Archive for October, 2017

MORE INFO ON THE RECENT 2017 SALMON RUN CONTEST

Monday, October 30th, 2017

LINK TO SDXA PLAQUE WINNERS
(SINCE DAY ONE)

SDXA sponsors a plaque for the highest score in the following mixed category:

1. Single Operator
2. Operating in the EWA ARRL Section
3. Running Low Power of 100 or less watts
4. Mixed Mode (two or mode modes with a percentage specified in the Rules)

Here are some comments from the Notables:

HAROLD HEPPNER AD7QJ – SDXA MEMBER

Washington County Expedition
Single operator, Single transmitter (EXP-SOST)
Mode: Phone

I’m sitting on the SPO-STE county line. One end of the antenna is in a tree in Spokane county and the other attached to a temporary pole in Stevens county; the balun is hanging from the pole behind the pop-up.

20 counties and 6 states plus a bonus for working W7DX.

Conditions were bad, score is 4556

Harold AD7QJ

RANDY FOLTZ K7TQ & JAY HOLCOMB WA0WWW – BOTH SDXA MEMBERS

Jay, WA0WWW, and I successfully put 20 WA counties on the air. The good part was that we exceeded our 2015 QSO count of 500 Qs with a heafty 604 Qs. The not so good part of that was our mult count was way down so we came in with a final score less than in 2015. This time our score was 95,224.

Gary, K7GS, caught us in Stevens on 20 and 40 then again in Pend Oreille on 20. Jay was at the key and got Gary to QSY to 40 in Stevens. Great move, Gary. We didn’t hear any other SDXA calls. Thanks to all who tried to work us. 40 m during the day was a giant wasteland. We tried it almost every 15 to 25 minutes after the hour for at least a few minutes, but got nothing until the sun went down. By then 20 was nearly dead. It was a fun time for both Jay and I.
Full story and pictures at this RANDY & JAY LINK.

Randy F and Jay H

MICHAEL “DINK” DINKELMAN N7WA – WWDXC MEMBER
Call: W7DX
Operator(s): N7BV N7ZG W7UDH N7WA
Station: W7DX

left to right: Jim K7WA, Dink N7WA, & Daniel W7WA

Class: Unlimited HP

Summary:
Band CW Qs Ph Qs Dig Qs
—————————-
160: 0 0 0
80: 95 96 3
40: 220 104 10
20: 383 647 66
15: 27 8 0
10: 1 0 0
6: 0 0 0
2: 0 0 0
—————————-
Total: 726 855 79 Mults = 98 Total Score = 403,956

Club: Western Washington DX Club

Comments:

This was a three station Unlimited operation from three different counties (one for each mode). I hope you actually copied the county for each mode instead of using the log pre-fill. Sounds like some people got confused.

Conditions sucked, but I think too many people gave up on 15M. I went to 15M a lot (even 10M). Whenever I went there, there usually a few people and they were usually quite readable. They ranged from locals to the east coast. Sunday was like the Sweepstakes “Sunday Grind”. Just call into the wind and sometimes something came back to wake you up.

There were challenges in getting three stations networked together over the internet. Only the CW station was able to see the other two. SSB and RTTY couldn’t see each other’s logs or send Talk messages.

I really tried hard for the mobiles. Every time one was spotted, I would do a look-see. Weaker than well water if they could be heard at all. Fortunately, they did seem to be working others outside the state.

My thanks to my partners in this endeavor (N7BV and N7ZG). Sometimes it was really boring, but they stayed BIC. My thanks to W7UDH for coming over and sitting in my chair for a few hours.

cheers
dink, n7wa
__._,_.___

GARY SWARTOUT K7GS WINS THE SDXA-SPONSORED SR PLAQUE

Monday, October 30th, 2017

2017 SALMON RUN CONTEST RESULTS ANNOUNCED




Congratulations to Gary. It’s been a long time since a SDXA member won our plaque. Gary barely missed the plaque last year, coming in second in the plaque’s particular category behind Gene Bye W7WMO who has won it six times in the past. Gary also had the high score for Spokane County.

Gary’s statistics:

384 QSOs
58 multipliers
60,182 points

The plaque is given to the highest score satisfying these parameters:

  • Single Operator operation
  • using Low Power
  • Operating in the ARRL EWA Section
  • Mixed mode (two or more modes [phone, CW, & digital], at least 5% of score in the smallest one)

The plaque will be presented at the Annual Awards Banquet at the Argonne Road Longhorn BBQ on December 7.

Other SDXA member and their results:


Gary K7OX: 253 QSOs, 54 multipliers, 39,016 points in the Single Operator, All band, Low Power, Mixed Mode category


Harold AD7QJ: 78 QSOs, 26 multipliers, 4,556 points in the Expedition, Single Operator, Single Transmitter, SSB mode category


Mel N7GCO: 64 QSOs, 30 multipliers, 4,340 points in the Single Operator, All Band, High Power, SSB mode category


Mark KB7HDX: 262 QSOs, 71 multipliers, 37,704 points in the Single Operator All Band, low Power, SSB category (Honorary member)


Our dynamic duo of Randy K7TQ and Jay WA0WWW came in second in the general Washington Mobile category, but took first in the Mobile CW category with 604 QSOs, 52 multipliers, and 94,724 points (activating 20 Washington counties in their trip).

SDXA took 3rd in the club scores with a total of 198,262 points only bested by the Radio Club of Redmond and the South Hill Contest Club.

The entire Salmon Run scores for all entrants are at this 2017 WWDXC Salmon Run Winners LINK

Here are the past winners of the plaque:

2003 GENE BYE W7WMO, EPHRATA (84,416 points)
2004 GENE BYE W7WMO, EPHRATA (131,080 points)
2005 GARY ELLIOTT K7OX, SPOKANE (SDXA MEMBER) (170,154 points)
2006 GARY ELLIOTT K7OX, SPOKANE (SDXA MEMBER) (172,800 points)
2007 GENE BYE W7WMO, EPHRATA (104,140 points)
2008 WILSE MORGAN WX7P, RICE (SDXA MEMBER – SK) (124,992 points)
2009 GARY ELLIOTT K7OX, SPOKANE (SDXA MEMBER) (261,236 points)
2010 GENE BYE W7WMO, EPHRATA (172,264 points)
2011 RICK OLSEN N6NR, TIETON (245,096 points)
2012 RICK WERNER K7UK, WALLA WALLA (77,595 points)
2013 GENE BYE W7WMO, EPHRATA (132,653 points)
2014 LAMAR RAY WA7LT, SPOKANE (SDXA MEMBER) (160,630 points)
2015 GENE BYE W7WMO, EPHRATA (52,976 points)
2016 GENE BYE W7WMO, EPHRATA (97,430 points)

THANKS TO BETSY ASHLEMAN N7WRQ

Sunday, October 22nd, 2017

FOR CHAIRING THE ANNUAL SPOKANE HAMFEST IN SEPTEMBER –
AND A LOT OF THEM!
WE WILL MISS YOUR DIRECTION ON THIS GREAT EVENT


typical Spokane hamfest

WRTC 2018 CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED

Sunday, October 22nd, 2017

WRTC 2018 e.V., organizer and host of the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) 2018, is proud to announce the 63 teams that will be invited to compete in Germany next July.

WRTC is a competition among two-operator teams. Team Leaders have now been selected for each qualifying region based on 2 years of qualifying contest scores. The Team Leaders were given the option to select any operator as a Team Mate to complete their team.

The team application and verification process was managed by Ulf Ehrlich, DL5AXX. Ulf pointed out: “This will be a very competitive field. The top three teams of WRTC 2014 in Boston will participate once again in the 2018 event!”

The five sponsored teams, all representing high level contesters, have already been announced some time ago. The selection of the Youth and Wild Card Teams required a more formal application process and, therefore, could only be completed recently.

WRTC 2018 e.V. has received seven applications from Youth Teams, representing contesters younger than 25. The selection was based on the number of qualification points, as defined in the rules. Team Leaders will be CE2MVF (9107 points), YO8TTT (7254 points) and HA8RT (5056 points). These results made it easy to decide in favor of the three Youth Teams invited to participate in the WRTC 2018 competition.

Issuing Wild Cards has been an entirely different process. Similar to the approach taken by the organizers of the WRTC 2014 in Boston we have selected UN9LW (with Team Mate UN7LZ), who missed the qualification criteria by just 24 points. Honoring the cleanest log of high scorers ZL3CW (with F6BEE) was offered another Wild Card. Because of the close competition in region EU#5 featuring outstanding results another Wild Card was offered to 9A7DX (with 9A3LG) to join WRTC 2018. We also invited YV1DIG, performing excellently behind the curtain of zone 9 DXpedition stations. Finally we unanimously selected K1DG, chairman of the WRTC 2014, well known top level contester, and champion of the first WRTC in 1990. Not only did he do an outstanding job in Boston. By offering a Wild Card to him we also wanted to express our appreciation and thanks to all of the many fine people making WRTC 2014 in Boston such a great success. His Team Mate will be N2NT – 2014 Competition Director and number five in NA#1 with 10.6 k points.

The complete list of competitors is available on our website: http://wrtc2018.de/index.php/en/competition/participants

When making the announcement, WRTC 2018 President Christian Janssen, DL1MGB, stated: “We are pleased to see a mix of veterans of previous WRTC events and first-time participants among the competitors. The teams represent over 35 countries and a wide range of personal backgrounds. While the focus will be on the competition, we are looking forward to hosting the teams and celebrating a week of ham spirit together with competitors, organizers, volunteers and sponsors during the WRTC week.”

Here is the LINK to the list of final participants. Notice that former SDXA member Chris KL9A is part of the defending champion team.

October 2017 Minutes

sdxa_minutes_2017_10web_revb[17853]

SEPTEMBER, 2017 SDXA DX NET CHECK-INS

Saturday, October 21st, 2017

September 21, 2017

KI7DG CHUCK
K7GS GARY
W7TJ RANDY
K7AWB STEVE
N7AU BOB, NET CONTROL
AD7XG GARY
W7MEM MARK
W7GSV BOB

October 19, 2017

W7GSV BOB
W7TJ RANDY
K7AWB STEVE
WX7B CHRIS
K7GS GARY
AD7XG GARY
N7AU BOB
KG7UG TOM


2017 SALMON RUN CONTEST RESULTS ANNOUNCED

GARY SWARTOUT K7GS WINS THE SDXA-SPONSORED PLAQUE


Congratulations to Gary. It’s been a long time since a SDXA member won our plaque. Gary barely missed the plaque last year, coming in second in the plaque’s particular category behind Gene Bye W7WMO who has won it six times in the past. Gary also had the high score for Spokane County.

Gary’s statistics:

384 QSOs
58 multipliers
60,182 points

The plaque is given to the highest score satisfying these parameters:

  • Single Operator operation
  • using Low Power
  • Operating in the ARRL EWA Section
  • Mixed mode (two or more modes [phone, CW, & digital], at least 5% of score in the smallest one)

The plaque will be presented at the Annual Awards Banquet at the Argonne Road Longhorn BBQ on December 7.

Other SDXA member and their results:


Gary K7OX: 253 QSOs, 54 multipliers, 39,016 points in the Single Operator, All band, Low Power, Mixed Mode category


Harold AD7QJ: 78 QSOs, 26 multipliers, 4,556 points in the Expedition, Single Operator, Single Transmitter, SSB mode category


Mel N7GCO: 64 QSOs, 30 multipliers, 4,340 points in the Single Operator, All Band, High Power, SSB mode category


Mark KB7HDX: 262 QSOs, 71 multipliers, 37,704 points in the Single Operator All Band, low Power, SSB category (Honorary member)


Our dynamic duo of Randy K7TQ and Jay WA0WWW came in second in the general Washington Mobile category, but took first in the Mobile CW category with 604 QSOs, 52 multipliers, and 94,724 points (activating 20 Washington counties in their trip).

SDXA took 3rd in the club scores with a total of 198,262 points only bested by the Radio Club of Redmond and the South Hill Contest Club.

The entire Salmon Run scores for all entrants are at this 2017 WWDXC Salmon Run Winners LINK

Here are the past winners of the plaque:

2003 GENE BYE W7WMO, EPHRATA (84,416 points)
2004 GENE BYE W7WMO, EPHRATA (131,080 points)
2005 GARY ELLIOTT K7OX, SPOKANE (SDXA MEMBER) (170,154 points)
2006 GARY ELLIOTT K7OX, SPOKANE (SDXA MEMBER) (172,800 points)
2007 GENE BYE W7WMO, EPHRATA (104,140 points)
2008 WILSE MORGAN WX7P, RICE (SDXA MEMBER – SK) (124,992 points)
2009 GARY ELLIOTT K7OX, SPOKANE (SDXA MEMBER) (261,236 points)
2010 GENE BYE W7WMO, EPHRATA (172,264 points)
2011 RICK OLSEN N6NR, TIETON (245,096 points)
2012 RICK WERNER K7UK, WALLA WALLA (77,595 points)
2013 GENE BYE W7WMO, EPHRATA (132,653 points)
2014 LAMAR RAY WA7LT, SPOKANE (SDXA MEMBER) (160,630 points)
2015 GENE BYE W7WMO, EPHRATA (52,976 points)
2016 GENE BYE W7WMO, EPHRATA (97,430 points)

September 2017 Minutes

sdxa_minutes_2017_09web[13461]

K7HPT IS UP AND RUNNING

Sunday, October 8th, 2017

Mark K7HPT had a problem with his SteppIR DB18 antenna so it was taken down and checked out. It may have been tarnished pins on some of the internal connections. Anyway, its up again and working. Mark can now continue to progress towards his first DXCC award. A previous article on taking down his antenna is in the Recent News section at the bottom of this page.


Tower climber Gary AD7XG ready to rock n’ roll up the tower

Gary on the tower

Mark holding the DB18 up with one finger or is it two?

FAQ’s

What is the SDXA Google Group?

What qualifications do I have to have to join the SDXA?

What is the purpose of the SDXA DX net on 2-meters?

Why are the monthly meetings held at various locations instead of just one?

Who started the SDXA and when?

Are you a DX or Contest club?

What happens at the SDXA meetings?

Where do I find the SDXA club constitution?

How many conventions does the club sponsor?

What can I do as a new member to help the SDXA get better?

Does SDXA participate in the ARRL Field Day?

Does the club use QSL cards or LOTW?