The MØTZO Blog

M2W in IARU HF World Championships

Paul, MØTZO — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:19:27 +0000

Contest         : IARU HF World Championships
Callsign        : M2W
Mode            : PHONE
Category        : Single Operator (SO)
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/… : 27
Locator         : IO91VJ
Operating time : 7h45

BAND   QSO DUP ITU HQ POINTS   AVG
————————————–
160     0   0   0   0       0 0.00
80     3   0   1   2       5 1.67
40    21   0   4 13      33 1.57
20    79   0 10 23     201 2.54
15    27   0   4 10      55 2.04
10    14   0   3   6      28 2.00
————————————–
TOTAL   144   0 22 54     322 2.24
======================================
TOTAL SCORE : 24 472

Dupes are not included in QSO counts neither avg calculations

Operators       : M0TZO

Powered by Win-Test 3.21.0       http://www.win-test.com

Was active in the IARU HF World Championships as M2W from Midday (UTC) Saturday 12th July - about 8am (UTC) Sunday 13th July, by which time I was knackered.

I could have probably done as little better, but was also looking after my 9 year old nephew.

Was my first big scale HF contest on my own, although I was going to do with Peter M3PHP, but he had a medical emergency (he is better now).

Equipment used:-

Icom IC-756ProIII
- Yaesu FT-897 for a few contacts on 80m as had better ATU
Icom SM-20 Desk Mic
WinTest Logging Software (but RigExpert S/D wouldn’t work, so manual band changes)
Laptop to keep Nephew amused for hours quietly

OK, wasn’t the best entry, and will not win any awards, but I did better than my CQ WPX entry were I got Zero entries.

M2W in IARU HF World Championships

Icom IC-756PROIII

Paul, MØTZO — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:46:10 +0000

Earlier in the year my Uncle who got me interestred in Ham Radio passed away. When my grandparents returned from first trip they brought back his Icom IC-737, but said there was another radio but weren’t sure what.

Well, a couple of weeks ago my granddad said was some stuff in car & could I help him with it. I was expecting him to bring up a UPS unit. Was I wrong.

There was boxes with a complete setup for an Icom IC-756PROIII HF Transceiver (the ProIII, matching Speaker, PSU, & Microphone). The IC-737 was swiftly replaced in the shack, and by end of that Saturday evening, James M0BOV had helped me sort audio levels, & I took part in the 10m Saturday Home Counties net.

It’s a fantastic radio. Should be as new would cost £1,800. For me the Scope is and the filtering are it’s best features, but it has so much more. Anyway this it not a review, but merely to inform readers of the latest shack additions.

Also if all goes well (lets not think of CQ WPX earlier this year), then Peter M3PHP & myself should be operating in the IARU Contest on 12th/13th July 2008.

Icom IC-756PROIII

Hustler 6-BTV is now Vertical

Paul, MØTZO — Mon, 26 May 2008 20:12:27 +0000

With thanks to James MØBOV & Peter M3PHP my Hustler 6-BTV is now vertical as it should be, and not horizontal as it has been recently.

James helped with assembing the antenna earlier in the year, but due to a few problems was not put up then.

Peter stayed over Friday & Saturday and helped clearing the garden, pointing the antenna skyward & guying it as well

When the antenna cable was connected, we fired up the Icom IC-737 and 10m was bustling with activity.

Within a short space of time we had worked Germany, Switzerland, Scotland and Italy all on 28MHz SSB.

On Sunday and Monday the antenna also survived terrible weather that had brought down trees, and caused other problems on railways, etc.

To see some photos go to my gallery at:- gallery.m0tzo.co.uk/may2008/

Also in regards to 2m & 70cms, Peter and myself sorted the Ecoflex 15 cable so that I no longer needed the 1m patch lead to reach the radio. Someone has already mentioned I am getting out to them a lot better than normal.

Hustler 6-BTV is now Vertical

PickMyRig.com

Paul, MØTZO — Sat, 17 May 2008 22:03:30 +0000

Any guesses what the site is about???

It’s a site where you can choose your new Amateur Radio including Base stations, handhelds and mobile radios.

Rather than me trying to explain, just visit www.pickmyrig.com and see for yourself.

PickMyRig.com

Thanks for the Shoutout Dom

Paul, MØTZO — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:05:42 +0000

Was just shown the following video.

Amateur Radio, the Internet and the Future

Playing with the new WebSDR service this week http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/ got me thinking about the future of amateur radio, and how far we should take linking the hobby to the internet.
This is kind of long, and sort of serious, but do let me know what you think.

(Disclaimer: All comments are personal opinions only. Particularly where I talk about award schemes, this is not a reflection of Islands on the Air or RSGB policy)

Also if you also check it out from 6:15 or there abouts Hamtests.co.uk is given a mention. Thanks Dom M0BLF.

Thanks for the Shoutout Dom

Hamtests.co.uk Awarded the Kenwood Trophy

Paul, MØTZO — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:04:49 +0000

It is 21:00 & I am starting to write this heading back to London on the train from Bristol.

The RSGB AGM is over and Peter M3PHP & myself have finally collected our Kenwood Trophy for “making significant contributions to Training and Development in Amateur Radio within the United Kingdom” to Hamtests.co.uk from the RSGB board.

The rest of the day was also interesting at the AGM, although the open forum session in the afternoon proved very interesting to hear member’s views and getting answers from the board.

To finish off the evening we went for dinner with Iain M0PCB, Chloe (M0GEJ), Paul (M3JFM) and Terry (G0LUQ).

Hamtests.co.uk Awarded the Kenwood Trophy

Next Step to Learning Morse

Paul, MØTZO — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:24:11 +0000

I attended the Kempton Radio Rally on 6th April and made a few purchases including the book pictured.

The hope is that I can finally get my head around to learning “the code”.

Few ideas I have from the book already so maybe change the setup of the software I am using to the order suggested in the book.

Made a few other purchases including:-

2x Patch leads
Yaesu power lead (for FT-897 charger)
Boom microphone / earphone for FT-60
8Gb USB memory stick
Self-amalgamating tape
2x Banana Plugs (1x red, 1x black)
2x PL259s for RG58
Even more out of thin air (for friend)

Next Step to Learning Morse

CQ WPX - If it could have gone wrong, it did

Paul, MØTZO — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:45:49 +0000

What a disaster.

Everything that could have gone wrong, did for me. I could go into detail, but will list instead.

Uncle passed away
- No operation from France
Finish Radio Shack
Radio/Antenna
- Only assembled days before (thanks James M0BOV)
- To finish, had tools missing (mainly had Metric, and needed 2x ¼” sockets)
  - Also couldn’t find Self-amalgamating tape
- Weather & Night time prevented this being looked at until gone 5am, 5hrs into contest
- Tried with Antenna horizontal, but stations couldn’t hear me
PC
- Crashed, more than once
  - Installed 2nd Soundcard to handle the Digital Voice Keying. Computer wouldn’t load
  - Removed and PC wouldn’t start.
    - Finally found that Video card wasn’t seated properly
- LCD Screen caused interference on 40m
  - No Filter I could add
    - Quickly brought15″ CRT down
      - Still not able to get signal out

Anyway, not sure how I should finish this article, been looking at for few days. Just the main this is I have definately learnt lessons from this.

So, Plans do not always go to plan, & even if you change you plans everything make seem to be going OK, until the crunch time. Planning is underway for testing radio BEFORE next contest, and to make sure where possible have backup solutions.

CQ WPX - If it could have gone wrong, it did

RSGB Kenwood Trophy 2008 award winners

Paul, MØTZO — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:14:41 +0000

So am on my tea-break and check my text messages and find the following from Peter (M3PHP):-

Myself and @Gadget17 have been awarded the RSGB Kenwood Trophy for significant contribution to training in providing hamtests.co.uk Woohoo! (via Twitter magicbug)

I have to call him and find out and he tells me that this morning he woke up to find not only had RSGB Radcom arrived but a letter from the RSGB, on further inspection it turns out that the RSGB Board have awarded Paul (M0TZO) & myself the ‘Kenwood Trophy’ for our significant contribution to training in providing the HamTests.co.uk website which offers mock questions for all levels of licences. (copied in part from following Peter M3PHP post)

We are of course very proud to be awarded the Kenwood Trophy and will be attending the RSGB AGM which takes place in Bristol on the 19^th April 2008 and commences at 11am.

If you are going to the AGM do say hello you can’t miss us, and of course checkout www.hamtests.co.uk

RSGB Kenwood Trophy 2008 award winners

Countdown to New Shack

Paul, MØTZO — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:06:07 +0000

The new shack is moving on at a pace now. Spent today painting the ceiling with another coat of paint, even typing this with a little paint still left on hands.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) I will be giving the final coat and touching up the paint on the walls. Also I will be glossing the doors and window sill.

On Saturday James, MØBOV & Martin M1MRB have said they should be able to come round to help me install my Hustler 6-BTV (I know, about time).

With less than 2 weeks to CQ WPX I have to finish this.

Finally, on Friday will be operating /p with James MØBOV.

Countdown to New Shack