.930 --> 00:26:15.009 100 who I could. We'll get that many countries 00:26:15.009 --> 00:26:19.230 four or five band DXCC in a contest weekend. 00:26:20.589 --> 00:26:22.990 If you're like me and your life is busy and you 00:26:22.990 --> 00:26:25.009 don't have three hours in the morning to get 00:26:25.009 --> 00:26:27.920 on 20 meters, 40, and then three hours in the 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:30.779 evening to be on 80. You can compress your operating 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:33.079 fund into a contest weekend and you can achieve 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:36.579 those ham goals. And I liked, you know, Neil 00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:40.160 and I were licensed at about the same time. And 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:42.940 when we were young, it was really hard to get 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:46.180 DXCC. I mean, it took a lifetime to almost get 00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:48.480 it because you had to work 100 countries and 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:50.940 get the cards and get them checked and turned 00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:57.750 in. Now with computer logging and LOTW, you can 00:26:57.750 --> 00:27:03.009 go from no DXCC to two or three band DXCC after 00:27:03.009 --> 00:27:06.950 a contest weekend and the AWRLL will award you 00:27:06.950 --> 00:27:11.170 the award. So yeah, that's really a good point, 00:27:11.410 --> 00:27:15.829 Neil. All right, well, we're overdue for a break. 00:27:15.950 --> 00:27:17.369 So we're going to take a break and we'll come 00:27:17.369 --> 00:27:20.809 back and talk some more about contesting and 00:27:20.809 --> 00:27:23.109 answer some of your questions when we come back 00:27:23.109 --> 00:27:27.809 with Dr. Scott Wright K zero MD. After this word 00:27:27.809 --> 00:27:32.440 from icon right here on ham talk live. 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It 00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:54.420 has RF direct sampling, 110 dB RMDR, independent 00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:58.380 dual receivers, and dual digicel. And the IC9700, 00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:00.920 you can create your own band opening with it. 00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:03.440 This transceiver radio brings direct sampling 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:06.660 to the UHF VHF weak signal world. This all -mode 00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:08.940 transceiver is loaded with innovative features 00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:12.450 that are sure to help keep you busy, faster processors, 00:29:12.890 --> 00:29:15.130 higher input gain, higher display resolution, 00:29:15.390 --> 00:29:17.910 and a cleaner signal. It has a 4 .3 -inch color 00:29:17.910 --> 00:29:20.549 touch screen, real -time spectrum scope and waterfall 00:29:20.549 --> 00:29:23.390 smooth satellite operation with 99 satellite 00:29:23.390 --> 00:29:26.890 channels with dual watch operation and full duplex 00:29:26.890 --> 00:29:30.349 operation in satellite mode. Visit icomamerica 00:29:30.349 --> 00:29:33.670 .com slash amateur for more information on ICOM 00:29:33.670 --> 00:29:37.250 radios. Join the conversation. Give us a call 00:29:37.250 --> 00:29:43.289 at 859 -982 -7373. Again, the number to call 00:29:43.289 --> 00:29:49.869 is 859 -982 -7373. Or if you'd rather type than 00:29:49.869 --> 00:29:53.589 talk, tweet us at HamTalk Live. Now, here's Neil 00:29:53.589 --> 00:30:00.289 Rapp with more HamTalk Live. Copy 594 from HamTalk 00:30:00.289 --> 00:30:23.069 Live. Welcome back to Ham Talk Live. We're on 00:30:23.069 --> 00:30:25.269 the air every Thursday night at 9 p .m. Eastern 00:30:25.269 --> 00:30:28.849 Time, right here at HamTalkLive .com. And be 00:30:28.849 --> 00:30:32.210 sure to check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and 00:30:32.210 --> 00:30:34.630 Instagram. And here in just a little bit, we're 00:30:34.630 --> 00:30:37.509 going to get to your questions. We've had some 00:30:37.509 --> 00:30:41.470 come in on Twitter, but phone lines will be open 00:30:41.470 --> 00:30:44.150 shortly. And let me give you that phone number. 00:30:44.309 --> 00:30:55.079 It's 859 -982. 7373 again 859 -982 -7373 is the 00:30:55.079 --> 00:30:57.539 phone number so we'll get to those but first 00:30:57.880 --> 00:31:01.259 As always, it's time for the Joke of the Week. 00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:04.819 Now it's time for the HamTalk Live Ham Radio 00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:07.059 Joke of the Week, the part of the show where 00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:10.500 Rick tells us a ham radio joke. The HamTalk Live 00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:12.819 Ham Radio Joke of the Week is brought to you 00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:17.559 by QRM Labs. Now, here's Rick Garrett in 9GSU 00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:28.309 with today's HamTalk Live Joke of the Week. Chain 00:31:28.309 --> 00:31:31.710 of pawn shops only for amateur radio operators. 00:31:31.710 --> 00:31:36.549 I'm gonna call it ham hocks This has been the 00:31:36.549 --> 00:31:39.589 ham talk live ham radio joke of the week with 00:31:39.589 --> 00:31:43.309 Rick Garrett in nine GSU Tune in again next week 00:31:43.309 --> 00:31:49.470 for another joke from Rick Well, there you go 00:31:49.470 --> 00:31:53.170 Scott, what do you think ham hocks I Think you 00:31:53.170 --> 00:32:00.329 don't pay him enough. He's a really good Could 00:32:00.329 --> 00:32:04.910 you contest for my hammock? Yes, you can. And 00:32:04.910 --> 00:32:07.349 if you look at Buddy Poles in the Caribbean, 00:32:07.450 --> 00:32:10.430 they show it on YouTube. Yep. Yep. There you 00:32:10.430 --> 00:32:13.049 go. All right. You'll get a good contest while 00:32:13.049 --> 00:32:19.250 you're doing it. I would get a sunburn while 00:32:19.250 --> 00:32:24.259 I'm contesting. My skin tone. Well, it's, uh, 00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:26.579 it's time for your call. So if you have a question, 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:29.279 give us a call. Uh, eight, five, nine, nine, 00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:32.519 eight, two, 73 73. Uh, now's the time to call. 00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:35.579 Uh, you can also tweet us at ham talk live. And 00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:38.940 if you're listening to us on WTWW or on the podcast 00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:42.480 version of the show, uh, we're not here. This 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:48.859 is, uh, done live on Thursdays. So, um, I've 00:32:48.859 --> 00:32:51.039 got a few questions on Twitter here, but I know 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:54.700 you had a kind of a list and you mentioned the 00:32:54.700 --> 00:33:01.819 November QST, which is just now starting to show 00:33:01.819 --> 00:33:07.059 up. And there's a pretty nice little section 00:33:07.059 --> 00:33:10.220 in there about getting started in contesting. 00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:13.859 Yeah, there sure is. I want to commend Bob Enderbitzen 00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:16.579 and Becky Schoenfeld for putting this together. 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:21.000 They really got sponsorship from HRO to build 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:23.559 this contesting section. It's a few pages starting 00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:27.960 about page 64. It has a contest calendar on page 00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:31.200 65. It's got some performance tips from Bud Trench 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:38.000 AA3B, a world premier contester. It's got propagation 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:40.940 tools on page 70 and how to use those. It's got 00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:45.190 how to set goals on pages 68 to 69 by Bud. And 00:33:45.190 --> 00:33:47.230 then it's just got Contesting News and Don'ts 00:33:47.230 --> 00:33:49.430 from the Florida Contest Group. So they've got 00:33:49.430 --> 00:33:52.569 a very diverse group of recommendations and ideas. 00:33:53.150 --> 00:33:55.750 And they've got some beautiful Yesu radios on 00:33:55.750 --> 00:33:57.730 the front and the back of this. And they've got 00:33:57.730 --> 00:34:00.829 somebody at a multi -contest station. It must 00:34:00.829 --> 00:34:03.990 be K9CT station because it's an all flex station 00:34:03.990 --> 00:34:08.230 on the cover of this insert. And I've sent my 00:34:08.230 --> 00:34:11.429 note of appreciation to Becky and suggested they 00:34:11.429 --> 00:34:14.429 consider making these few pages as a sort of 00:34:14.429 --> 00:34:17.269 a as a small monograph or something as a as a 00:34:17.269 --> 00:34:20.369 small bundle to give out at contest meetings 00:34:20.369 --> 00:34:25.530 contest university and and uh you know w9 dxcc 00:34:25.530 --> 00:34:28.210 and w4 dxcc type meetings and i think they're 00:34:28.210 --> 00:34:30.670 going to try to do that so it's really i've already 00:34:30.670 --> 00:34:33.170 torn it out of my qst don't tell the league now 00:34:33.170 --> 00:34:36.710 that i've torn it out of qst it comes out and 00:34:36.710 --> 00:34:38.869 i'm staving it because i've actually learned 00:34:38.869 --> 00:34:42.309 some things even though i'm considered a Experienced 00:34:42.309 --> 00:34:44.909 contest or Neil. So yeah, well, let's go to the 00:34:44.909 --> 00:34:52.030 questions and you know time flies Yeah times 00:34:52.030 --> 00:34:59.039 getting close here. So, Brettwy7bg says, my greatest 00:34:59.039 --> 00:35:02.699 difficulty in contesting has been logging and 00:35:02.699 --> 00:35:06.679 submitting logs. Every contest wants different 00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:09.019 information in the various fields of the log 00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:11.320 file, a different exchange, different format. 00:35:11.900 --> 00:35:16.440 So how do you sort that out? Brett, that's a 00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:19.739 great question, and I've been there. I know exactly 00:35:19.739 --> 00:35:21.800 what you mean and the challenges you're facing. 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:24.960 When you go to a contest -only software program, 00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:28.699 like N1MM, at the end of the contest, you can 00:35:28.699 --> 00:35:31.760 simply, under the file, say, generate Cabrillo 00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:34.480 file, because this was historically a problem 00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:38.360 for all contests and several smart hands, including 00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:43.349 Trey in 6TR, I think. came up with a format called 00:35:43.349 --> 00:35:46.449 the Cabrillo format and that's a contest format 00:35:46.449 --> 00:35:50.369 and it has everything that the contest sponsor 00:35:50.369 --> 00:35:54.969 needs. So N1MM and I think N3FJP both build the 00:35:54.969 --> 00:35:57.909 required data points into the program, the software, 00:35:58.050 --> 00:36:01.380 then when you click generate Cabrillo file, It 00:36:01.380 --> 00:36:04.440 will generate all of those and then you can just 00:36:04.440 --> 00:36:06.920 simply take the Cabrillo file and upload it to 00:36:06.920 --> 00:36:09.719 the contest sponsor and that's all you have to 00:36:09.719 --> 00:36:14.030 do. It's that simple. Yeah, I like it because 00:36:14.030 --> 00:36:16.550 you know you got to go in there and you got to 00:36:16.550 --> 00:36:19.230 tell it all this stuff But it's just a form to 00:36:19.230 --> 00:36:21.789 fill out you know you you fill in your you know 00:36:21.789 --> 00:36:24.550 your grid square and your power And you know 00:36:24.550 --> 00:36:27.429 your call sign of course and and that kind of 00:36:27.429 --> 00:36:30.269 thing and then it takes care of doing all that 00:36:30.269 --> 00:36:34.230 so yeah, I really like in 1mm for that because 00:36:34.230 --> 00:36:37.010 You just don't have to worry about it. Take it 00:36:37.010 --> 00:36:40.559 copy and paste and go Yes, that's a really good 00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:42.380 point. Let's just make this clear for the listeners 00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:45.960 tonight. When you set up N1MM in your logging 00:36:45.960 --> 00:36:49.420 program, you only have to put your name and address 00:36:49.420 --> 00:36:53.440 and email, call sign, and your grid square state 00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:58.059 and CQ and ITU zones in once. And then from then 00:36:58.059 --> 00:37:02.280 on, for the life of N1MM, for software, it remembers 00:37:02.280 --> 00:37:04.340 it. So you don't even have to fill it out for 00:37:04.340 --> 00:37:07.400 a recontest. It's there permanently. And that's 00:37:07.400 --> 00:37:12.960 one of the nice features of this program. uh... 00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:15.559 follows up to uh... you know that the cabrillo 00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:18.659 has a header with all sorts of fields and it's 00:37:18.659 --> 00:37:20.940 kinda hard to figure out what to fill in and 00:37:20.940 --> 00:37:24.019 the contest organizers often aren't clear on 00:37:24.019 --> 00:37:26.940 this and and i think that that kinda deflects 00:37:26.940 --> 00:37:30.159 over to again the logging software i think they're 00:37:30.159 --> 00:37:32.340 they're kinda relying on the logging software 00:37:32.340 --> 00:37:34.699 and the logging software is kinda relying on 00:37:34.699 --> 00:37:38.639 on the contest uh... folks to to exchange that 00:37:38.639 --> 00:37:41.500 information to to kinda alleviate some of that 00:37:42.139 --> 00:37:47.260 Is that accurate? That is. It is. And Brad, I've 00:37:47.260 --> 00:37:49.440 never had trouble with my Krabillo files. Once 00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:52.900 I generate them, I just upload them to the contest 00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:55.539 sponsor. And that's generally all I need to do. 00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:57.880 If I have made a mistake in setting up the M1MM, 00:37:58.000 --> 00:37:59.880 like putting in the wrong name for my contest 00:37:59.880 --> 00:38:04.400 club, or I quickly see that and I can fix it. 00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:08.199 But yeah, and you asked about FT8. I don't contest 00:38:08.199 --> 00:38:11.619 with FT8 yet. I know that most software programs 00:38:11.619 --> 00:38:15.480 have trouble using FT8. I know there are some 00:38:15.480 --> 00:38:18.659 that work, but if you contact Ed Munz, Whiskey 00:38:18.659 --> 00:38:22.960 Zero, Yankee Kilo, I think, Ed is the contest 00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:27.940 manager for the RIDI and FT8 contest for the 00:38:27.940 --> 00:38:30.460 league, and he can help you find a program or 00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:34.800 recommend some programs for you for FT8. Yeah, 00:38:34.800 --> 00:38:39.000 Brett also says some contest exchanges don't 00:38:39.000 --> 00:38:43.219 work with some modes and typically it's the FT8 00:38:43.219 --> 00:38:50.800 or FT4, you know, the ones with shorter amount 00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:54.059 of characters for the contest exchange. And I 00:38:54.059 --> 00:38:56.179 remember, you know, it was a big deal with School 00:38:56.179 --> 00:38:58.699 Club Roundup, which by the way is just, you know, 00:38:58.719 --> 00:39:02.329 a couple of weeks away here. You know that FT8 00:39:02.329 --> 00:39:04.929 wouldn't work because we couldn't send the contest 00:39:04.929 --> 00:39:07.849 exchange. You know you can change it to send 00:39:07.849 --> 00:39:10.389 it but the problem is you got to get the people 00:39:10.389 --> 00:39:14.050 who are working you to send it back to send theirs 00:39:14.050 --> 00:39:19.329 and so that didn't always happen and that caused 00:39:19.329 --> 00:39:22.230 some issues at field day one time too. I think 00:39:22.230 --> 00:39:25.989 the first year FT8 came out we logged all kinds 00:39:25.989 --> 00:39:31.030 of contacts on FT8 and none of them We're valid 00:39:31.030 --> 00:39:34.610 for the contest. Oh, I know field day is not 00:39:34.610 --> 00:39:45.369 a contest but it is But we had to throw all those 00:39:45.369 --> 00:39:51.820 out so yeah Okay, so some good advice there Lisa 00:39:51.820 --> 00:39:55.320 contact their Brett for you. So thanks for listening 00:39:55.320 --> 00:39:59.539 and thanks for writing in with your Questions 00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:03.099 here and hope that helped And if you have a question, 00:40:03.320 --> 00:40:10.320 give us a call at 859 -982 -7373. We're going 00:40:10.320 --> 00:40:13.940 to finish things up here. I think we're through 00:40:13.940 --> 00:40:19.599 what we have here. But I know you had some more 00:40:19.599 --> 00:40:23.380 things from the QST article and some other things 00:40:23.380 --> 00:40:25.440 that you wanted to talk about. So let's pick 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:31.800 back up on the agenda here. I want to give everyone 00:40:31.800 --> 00:40:35.880 one really good contest tip, which is a secret. 00:40:37.360 --> 00:40:40.119 Uh, Neil, can we just keep the secret between 00:40:40.119 --> 00:40:43.920 us? Do you think anyone else? No, there's nobody 00:40:43.920 --> 00:40:48.619 else listening and 10 ,000 of our favorite listeners. 00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:52.699 If you're doing, if you're doing a CW contest 00:40:52.699 --> 00:40:58.969 and you want to call the station. Even if you 00:40:58.969 --> 00:41:03.590 click on the spot, these two secrets will help 00:41:03.590 --> 00:41:07.289 you dramatically. Number one, make sure the call 00:41:07.289 --> 00:41:11.030 sign matches what the spot says, because many 00:41:11.030 --> 00:41:13.710 times the people spotting it have copied it wrong, 00:41:13.909 --> 00:41:16.010 and then you'll miss that point and get a real 00:41:16.010 --> 00:41:19.610 deduction. So that's number one. Number two, 00:41:20.090 --> 00:41:23.099 don't call them exactly on frequency. call them 00:41:23.099 --> 00:41:29.280 50 or 100 or 200 Hertz below or above. And if 00:41:29.280 --> 00:41:32.800 your CW speed is not all that good, call them 00:41:32.800 --> 00:41:37.340 a little slower than they're going because your 00:41:37.340 --> 00:41:40.820 call will take longer to send and they will hear 00:41:40.820 --> 00:41:43.639 the last letter or two of your call after everyone 00:41:43.639 --> 00:41:47.099 else has stopped. The biggest challenge I have 00:41:47.099 --> 00:41:50.900 contesting in the Caribbean with CW. when the 00:41:50.900 --> 00:41:54.320 rates can go consistently 2 to 300 an hour, is 00:41:54.320 --> 00:41:57.420 that CW sounds like radio teletype when everyone 00:41:57.420 --> 00:42:00.940 calls on the same frequency. So I used the RID 00:42:00.940 --> 00:42:05.219 on my radio to go up and down so that I could 00:42:05.219 --> 00:42:09.340 actually hear the stations and call them. And 00:42:09.340 --> 00:42:12.579 I guess there's a bonus tip too, Neil, and that 00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:16.960 is that this is good for DXing too. If you have 00:42:16.960 --> 00:42:19.940 two receivers in your rig, And you can tell what 00:42:19.940 --> 00:42:23.699 frequency the contest station has just heard 00:42:23.699 --> 00:42:26.480 the other station calling them. Transmit on that 00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:28.480 frequency as soon as the other station's done 00:42:28.480 --> 00:42:31.179 and you may be heard. Because not everyone listens. 00:42:31.280 --> 00:42:33.840 People just don't pay attention. They just keep 00:42:33.840 --> 00:42:36.880 banging on F4, F4, which is your call sign on 00:42:36.880 --> 00:42:41.500 M1, M2, M3, FJP. And it doesn't get them anywhere, 00:42:41.500 --> 00:42:45.860 you know? And one bit of advice, if you call 00:42:45.860 --> 00:42:48.739 three, four, five times and they don't hear you, 00:42:49.950 --> 00:42:53.809 Stop Move on come back in ten minutes Because 00:42:53.809 --> 00:42:56.750 on the other end station you're calling they 00:42:56.750 --> 00:42:59.190 may have loud noise. They may have someone who's 00:42:59.190 --> 00:43:03.349 creating a lot of interference Or they just may 00:43:03.349 --> 00:43:05.650 be tired and they need to take a break and then 00:43:05.650 --> 00:43:08.090 they'll hear you within ten minutes I can't tell 00:43:08.090 --> 00:43:11.269 you how many times I have been contesting running 00:43:11.269 --> 00:43:14.949 full legal power With a seven over seven stack 00:43:14.949 --> 00:43:20.159 on 15 meters, and I can't seem to work HK or 00:43:20.159 --> 00:43:23.400 Hotel Charlie, right? So I'll just stop and I'll 00:43:23.400 --> 00:43:25.659 come back an hour later in their first call. 00:43:25.820 --> 00:43:27.699 I get it. So don't waste time. Don't waste 10 00:43:27.699 --> 00:43:30.500 minutes in a pile up. Give them two, three, four 00:43:30.500 --> 00:43:32.880 calls. The big contest is just a good one. Say 00:43:32.880 --> 00:43:35.599 call twice and move. But for those of us who 00:43:35.599 --> 00:43:38.659 live outside of the East Coast, you might have 00:43:38.659 --> 00:43:40.519 to do it three or four times, but then move on 00:43:40.519 --> 00:43:42.199 and come back because they're still going to 00:43:42.199 --> 00:43:43.880 be there. They're still going to work for you. 00:43:44.139 --> 00:43:47.699 But You know, don't waste a lot of time trying 00:43:47.699 --> 00:43:49.360 to work one station when you can get them in 00:43:49.360 --> 00:43:52.000 a half an hour later though It'll take you one 00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:56.840 -fifth the time Yeah, very good advice Well, 00:43:56.960 --> 00:43:59.079 what else do you have for us? We're actually 00:43:59.079 --> 00:44:02.179 kind of at the end of our time here we can go 00:44:02.179 --> 00:44:05.940 a few more minutes if you want but What else 00:44:05.940 --> 00:44:09.099 do you have here for us before we we sign off 00:44:09.099 --> 00:44:13.300 tonight? You know, just a couple of observations, 00:44:13.300 --> 00:44:16.699 if I may, on contesting. One, there is no single 00:44:16.699 --> 00:44:20.079 best contest radio. Now, I use ICOM radios. I've 00:44:20.079 --> 00:44:24.519 had an Ellicraft in the past. I've never owned 00:44:24.519 --> 00:44:26.960 a Yesu radio, but I've used one in a contest 00:44:26.960 --> 00:44:29.619 and I like them a lot. Have great affection for 00:44:29.619 --> 00:44:33.000 Kenwood radios. I like Flex radios. So there's 00:44:33.000 --> 00:44:36.219 no single best contest radio, despite what your 00:44:36.219 --> 00:44:39.019 neighbor, the super contestor, says. Any radio 00:44:39.019 --> 00:44:43.230 is better than no radio. Secondly, just learn 00:44:43.230 --> 00:44:46.309 how to use the filter buttons, make them sometimes 00:44:46.309 --> 00:44:50.510 wider, make them sometimes more narrow, and sometimes 00:44:50.510 --> 00:44:53.150 turn down the RF gain. Instead of maximizing 00:44:53.150 --> 00:44:55.929 it, turn it down so that the noise goes down, 00:44:55.969 --> 00:44:58.590 so your ears don't burn out from all the static 00:44:58.590 --> 00:45:02.469 crashes and all the other QRM or QR Mary, as 00:45:02.469 --> 00:45:07.269 we call it. And on sideband contesting, We like 00:45:07.269 --> 00:45:10.210 to say that 20 meters is where the wild one roams 00:45:10.210 --> 00:45:13.150 and what we mean by that is there is so much 00:45:13.150 --> 00:45:16.969 splatter and distortion on 20 and It gets worse 00:45:16.969 --> 00:45:19.730 in the late part of the day and then 40 has it 00:45:19.730 --> 00:45:22.449 So if you have a chance to go to the higher frequencies 00:45:22.449 --> 00:45:26.090 of 10 and 15 meters, you can get a respite from 00:45:26.090 --> 00:45:29.670 all of them challenges, the auditory challenges 00:45:29.670 --> 00:45:33.469 of 40 and 20, and just have some peace and tranquility 00:45:33.469 --> 00:45:36.289 on 15 and 10, and then go back to 20 and 40. 00:45:36.429 --> 00:45:39.610 But remember, sideband contesting can be hard, 00:45:39.969 --> 00:45:42.750 and there's no way to get rid of all the splatter, 00:45:42.929 --> 00:45:46.070 except turn the RF gain down so that your ears, 00:45:46.289 --> 00:45:49.170 your hearing, and your mind are not overloaded 00:45:49.170 --> 00:45:51.590 with all of the wrong information as you're trying 00:45:51.590 --> 00:45:54.630 to hear the contest station give their exchange. 00:45:56.960 --> 00:45:59.719 All right. Well some great stuff Scott. Thank 00:45:59.719 --> 00:46:02.320 you so much for sharing your your secrets here 00:46:02.320 --> 00:46:05.500 and yeah, we'll just keep it amongst us friends 00:46:05.500 --> 00:46:09.199 here, but Thanks for coming on and talking a 00:46:09.199 --> 00:46:12.460 little bit about this and You know, we've got 00:46:12.460 --> 00:46:14.800 a school club roundup this month. We've got CQ 00:46:14.800 --> 00:46:18.440 worldwide this month you know some some great 00:46:18.440 --> 00:46:22.639 opportunities to jump in and get started and 00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:25.519 And band conditions are always good during a 00:46:25.519 --> 00:46:30.380 contest, right? There you will never find more 00:46:30.380 --> 00:46:33.679 stations on that you do during a contest and 00:46:33.679 --> 00:46:36.860 bands that you thought were dead Will have stations 00:46:36.860 --> 00:46:39.960 on them So don't forget to try 10 and 15 this 00:46:39.960 --> 00:46:43.000 month and don't forget to go down to 160 at least 00:46:43.000 --> 00:46:45.019 for 10 minutes at the top or bottom of every 00:46:45.019 --> 00:46:49.280 hour from sundown to sunrise and Most importantly 00:46:49.280 --> 00:46:52.719 as Rob Sherwood says enjoy it. Have fun. Don't 00:46:52.719 --> 00:46:55.960 let your competitive spirits ruin contesting 00:46:55.960 --> 00:47:01.570 for you Enjoy it and relax and do it. And then 00:47:01.570 --> 00:47:04.630 when you're tired, stop, go watch a television 00:47:04.630 --> 00:47:07.670 show, take a nap, have a meal, then come back 00:47:07.670 --> 00:47:11.550 refreshed. Yeah. Yeah. I think that's, uh, that's 00:47:11.550 --> 00:47:15.610 very important. So thank you so much for being 00:47:15.610 --> 00:47:19.969 here. And, uh, as always, we learned a lot from 00:47:19.969 --> 00:47:23.349 you, uh, anytime you're on. And so thank you 00:47:23.349 --> 00:47:26.289 again. And, um, I'll be talking with you soon. 00:47:27.679 --> 00:47:30.079 Thank you, Neil, and it's a pleasure and I look 00:47:30.079 --> 00:47:32.420 forward to working you this month and hopefully 00:47:32.420 --> 00:47:36.559 seek you worldwide for hearing you on for a contest 00:47:36.559 --> 00:47:41.000 coming up later this year. 73, my friend. 73. 00:47:41.340 --> 00:47:44.480 Well, that is a wrap for this week's edition 00:47:44.480 --> 00:47:46.820 of HamTalk Live. Thanks to my guest, Dr. Scott 00:47:46.820 --> 00:47:50.340 Wright, KZeroMD. and everybody out there in cyberspace 00:47:50.340 --> 00:47:53.639 for listening and typing in tonight. And I invite 00:47:53.639 --> 00:47:56.039 you back next Thursday night at 9 p .m. Eastern 00:47:56.039 --> 00:47:59.500 time. We have three guests coming on next week. 00:47:59.679 --> 00:48:03.420 We have Michael Coulter, W8CI from Hamvention, 00:48:03.639 --> 00:48:06.880 Mark Brown in for BCD from Huntsville and Michael 00:48:06.880 --> 00:48:08.840 Colley. And I got to get used to this new call 00:48:08.840 --> 00:48:14.179 W4ORL from Hamcation. And they're going to be 00:48:14.179 --> 00:48:16.880 talking about the challenges of the pandemic 00:48:16.880 --> 00:48:21.440 with HamFest and where things stand with kind 00:48:21.440 --> 00:48:24.639 of the big three HamFest. So they will all be 00:48:24.639 --> 00:48:28.820 here next week and we'll take your calls as well. 00:48:29.440 --> 00:48:31.619 So for a list of all of our upcoming guests, 00:48:31.820 --> 00:48:34.400 go to HamTalkLive .com and if you like the show, 00:48:34.500 --> 00:48:37.260 please leave us a review. That's all we ask. 00:48:37.320 --> 00:48:40.719 So for now, this is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG saying 00:48:40.719 --> 00:48:44.659 seven three, seven five and may the good DX be 00:48:44.659 --> 00:48:45.139 yours.