ARRL International DX SSB Contest

[TexTAC]

Anyone else participating? I’ve been chasing for 3 hours and made 12 contacts.

15 meters - New Zealand

20 meters - Uruguay, United Nations, Cayman Islands, Mexico, Brazil, Cape Verde, Dominican Republic

40 meters - France, Cayman Islands, Portugal, Puerto Rico

Not too bad for 100 Watts and an OCF dipole wire hung in an inverted vee up only 25 feet!

Edit: D4K (Cape Verde) is easy pickings right now on 14.304 MHz (03:30 Z).

 

[Engine104]

I plan to get in on it tomorrow. For the last 15 years, I have had a pretty similar setup: 100W and a dipole up only about 20 feet.

Good luck!

 

[alcahuete]

Always a fun contest. It really pulls the DX stations out of the woodwork. Took 2nd place in LAX and 3rd in the Southwestern Division (and Call Area 6) last year for high power. I don't usually jump in until Saturday.

 

[TexTAC]

I have never heard so many DX stations in my life (granted I have only been licensed a year). My band scope has been lit up for hours and there is no free space between stations. I’ve had a lot of fun. Still can’t hear Asia though.

Alcahuete - What’s you setup?

 

[TexTAC]

Holy smokes, friends! I never heard Asia on my transceiver before tonight and never thought they would hear me even if I did. Then within a period of 30 minutes I had successfully contacted 3 stations in Japan (6500 to 6800 miles from me).

In that same time, I also made contact with New Zealand again (7500 miles) and Australia (8400 miles). I don’t think I am going to be able to sleep while this contest is going on!

 

[alcahuete]

In that same time, I also made contact with New Zealand again (7500 miles) and Australia (8400 miles). I don’t think I am going to be able to sleep while this contest is going on!

Ha ha ha! You got the bug! I love it! Like I said, this is a fun contest. The CQ WPX contest at the end of the month is another fun one, though I like this one better for DX. Go get 'em! Sounds like you're doing great!

Alcahuete - What’s you setup?

Antenna-wise, several beams up anywhere from 55-85'. The main radio I use is my IC-7610.

 

[TexTAC]

15m is still lit this morning. Made several contacts to countries I never had before. Running on about 3 hours of sleep! Definitely have the bug!
Edited to add : I hate having “P” in my call sign. Is that “echo”? … no “papa”. “Alpha”? …. “Negative “papaaa”. “Delta”? …. No “”Pa-pa”… etc etc.

 

[alcahuete]

15m is ridiculous today. Up to 208 contacts and 72,000 points. Most of those are on 15M.

 

[AK9R]

I hate having “P” in my call sign. Is that “echo”? … no “papa”.

I believe that the ITU/ICAO list the phonetics for P as "pa-PA" with the emphasis on the second syllable. That said, I'm sure you heard some non-standard phonetics such as "Pacific".

 

[TexTAC]

15m is ridiculous today. Up to 208 contacts and 72,000 points. Most of those are on 15M.

Whoa! I’ve made about 50 QSOs total across all bands (maybe 30 different countries) but that is good for me and my setup.

I believe that the ITU/ICAO list the phonetics for P as "pa-PA" with the emphasis on the second syllable. That said, I'm sure you heard some non-standard phonetics such as "Pacific".

I’ve used “Panama”, “Pavarotti”, “Pacific”, … whatever it takes.

 

[KB4MSZ]

Yet another contest weekend. I'm getting so tired of 17 meters.

 

[alcahuete]

Whoa! I’ve made about 50 QSOs total across all bands (maybe 30 different countries) but that is good for me and my setup.

I’ve used “Panama”, “Pavarotti”, “Pacific”, … whatever it takes.

Not bad at all! I'm at 400 and 171 multipliers. Calling it a night.