Introduction
The next Practical Wireless 144MHz QRP contest will be held on Sunday 15th June, 2014. The official website with rules, times, help etc is here: http://www.pwcontest.org.uk/. I have participated in this event twice before, first in 2012 with Cwmbran & District Amateur Radio Society, Club Callsign MC0YAD (links to http://www.mc0yad.co.uk/), and then once again in 2013 with the same club.
For operating with Cwmbran & DARS (links to http://www.mc0yad.co.uk/) the plan is to use computer logging, but as a backup plan we have customised the official log sheets (links to http://www.mw0llo.com/download-files/144MHzLogsheet.rtf).
Cwmbran & DARS Past Results
2012: 1st Entry in Contest
Here are the results of Cwmbran & DARS first attempt at this contest.
| Pos | Name | Callsign | Score | QSOs | Squs | Sngl op | Loc | Ant. | asl,m | Tx/Rx |
|---|
| 31 | Cwmbran & DARS | MC0YAD/P | 315 | 35 | 9 | No | IO81 | 9-ele Yagi | 307 | Yaesu FT897 |
2013: 2nd Entry in Contest
Here are the results from the second attempt at the contest in 2013. Whilst further down the leader board, the score was almost doubled from 315 to 605, with QSOs up 20 from 35 to 55, and an extra 2 squares worked.
| Pos | Name | Callsign | Score | QSOs | Squs | Sngl op | Loc | Ant. | asl,m | Tx/Rx |
|---|
| 36 | Cwmbran & DARS | MC0YAD/P | 605 | 55 | 11 | No | IO81 | 9-ele Innov LFA Yagi | 307 | Yaesu FT897 |
2014: Sunday 15th June 2014
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Planning
Below is a list of equipment (in no particular order) that might be necessary to support a typical amateur radio field day such as one incorporating the QRP contest:
Antenna(s) and Mast
| 2 x 9 element 144MHz LFA PBP Yagi (InnovAntenna (links to http://www.innovantennas.com/) 9-element LFA Yagi ) | |
| 51mm external diameter swaged aluminium Mast sections (5ft each) (from Moonraker (links to http://www.moonrakerukltd.com/)) | |
| 2 x 2.3m long Ecoflex 15 feeder patch leads to connect between each antenna and power combiner \ divider | |
| 2 port 1/4wl 144MHz 50 Ohm power divider 144-PS-2 (from InnovAntenna (links to http://www.innovantennas.com/)) | |
| 1 x Ecoflex 15 feeder patch lead to connect between power combiner \ divider and masthead pre-amplifier (parts from Nevada (links to http://www.nevadaradio.co.uk/)) | |
| Microset PRH-145A masthead pre-amplifier (from Waters & Stanton (links to http://www.wsplc.com/)) | |
| Ecoflex 15 Feeder (£5.99 per metre from Nevada (links to http://www.nevadaradio.co.uk/)) | |
| Dyneema Guy Wires | |
| Tiltover Mast Base (from Antenna Engineering, 60 Main Street, Hoby, Leicestershire, LE14 3DT, UK (links to http://www.antennaengineering.co.uk/)) | |
| Ground Stakes and Removal Bar | |
| SPID-BIG-RAK Azimuth Rotator (from InnovAntenna (links to http://www.innovantennas.com/)) | |
| 4-Core Rotator Cable | |
| Rotator PSU \ Controller | |
| Rotatable Guy-Wire Clamp | |
| Gin Pole Mast Sections and Attachment | |
Cable Connectors
7395 N-Connector Male for Ecoflex 15 (links to http://ssb.de/ssb/files/7395_n-connector_solderless_ecoflex_15.pdf)
7397 N-Connector Female for Ecoflex 15 (links to http://ssb.de/ssb/files/7397_n-socket_solderless_ecoflex_15.pdf)
Antenna Details
The manual for the antennas used gives the following detail for vertical stacking: (2.05 – 3.0m) 2.899m.
Radio Station Proper
| Leisure Battery | |
| 13.8V Mains PSU | |
| Rig FT-897 | |
| Rig Fused DC Power Lead | |
| N-type to SO-239\PL-259 adapter | |
| Rig Microphone | |
| Leisure Battery | |
| Leisure Battery Mains Charger | |
| Generator | |
| Fuel for Generator | |
| Mains Extension Lead \ trailing extension socket | |
| QRP Power Limiting circuit as published by PW for FT-897 | |
Operating Setup
2m Bandplan (links to http://rsgb.org/main/operating/band-plans/vhf-uhf/144mhz-band/)
| Chair | |
| Paper Log Book | |
| Pens | |
| Contest Rules | |
| Clock | |
| Laptop | |
| Wireless Mouse, plus USB receiver | |
| Laptop PSU | |
| Operating instruction sheets, locator map etc. | |
| Compass | |
| Desk Lamp | |
Welfare
| Mobile Phone | |
| Mobile Phone Charger | |
| First aid box | |
| Food | |
| Paper Plates, Cutlery | |
| Drink | |
| Disposable Cups | |
| Bin Bags | |
| Tent | |
| Tea \ Coffee \ Sugar \ Sweetener | |
| Kettle | |
| Tent | |
Tools
| Socket Set | |
| Screwdrivers | |
| Allen Keys | |
| |
Consumables
| Cable Ties | |
| Electrical Tape | |
Operating QTH
During the 2014 contest I plan to operate with other members of Cwmbran & DARS from the local "Mountain Air" location, which is a layby just off Mountain Road near Cwmbran:
The contest relies upon exchanging "locator squares". These are squares that define areas of land upon the earth as set out in the Maidenhead Locator System (links to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maidenhead_Locator_System). I have used the calculator at http://www.levinecentral.com/ham/grid_square.php to plot out the locator square that I plan to operate with Cwmbran & DARS in 2014, ie IO81LQ.
Locator Square IO81LQ
WAB Square: ST29
Nearest Postcode: NP4 5XZ
Landranger OS Grid Reference: ST278981
OS X (Eastings): 327814
OS X (Northings): 198156
Longitude: -3.04547 W (-3o 2' 44" W)
Latitude: 51.67784 N (51o 40' 40" N)