Category Archives: Contests

DXCC in a weekend (and other random musings concerning the ARRL CW DX Contest)

Posted on February 17, 2013 by robert

I’ve been told that timing is everything in life.  If that is true then I’m in trouble, because timing ISN’T my forte.  Take for example the New England Blizzard of 2013 that descended upon RI like a ton of bricks … Continue reading →

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2012 Wrap-Up and 2013 Goals

Posted on January 7, 2013 by robert

2012 was a great year of Ham Radio for me. I completed 2,724 QSOs, and participated in multiple contests.  I won the 160 Meter Contest in the QRP Category for RI, and had clean sweeps in both the Phone and … Continue reading →

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An Unexpected Supprise

Posted on November 24, 2012 by robert

Last night, tired from trying to scratch out a new country in the CQ WW CW contest, I headed upstairs for bed somewhat dejected.  On my way up I noticed a large envelope from the ARRL.  I guess I thought … Continue reading →

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Lesotho Africa is country #200

Posted on November 23, 2012 by robert

It took about 35 minutes of trying to get through, but I was able to contact 7P8D during the CW CQ DX contest at 01:55 UTC.  According to my logbook (HRD), Lesotho, Africa is country #200 in the log.  It … Continue reading →

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And then there was one…

Posted on November 18, 2012 by robert

With 8 hours to go in the Phone Sweepstakes contest, I am now down to a single missing section, West Virginia (WV).  I heard NW8U several times on 80 and 15 meters, but very faintly.  Hopefully he will change to … Continue reading →

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Phone Sweepstakes

Posted on November 18, 2012 by robert

With under 9 hours left in the Phone Sweepstakes contest, I am down to three remaining sections:  NLI (Northern Long Island), WV (West Virginia), and AK (Alaska).  I have heard a single station from West Virginia and three from Alaska … Continue reading →

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Clean Sweep on CW!! THANKS VE3ZI!

Posted on November 4, 2012 by robert

So my journey ended with ONN (Ontario North) at 1:27:25 UTC when I answered a CQ from VE3ZI on 3.541 MHz.  That made a “Clean Sweep” with all 83 sections for the 2012 CW Sweepstakes.  I worked a total of … Continue reading →

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Oh Really Canada?!?

Posted on November 4, 2012 by robert

Had to go and break Ontario up into FOUR sections:  Ontario-East, Ontario-South, Greater Toronto Area, and the killer:  Ontario-North. As I type this, that is the LAST section I need for a clean sweep in the November CW Sweepstakes (and … Continue reading →

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Happy November!

Posted on November 1, 2012 by robert

Lots of good things going on this month besides a chance to enter a turkey-coma on Thanksgiving.  CW Sweepstakes is this weekend,  and SSB in two weeks.  CQ’s WW CW DX contest is just three weekends away, and the ARRL’s … Continue reading →

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