I’ve been upgrading the SO2R position at SJ2W with the addition of a Elecraft K3 and an MK2R+. I’ve been busy making cables with filters built into the D-SUB connectors for the MK2R+ since I think it lacks a bit filtering. I need to finish up the cables for the K3 and need to think abit of how to do it so I can change between remote and local operation without changing any cables. I’ve listened a bit on the radio and it seem to be OK, we will see after the first contest what I think of it.
Lately I’ve been busy working on a few projects. I am making an own version of the Microkeyer II that does not need any router software on the computer and a bit more features plus interlock which is going to be useful in M/S. It has got dual soundcard USB codecs, one for digital modes and one used for voice keying. It has got a Winkey chip, FSK, CW etc generated and all this with a single USB cable.
Also, it has got proper filtering on all signals plus the interface is isolated both from the computer and the radio.
Some work has also been done on the QBL amplifier project and I built a small 2×1 switch to toggle between 12/17m so I can run 12m this winter remotely.
CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW
Call: SJ2W
Operator(s): SE2T SM2EZT SM2IUF SM2LIY SM2UVU SM2WMV
Station: SJ2W
Class: M/S HP
QTH: Da Traesk
Operating Time (hrs): 48
Summary:
Band QSOs Zones Countries
------------------------------
160: 136 15 61
80: 454 32 112
40: 1656 39 143
20: 1830 39 132
15: 1323 40 135
10: 607 38 141
------------------------------
Total: 6006 203 724 Total Score = 11,439,180
Club: Worldwide Young Contesters
Comments:
We had a few new operators which was a great addition, since it made working the
contest a lot easier with more rest, hopefully they are interested in joining us
for more efforts.
We did our second effort using S&P on the running band and this time it
worked better. We RX with just verticals located far away from the TX antennas
and this needs to be improved. However we logged 892 additional QSOs with the
"inband" radio with 60% of these being 3-pt QSOs and many mults. A
project for next year will be to put up a tower with yagis instead to improve
this more.
Our goal in CQWW CW 2011 was to work 6000Q, we didn't make it that time but
this time we managed to get > 6000Q. However it wont be that high after log
check by CQWW but at least we claimed it. The score is a bit higher than the 11
Meg in 2011 but our mult total is a lot lower. The first day wasn't really good
and we suffered a lot on the lowbands. It got a lot better on Sunday but we
couldn't make up for the lost mults.
In the SSB part we got favored more by the propagation's and could get into top
5 EU but this time we had no chance against the guys further south. Still we're
very happy to have improved our Scandinavian record a bit more.
Antennas
160m: 1/4 vert
80m: 4-SQ
40m: 3/3el + 2/2el + 4-SQ
20m: 6/6/6el + 5/5el + 4el @EU
15m: 6/6el + 5el
10m: 6/6el + 6el @46m
RX inband: 3-band vertical ~450m away + single verticals for 40 and 80
RUN: FT1000MKV + ACOM 2000A (Sponsored by Ojojoj Music AB)
INBAND (S&P on run band): FT1000MKV
MULT1: FT5000 + Expert SPE
MULT2: IC-7400 + 4CX1500B
N1MM Logger
Now when the winter has come and outdoor work has pretty much stopped, I’ve started the work on the QBL amplifier. I got some transformers from SM3MXR and also a tube in good condition plus some parts for the sockets, thank you Einar!
Also we suffered from one of the worst storms for a long time @SJ2W. Luckily everything was fine except the driven element of the 40m top yagi twisted on the boom, but it’s an easy fix. A couple of trees fell as well and THAT is the reason why I don’t want big trees close to guy wires because they can’t be trusted!
