2010 Oceania DX Contest - Phone
2/3 October 2010
Did you exchange a few numbers in this contest ?? If not, why not ??
The Oceania DX Contest is one of the few international HF contests where the DX stations concentrate on VK and ZL - Australian & New Zealand stations. It provides a rare opportunity to be in the spotlight and allow Aussies & Kiwis to work new DX countries and contribute to and allow them to work us. Back a few years ago it was called the VK/ZL Contest and the focus still remains here.
The rules are fairly simple and made even easier to implement through the use of logging software that is tailored to support this contest. I used VKCL (VK Contest Logger) by VK3AVV plus the OmniRig interface to allow the logging software to "read" the radio's frequency and thus implement the band changes automatically.
In brief, the contest started at 0800Z on Saturday (evening here in Australia) and finished 24 hours later with some stations providing some enormous serial numbers towards the end. I do have to laugh at some of the exchanges that I heard - and that I made too - where the report was "59" yet there was difficulty reading the other station's callsign or their serial number. Why did I send a "59" report ? Quite simply it was too much effort to change the outgoing RS value from 59 when you are trying to work through a "pile-up". After a while, the '59' component of the exchange is insignificant - only the serial number component is of any importance. I am aware that many places like Europe and USA have higher ambient " noise levels" than we normally suffer from here in VK, due primarily to the shoulder-to-shoulder signals right across the various bands, many from stations running high power. Given my measly 100W during the event, maybe it is not surprising that some exchanges were difficult.
I had decided to limit the power to 100W PEP and hence enter the low power section but to operate "all bands". That was a relatively good idea though no contacts were had on 160m or 80m and only a few on 10m. The radio was my Icom IC-7400 100W transceiver, the antennas either the Wilson 3 element tri-band yagi on 14, 21 and 28 MHz or the multi-band inverted-V on 3.5 and 7 MHz - with a few peeks at 1.8MHz (160m) using my inductively-loaded (short-ish) "longwire".
Propagation on 14 MHz was different to what I expected - and that was simply because I don't really operate on HF very much these days. I expected long path (LP) to Europe to open earlier in the afternoon on Sunday, short path (SP) to happen by about 8-9PM local time on the Saturday night. A regular 20m operator would know that at this point in solar cycle 24, the LP wouldn't really start until about 0700Z (5PM local) and SP not until after 1200Z - or just after midnight local. I braved it out until about 1.15AM local but the eyes were getting cross-eyed and the voice was starting to croak a bit by then. Even so, I was back at it again at 7AM and eagerly looking for more contest contacts.
The 40 metre band did provide some nice surprises though with signals from Europe, USA and South America being heard and worked at various times. The wide pulse-type signal (presumably an over-the-horizon RADAR ) occupying 7120 to 7180 late on Saturday night was an inhibiting factor though I was able to work some American stations over it. I was amazed at the strength of some of these stations on my feeble inverted-V and can only wonder what could have been achieved if I lived out of suburbia and could put up gain antennas like wire beams.
I had expected to work quite a few American stations over the duration of the contest on the various bands but propagation was either (1) poor or (2) they just weren't interested (unlike the CQ WW or WPX contests !). I did work some - just not enough to help the score climb higher...
I didn't "twig" until late-ish in the contest that I could work the various VK prefixes on different bands to add more multipliers. Pity I didn't realise it earlier.
The callsigns I logged were as follows, noting that I did work some calls a number of times on different bands :
ZL1AAR, ZL1T, VK6NC, KH2/M0YCM, JA3LEZ, JA7NVF, ZM4M, VK7GN, RZ1ZZ, ZL2VB, JH1TKB, ZL3NB, JA7ODY, JH1CML, JA3ETD, JF3MYU, JA6BDB, RA0UF, JA7COI, JA6GCE, JA1EZR, JA2VHO, JH3EQP, RW0AR, JA9SW, HS0AC, RW9UWW, JM4AHN, JA3UWB, JQ1RKI, JK1VEL, YB0BJN, JA3MZB, JI3KFS, VK4ATH, VR2XMT, DU1LC, UA9JDP, R0AA, BG4KPT, ZL3NB, VK2HBG, VK3AVV, ZM4T, VK5FPAS, VK7FTTT, VK2ACC, ZL1T, VK3QI, VK4FPDW/P, ZL1AAO, ZL1KNI, VK4WX, VK5NPR/3, JA7ODY, ZM2A, JA2BNN, K3ZO, WW1WW, W3KL, OH6IU, UN6P, PA5A, OZ5E, RA1OD, RS3A, JE4JPQ, JA7NVF, VK6NC, VK3GK, VK3NRW, VK3VTH, VK3FBBA, ZL2CQ, VK5KLT, ZL3DXT, VK3FASW, K9RM, JH1AJT, VK3FAWB, ZL4AS, VK3ATA, VK3ZPF, JR9NVB, VE3OI, OG6N, UA9KZ, UZ0U, UW5U, YL3FT, AH0BT, VK1HW, VK3HR, VK3KTM, ER4DX, UU9KW, RW1ZW, 9M6BOB, SP3GXH, UW0K, OH1O, RW9LL, RW0UU, MW0ZZK, DL1ARD, RN4SN, RL9I, OH6JE, SM5HPB, DJ7YP, YL2BR, F5ELL, PA0LOU, UA9LP, M0DHO, DF2DJ, R2GM, YU1UN, UN0LE, RV6ALI, HA8TP, UA3VFS, PE5TS, DF9FT, ON4BAL, G3PHO, IZ3ENH, DD0ZN, DL2MIJ, ES7GN, DL6BI, MM0BSM, PD1B, RU3UR, OR0A, RV1CC, HB9JW, RU1AB, RX4HZ, G0UIQ, LA6ZFA, LY2BIS, DH1PS, MW0YVK, DL4ZF, SE5S, DJ9ZB, ON5WAL, G0PAW, MW6GWK, S53EO, UP2L, RM3F, RW3DU, EU2MM, F6GCI, G3SOA, OK1TA, MM0BQN, ES2BH, IK4QJF, GW3NAS, ON6DSL, S57DX, IK4ZHH, UA3RC, OQ5M, RX3AW, HB9CEX, UP7NY, HB9KNY, ON4KBZ, OS4U, F8DVD, UX7VA, DL5IC, RW1CW, DM2DX, UV5U, SP3YM, A65CA, ZL1BYZ, ZM4T, JA1BON, R0CY, JA7GYP, VK4KW, VK100WIA, VK2CL, JA3UWB, WH2X, KH2JU, JR8YFT/8, JA0UMV, JR7YGK, JR1NKN, JA8RY, N6O, VK4GH, VK4ATH, VK7ZE, VK6LW, VK8NSB, YC0NSI, JA9TQY, JA3EY, JA2GHP, VK8HPB, JA6BZI, JA3HBC, JH1IWL, JA2BOB, JA7COI, JS1KSU, JA1UII, AH0BT, JG1LYW, JH7RTQ, YC1BTJ, JG3JLC, VK4FABD, JH7BMF, YC9BEC, YC1BRS, JJ2NKX, 7N4WPY, RA0LE, JG2REJ, JM2LEI, JA2VHO, JA4DC, JH1OLB, JR2TRC, UA0UK, JA8IBU, JA3BJZ, JJ3OTJ, JA7NVF, VK6FDX, VK6DXI, DU1BP, VK4JAZ, RK0UT, VK4CCV, JR1BTG, JF2WXS, ZM4T, YB3IZK, VK6HZ, VK6HAD, VK3GB, VK4GH, VK7ARN, ZL1SLO, VK3ZPF, ZL3M, VK7JGD, VK3FDI, VK4KLC, YC9AOS, VR2XMT, JA2AXB, JA7NVF, VK4KW, VK4MIA, YB0BCU, ZL1AIH, RO9O, VK3AVV, VK4MIA, VK4HH, VK4HH, JA3USA, RZ8U, RW0UM, UN6P, JA4BSZ, JE3EDJ, RL9I, JK2VOC, JH8JYV, JR1UFN, JR3KAH, JI1CPN, UA9KZ, VK4DX, JH2CHT, JR4LRY, JA6DIJ, JA2FLA, UA0SW, JA1SZN, JR4PDP, RT0Q, JA7GLO, RW0UU, JA9ABA, JH7DHF, JO1OEL, JA1EZD/1, JA9DTV/1, JH1EEB, JA6BWH, 7M2PSC, JA1HXJ, JI1DQA, 5B50AD, HA3NU, UA3SAQ, PA3EVY, ZL3RCK, IZ8GNR, IZ5RKC, HA5PT, RZ3FW, JA2BNN, JA2AXB, S39FYK, IT9LED, IK4GRO, IK0PHY, OM3DX, YU1DW, DU1JI, UA1AFT, EO3Q, LU2NI, VK3IO, ZL1OGX, ZL1HJ, DK4KL, VK3FDI, VK4FAAT/QRP, VK4JAZ, ZL4JB, ZL1AAR, VK3MRG, ZL2MM, VK2AWA, ZL1CKK, VK4PTO, VK4MIA, W6YI, VK4HAM, EA8LS, ZL2AFT, VK2IO, VK1MAT, VK4GH, RS3A.
My totals :
Contacts : 350
Points claimed : 156742
The log submission was a pretty easy process. VKCL supports an export in Cabrillo format and produces a file, in my case named VK4ADC.LOG.
This file is simply emailed to the published email address and in due course an automatic response email is returned advising that the submitted log has been checked as initially ok or needs to have issues resolved.
The list of logs submitted through this process can be viewed by visiting the Oceania DX Contest web site and reviewing this list. As at 9 November 2010, there are 508 log entries listed and the closing date has now passed. The listing now indicates whether the stations participated in the high power ( > 100W PEP ) or the low power (100w or less) sections - previously it did not. 71 VK callsigns appear. Even so, my callsign, VK4ADC, is up in the top 20 for Australia for the All Band, One transmitter, Single Operator category of the listing, third in Australia in the Low Power - All Band - Category.
The top order in Australia at this stage for this category, including both high and low power stations, subject to additional logs being received and log entries actually being cross-checked :
UNCORRECTED VK-area LOGS LISTED IN POINTS ORDER
VK4KW 7171416 MULTI-OP TWO ALL HIGH
VK6NC 2928384 MULTI-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK4HAM 1720444 MULTI-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK4HH 1685970 MULTI-OP TWO ALL HIGH
VK6DXI 1572958 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK4TI 1223775 MULTI-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK7GN 723195 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK4GH 525336 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK2AWA 509288 MULTI-OP TWO ALL HIGH
VK7ZE 460130 SINGLE-OP ONE 20M HIGH
VK3GK 337590 SINGLE-OP ONE 40M HIGH
VK3TZ 333004 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK4BUI 298773 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK8NSB 282230 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK2IM 197685 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK4MIA 190152 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK2XN 177581 SINGLE-OP ONE 20M HIGH
VK4ADC 156742 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK3AVV 132030 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK3HR 127600 MULTI-OP ONE 40M HIGH
VK3IO 127581 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK4LDX 121450 SINGLE-OP ONE 15M LOW
VK4CAG 115008 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK5NPR/3 102225 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK4ATH 86051 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK4FJ 78364 SINGLE-OP ONE 15M HIGH
VK2HBG 74340 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK1HW 61248 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK4PTO 56637 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK2ACC 50320 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK7JGD 49698 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK3VTH 49500 SINGLE-OP ONE 40M LOW
VK2HAK 44362 MULTI-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK3AFK 40180 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK4AN 36680 SINGLE-OP ONE 20M LOW
VK2IO 34450 MULTI-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK7FWAY 33794 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK6HZ 33060 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK3QI 30358 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK3DOG 29040 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK2CL 28768 MULTI-OP TWO ALL HIGH
VK3ALB 26978 MULTI-OP ONE ALL HIGH
VK4HEC 26520 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK2ZQ 24386 SINGLE-OP ONE 15M HIGH
VK4XES 24130 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK4GQ 22110 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK4VDX 21600 SINGLE-OP ONE 40M LOW
VK3ZPF 20832 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK7ARN 13640 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK4CCV 12328 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK3NRW 12255 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK4KRX 10400 SINGLE-OP ONE 40M LOW
VK6HAD 10050 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK1MAT 8680 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK3FASW 7540 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK3FBBA 6000 SINGLE-OP ONE 40M LOW
VK6FDX 5512 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK4BL 5310 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK4JAZ 4620 SINGLE-OP ONE 40M LOW
VK3KTM 4225 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK4KLC 3186 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK3TDX 2835 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK3FDI 2304 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK2POP 1508 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK2GR 975 MULTI-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK3VT 390 SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK3CTN 121 CHECKLOG 20M HIGH
VK2HN 16 CHECKLOG ONE 20M HIGH
VK3FCAC 0 SINGLE-OP ONE 80M LOW
VK4MDX SINGLE-OP ONE ALL LOW
VK8AA SINGLE-OP ONE 20M LOW
VK8JM SINGLE-OP ONE ALL HIGH
My contest log has been uploaded to eQSL so if you are looking for a QSL card from me for a contact through this event, the best chance of getting one is to do so through that facility.
How did I go ?
Well there is no way I actually won any section but I did enjoy myself. { Actually my score is in the upper segment of those reviewed (so far) so my effort was worthwhile. }
It was actually quite hard work sitting there for nearly 18 hours listening to all types of accents originating from all parts of the globe. The "voice-box" suffered a bit towards the end as I did not run a voice "keyer" at all and made many many CQ calls.
A small bonus was that my 8 year old grandson was "helping" for a while on the Sunday morning and was intrigued to operate the rotator controller - and needed me to do it while he rushed outside to look at the yagis rotating... He asked a bit more about AR and I suggested that " in a couple of years " I would provide him with a receiver so he could listen - and maybe tutor him for a Foundation Licence... The receiver ( an old Kenwood R1000) has already been cleaned up, the case re-painted and is sitting on a shelf here all ready for him - in a couple of years.
If "helping" to operate in the Oceania contest enthused him to contemplate AR as a future hobby, that is actually the equivalent of a first place in all sections of the contest at once !!!!
POSTSCRIPT 18 August 2011 :
From the Oceania Contest site, the following results, released August 2011 ....
http://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/2010_Results.htm
An extract of the first few lines from the PDF...
Oceania
Australia
PH SO ALL LP VK8NSB** 278720 335 451 0 0 0 91 339 21
PH SO ALL LP VK4MIA 185459 227 356 0 0 108 221 25 2
PH SO ALL LP VK4ADC 150308 212 342 0 0 65 173 101 3
PH SO ALL LP VK3IO 122346 126 197 12 8 110 33 34 0
PH SO ALL LP VK4MDX 106446 113 228 0 29 110 76 13 0
PH SO ALL LP VK4CAG 106403 187 233 7 5 18 124 72 7
PH SO ALL LP VK5NPR/3 93024 136 209 0 4 105 81 19 0
PH SO ALL LP VK4ATH 79950 130 182 1 20 43 62 50 6
So a 3rd place in the Low Power section in VK. Brilliant !