CONTESTING

Plus: ARRL June VHF Contest; CQWW VHF Contest; ARRL Field Day and COVID-19 Advice; IARU HF Championship and COVID-19 Requirements; W7EJ (SK) CQWW Log Analyzer

This month we look at a new method of utilizing technology to improve our contest signals: Comparing antennas and locations using actual signal-strength measurements from target areas. Hams forever have asked others to describe any signal-strength variation observed when they switched among different antennas. Now we can do better than rely on a few subjective individual reports, and obtain literally all the comparison reports we can use under all sorts of different propagation conditions.

Below we discuss employing the WSPR digital mode by Joe Taylor, K1JT, to obtain the meaningful data that we seek on the comparative strength of our signals when comparing antennas or locations. There are many variations that can be tested, such as antennas at different heights, different antennas, different stack combinations, different tower locations (for those who have multiple towers), and a myriad of other variables. Given the always-varying propagation, all observations must be simultaneous and made at the same location with the same equipment. It isn’t difficult at all and can lead to surprising results.

For example, terrain analysis suggested that moving my tower about 300 feet would measurably improve my signal toward all-important Europe. To test this result, I erected two identical 20-meter dipoles using fiberglass poles and implemented the process described below. It took just a couple of hours before I had the first results that confirmed the HFTA findings. I wish these tools had been available before I built the station.

Summer traditionally heralds the season for VHF and UHF contesting. This year COVID-19 may limit such activities as roving and in-person multiple-operator stations, but I expect activity to