ARRL DX CW 2026

Once again we did M/2 from the station of my friend Vlad VE3JM. His station is similar in size to mine and he does extremely well from there. He is also a better contest operator, especially 2BSIQ, so he almost always beats me when we enter contests in the same category. This year we have a full complement of 5 operators; last year there was just the two of us when the others cancelled due to a ferocious snowstorm. This year's storm didn't impede travel even for those driving up from the Toronto area.

This edition of the ARRL DX CW contest made it clear that we are past the peak of cycle 25. Our score was lower with 5 operators than with 2 of us in 2025. Geomagnetic disturbances are up and the sunspot count is down. The latter was actually zero (0) on Monday. We are unlikely to see many contest records broken for the next half dozen years.

Although I didn't remember to take a snapshot soon enough after the contest the Sunday K-index chart tells the tale. It wasn't good. Not terrible, but definitely not good. That said, there was a lot of DX on offer and many fantastic runs. 

Although conditions affect everybody, which ought to burden competitors equally, opportunities do not skew equitably when you move a few hundred kilometers near the auroral zone. That noticably affected us, though to what degree is difficult to say. Of course our challenges pale in comparison to those even farther north. This is not an excuse but an explanation for regional variation.

This is the setup we used. From left to right are Dave VE3KG on the in-band station, Nick VE3EY on one run station and Les VE3NNT on the other run station. In the background you can see that Vlad has an outstanding set of high power filters and triplexers from VA6AM. We still had interaction issues, especially harmonics that regularly plague CW. You will regularly find yourself near those harmonics due to simple arithmetic. 

The in-band station has no filters other than what the receiver can provide, and by the separation and polarity of the antenna. The in-band antenna is a multi-band (no trap) 40-to-10 meter vertical about 100 meters from the various towers. The in-band station has no amplifier since the proximity of the antennas does not allow use of higher power without impacting the run stations. Interference in the other direction is acceptable but often problematic.

This was my first experience operating with an in-band station and I was impressed despite the inter-station interference and limited power and antenna. Many contacts and some multipliers were logged. This is important since many stations mostly run so this may be the only way to work them. It also allows the run station to keep running, and eager operators can get in there and contribute. 

The interlocks worked well (DXLog) and it was easy for the operators to learn how to coordinate. I'm tempted to add this capability to my own station. Techniques to reduce interference were discussed among the operators.

In-band capability is not a universal solution. The run stations, with higher power and superior antennas, did a lot of the work. Also, the in-band station could not be manned full time. One reason was that the in-band station had no antenna for 80 or 160 meters. The worse conditions on the second day further limited its effectiveness due to weaker signals. Working spotted stations on the run radios risked loss of the run frequency and wasting time with busted spots, both human and skimmer generated. There were a lot of busted spots that wasted our time.

Propagation played a critical role in our competitiveness. We were at a disadvantage compared to those to the south and therefore farther from the auroral oval. That's not a complaint, just a feature of where we live. It happens whenever conditions are disturbed or marginal. 

The following is a brief description of several interesting propagation factors that we experienced, both pro and con:

• On Sunday morning when 10 meter propagation to Europe was poor, one of our operators (VE3EY) turned the 7-element yagi east, and then a little further south. Signals from Europe strengthened and the rate shot up. That was a smart move. I've known that this can happen for more than 40 years yet never suspected skew path this weekend. It is a common occurrence during solar minima years that Europeans on 10 meter peak towards the sun. Whether scatter or true skew path it is worth turning the yagi to check for this phenomenon. More southerly areas get more sunlight and therefore have a higher MUF.
  
• This weekend provided another lesson in paying less attention to SSN (sunspot number) and more to SFI (10.7 cm solar flux index). On Sunday the SSN was 0. Even so the high bands were open. SFI is a better proxy for ionospheric MUF.
• The first night and to a lesser extent the second, 40 meters stayed open to Europe until long after their sunrise. This often happens when geomagnetic conditions are quiet and the solar flux is low. Signals get weaker as the sun rises in Europe but remain workable. Unlike in CQ WW they stay on the low bands rather than moving to the high bands since they can only work North Americans. My rate was very good for longer than one might think possible.
• 20 meters opened for about one hour overnight to Europe at the same time 40 was still going strong after their sunrise. Sometimes it happens and sometimes not, so you must pay attention. After that hour the band died and didn't reopen until a little before our sunrise.
• 80 meter conditions to Japan and the north Pacific were better than expected. Overnight we worked quite a few stations. Signals were weak but many stations were workable. We usually can't work east Asia until our sunrise enhancement. Several welcome multipliers were logged on 80 this way. 

Despite excellent activity our results were down. That mirrors the experience of others. Propagation played a part as did participation. CW in particular is less popular with younger generations, especially in North America. Outside VE/W there is less interest in this contest since it is more of a QSO party than a global contest. For those on the other side of the globe there is little to work, so why would they bother. We should be thankful to those that participate and make the contest what it is.

It must also be noted that not everyone taking part is familiar with the rules. We had many US callers and even a few from Canada. They are of course worth zero points. As for dupes, it is better to work them than to try to explain the rules to each caller or to ignore or admonish them. I would never want to discourage their enthusiasm. If they encounter rudeness these casual operators won't call you in the next contest when the points they give you will contribute to your success.

As usual, we used the online scoreboard. I rarely use it when I operate alone, but it was interesting to see how our nearest competitors were doing. In ARRL DX we are on an equal footing with US participants so the comparisons are meaningful. In some respects watching the scoreboard was discouraging since there was little we could do about what we witnessed. We were already motivated and working hard on our score as I am sure were the others. 

I consider the scoreboard a needless distraction which is why I have yet to use it for my single op contest efforts. It wouldn't change what I do. Many others feel differently. However I see its value to non-participants that want to follow the competitors. In the future I may post my score even though I am unlikely to look at the scoreboard during the contest. Perhaps my opinion will change in the future.

I'll close with a note about technology and training. Most of us don't use DXLog in our own stations. I only use it when operating at Vlad's station. As I have with N1MM, his station automation systems are tightly integrated with DXLog. There is a learning curve. A crib sheet with common commands isn't really adequate since these software packages are feature rich and can behave in ways that neophytes can't predict or deal with. All we could do was fumble or call out for help when in trouble.

The only solution is pre-contest training. That means using and studying the software before the contest weekend. That is in addition to learning about the antennas and selection process in a large station. There is a lot to digest and use effectively, or at least with minimal friction. It is worth consideration in advance of your next multi-op contest, whether at your station or elsewhere.

Another Bad N-connector

After a lengthy bout of frigid weather, the sun came out and the temperature soared to 3° C. The snow was melting into puddles and it felt tropical outside. I was briefly tempted to wear a t-shirt. Of course my thoughts soon turned to tower work. Several issues have been languishing over the winter and this was an opportunity to deal with some of them.

One of those was the malfunctioning TH6. When I last mentioned it, the balun enclosure was full of water. Removing the water didn't help. From the ground the coax measured as an open circuit. My intent was to pull the coax from the balun and test the antenna, balun and the long run of Heliax. I pulled the coax jumper from the 2×8 switch to attach a 50 Ω load. That way the Heliax could be tested at the same time as the antenna with an analyzer. Preparations made and analyzer in hand (kept warm inside my parka), I stomped through the deep snow out to the tower and up I went.

To my surprise the antenna and balun passed the test. However, when the analyzer was connected to the coax I again measured an open circuit. I really didn't expect that outcome due the trouble I've had in the past with either the antenna and balun. The antenna in particular is an antique at well over 50 years old!

I reconnected and sealed the coax connection to the balun and descended. There is an RG213 jumper from the balun to the Heliax but I decided not to fuss with it just yet. Until now I'd only done an SWR test and I wanted to do a TDR (time domain reflectometry) test from the ground of the full system.

I visually inspected the jumper between the switch and the Heliax and manipulated them to check for looseness. So far so good. I connected the analyzer to the coax and set the analyzer to plot R and X from 1 to 51 MHz.

Notice the peak R and X on the right of the plot. The approximate frequency is 47 MHz. For the 0.66 velocity factor of RG213,  ½λ is approximately 2.1 meters. That raised my suspicions. I disconnected the RG213 jumper and took it indoors. I measured its length: 2.1 meters. What a coincidence! No, not a coincidence.

Modern analyzers have a TDR feature, but I don't have that on my relatively old RigExpert AA54. However it is pretty easy to achieve the same by plotting R and X and doing a little calculator math. I could have zoomed in (narrow frequency plot) for better accuracy but that was hardly necessary in this instance. 

At right is a picture looking into the N-connector on the end of the jumper that connects to the female N-connector on the Heliax transmission line. The problem is obvious: the male pin has pulled inward. It does not make reliable contact with the female receptacle on the Heliax connector. It had been intermittent for some time before failing completely a few months ago.

This is a common fault with N-connectors on coax similar to RG213. I didn't expect it to happen in a short jumper that wasn't subject to stress or weight. This is a connector where the pin is soldered to the coax centre conductor. I prefer N-connectors with a captivated centre pin but those are not available for coax with a stranded centre conductor.

I tried to pull and wiggle the coax while holding the connector and did not notice any appreciable movement of the centre pin. I have yet to open it up for a closer inspection. My priority was to bring the TH6 back online.

I happened to have a short RG213 jumper already prepared and tested. It has UHF male connectors on both ends. I keep an ample stock of N-male to UHF-female adaptors --whenever I see one at a flea market it comes home with me. 

Since I have to deal with N-connectors on most of my Heliax runs the N-to-UHF adaptors come in handy. The pins are mechanically stable so the pins cannot creep. That is critical for N connectors. They have become my preferred choice for transitioning between N and UHF terminations. They let me exclusively use the more positionally stable UHF connectors on RG213.

The new/old jumper and the adaptor were attached to the Heliax and the antenna system swept with the analyzer. The antenna was back in service. I cut off the old bits of tape and sealant and then weatherproofed the connection. It took more material that most coax connections due to the added length of the adaptor. 

Have I told you (again) that I hate N-connectors? Hate and N-connectors show up several times in the blog, as a search will demonstrate. Had I less restraint the subject would appear 10× as often in the blog! 

My thoughts on the matter are well summarized in the linked article. It accrues well above the average number of hits for articles in this blog. N-connectors should be avoided whenever there is an alternative, and there almost always is, especially for HF systems.

You might think that I am relieved to have the TH6 back in service since the ARRL DX CW contest is only days away. You'd be wrong. Yes, I'm relieved but not for that reason since I'll be joining a multi-op team elsewhere for the contest. However it's one less worry for forthcoming contests.

Although I plan to retire the TH6 this year the Heliax run will be needed for whatever antenna, or one of the antennas, slated to replace it. The balun itself requires service to prevent water ingress whether or not it is needed for the replacement. With the immediate problem dealt with that job can wait for warmer weather. Although tower work in winter isn't always difficult or uncomfortable I prefer to avoid it if I can.

Self-assessment: LCR (Log Check Report)

The LCR (log check report) for the 2025 CQ WW SSB contest have been distributed. This is an opportunity to see what specific mistakes were made. I know, that can be painful! Nevertheless it is a mandatory exercise if you want to improve. I set a personal error rate target of less than 1%. That isn't easy when operating SO2R and 2BSIQ.

It may be of interest to learn how I read these reports and use them. I'll take you through my analysis. Other contesters may draw different conclusions or focus on different items. Either way, there is more to the analysis than thinking "oops!" when you look at each error. Understanding how errors are made can lead to future improvement. We go to a lot of trouble to make a big score and the competition is fierce, so every point removed from the log is worth attention.

The LCR for this contest is a little different since it was a multi-op (M/2) with 5 operators, including myself. Due to the high rates and perhaps the inclusion of less experienced operators I was expecting a higher than usual error rate. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that we did pretty well despite my worries.

The Cabrillo does not contain the operator call signs. This can be found in the logging software database and in the ADIF that is usually exported after the contest for upload to LoTW and other applications. I deliberately did not make the association, leaving it to each operator to do it themselves. It is an individual responsibility to self assess. There are multi-op teams that produce reports for each operator.

************************** Summary ***************************
    7999 Raw    QSO before checking (does not include duplicates or missing exchanges)
    7889 Final  QSO after  checking reductions

   21766 Raw    QSO points
   21005 Final  QSO points

     170 Raw    zones
     170 Final  zones

     626 Raw    countries
     625 Final  countries

     796 Raw    mults
     795 Final  mults

17325736 Raw    score
16698975 Final  score

    1.4% error rate based on raw and final qso counts
    3.6% score reduction
     30  (0.4%) not in log
     60  (0.8%) incorrect calls
     21  (0.3%) incorrect exchanges
      0  (0.0%) missing exchanges
    175  (2.2%) duplicates removed
     24  (0.3%) calls unique to this log only (not removed)

Logging and log checking is not an exact science. Our log showed 8003 QSOs yet 4 seem to have disappeared. It's a curiosity that is negligible so I didn't delve into it. The 1.4% error rate is acceptable considering the team and circumstances. We only lost one multiplier. So far so good.

Not in log (NIL)

You work a station yet you don't show up in their log. What is going on? There are several possibilities, some your fault and some the fault of the other operator.

• Optimism: Contesters are optimistic. That can lead to over-enthusiasm as we hover over the keyboard to log that new multiplier or hard won contact. QRM, QRN, did they really copy me? Despite any lingering doubts, we log the contact. It's worth taking a few seconds to get positive confirmation that the contact was logged by the other station.
• Overlap: On a crowded band it is surprisingly easy to believe that you worked a station that you did not. This happens more often while running since the other station doesn't send your call. If another station in your skip zone starts running on your frequency you may not notice at first. Doubt may arise when the other station's timing is off from your own. Delays and overlap can also be due to SO2R, while waiting for a transmission to end on the other QSO. If it happens twice in a row, listen closely. Someone else may be there. 
• OOB: This is a problem that is mostly only experienced by those of us working Americans. Here is an example from the LCR:
  
   7099 PH 2025-10-26 0015 VE3VN     4   K*****   04 
   7099 PH 2025-10-26 0032 VE3VN     4   K****    05 
  
  Do you see what happened? How about if I explain that OOB stands for out of band? Outside the US most countries, including mine, have no regulated mode sub-bands. We abide by voluntary band plans. It is easy to click on a spot and not notice the frequency. We don't know the details of US regulations and we don't know where various license classes are permitted. We might take the time to ask if they are indeed OOB, or log them and keep running to save time, just like for dupes. Later they scrub their logs to erase the evidence of their transgression. I obscured the call signs in the LCR extract to protect the guilty.
• Oops: It is quite easy in the heat of a contest to forget to log a QSO when hunting at high speed. You type in the data and spin the VFO or click a spot to move on to the next. But you didn't press enter and the QSO wasn't logged. You soon forget the call sign and see it again, so you try to work them. They may tell you "b4" or "dupe" but you say no and try to complete the contact. Now it's the other station making a mistake and they will get a NIL if they won't work you. That's another good reason to work dupes and avoid time wasting arguments.

Modern log checking software is able to detect copying errors and still correctly match QSOs. That is rarely the reason for a NIL. You're not in the other station's log and you must try to do better.

I have to admit that NIL errors annoy me since they are largely avoidable. I've discussed them in this blog going back many years, here, here and here to give a few examples. I am not exempt from my own advice to do better.

Incorrect calls

It is easy to get a call wrong, either by a copying error or typo. If the other station is running and doesn't send their call every QSO or two you might not notice the error. Human and skimmer spots are also frequently wrong, which is why it is highly advisable to rely on your ears before logging the contact.

 14121 PH 2025-10-26 1954 VE3VN     4   HB9      14  incorrect call 

While running it is quite common for the other station to not really listen to you announcing their call or even caring whether you said it correctly. You get the penalty, not them. By not offering a correction they save precious time. It is your responsibility to confirm that the call sign is valid. In case of doubt make it clear to the other station that they are not being logged until they confirm their call. Do it explicitly or by sending their call with a "?" (on CW) to elicit a repeat.

An important tool to assess the validity of a call sign is the Check Partial window of the logging software (N1MM, DXLog, etc.). It will show matches and near misses to the SCP database (super check partial), call history and your current contest log. If you see a question mark instead of a check mark next to the call ask the station for confirmation. Non-contesters who call you often won't get a check mark, so verify. Even you are certain that you copied the call correctly they may have made a mistake. This can easily occur when sending CW by hand.

Unique calls are variants of incorrect calls. These are calls that are not found in other participants' logs. That's suspicious since it's very unlikely that you'd work a station that no one else has. But it does happen if you have a big signal and there isn't much action. Non-contesters will call you to say hello and try to help with your score. I see a lot of these callers on 40 meters phone when CQ'ing above 7200 kHz. If you sound friendly and welcoming casual ops are more likely to call. 

Even so it is likely that many uniques are indeed calls incorrectly copied. There's no easy way to tell so if your log hasn't been artificially stuffed with them you'll be allowed credit. There are contests in which these contacts are removed from your log without penalty. Again, the lesson is to be certain, so verify.

Incorrect exchanges

For the majority of contacts CQ WW there is really no exchange to log. The zone is determined by the call sign, and logging software will pre-fill it for you. Call history will pre-fill the exchange in cases where the zone cannot be derived from the call sign. However, it is your responsibility to verify the pre-filled exchange.

US calls are the greatest risk. Hams in that country can keep their calls when they move to a different district. Few contests decree that they sign portable; e.g. KX9XXX/6. Whether or not the correct zone is pre-filled, you must check the sent exchange. Enter the correct exchange if it differs from what was pre-filled. 

Many contesters become negligent when they get tired in a long contest or they lose focus while operating 2BSIQ. But there are no acceptable excuses for exchange errors.

 7086 PH 2025-10-25 0005 VE3VN     4   VE2DXY   05  correct     2
 7086 PH 2025-10-25 0014 VE3VN     4   S51CK    14  correct    15
 7086 PH 2025-10-25 0027 VE3VN     4   YP3A     15  correct    20
 7220 PH 2025-10-25 0120 VE3VN     4   K4RXH    08  correct     5 

A common error is to forget to correct the exchange after making and correcting a call sign typo. Depending on the logging application the exchange may not be automatically updated after correcting the call. 

Unless the exchange is very long (e.g. ARRL Sweepstakes) it is usually faster and more accurate to wipe the QSO and reenter the entire call. The corrected call sign then pulls up the correct exchange to pre-fill. Tabbing back and forth when running a pile up, especially while SO2R, is a guarantee of busted exchanges. 

Duplicates and the other guy's mistakes

Back in days of yore when logging wasn't done by computer and we actually sent call signs and exchanges by hand, duplicate contacts were penalized. They had to be found and removed from the log either during the contest (dupe sheets, anyone?) or after. It was a tedious process that was eventually automated by computer logging.

Contest sponsors eventually saw the light and recognized the value of leaving dupes in the log. It made log cross-checking easier and more accurate and put an end to the practice of on-air arguments about whether we've worked before. Dupes were henceforth removed without penalty. Indeed you were encouraged to leave dupes in the log. However, some never lost the habit of scrubbing their logs.

Always always always work dupes. Don't waste time arguing. Perhaps the other station miscopied your call on the current or previous QSO. By not working them again you risk a NIL. 

We had a 2% dupe rate. That's high but not unusually high. It's bound to happen with 8000 contacts in a single contest. Our LCR showed how often our call got mangled. Most were either typos or poor copying, while a minority were due to bad spots. 

 ************* Stations Copying VE3VN Incorrectly *************

 14156 PH 2025-10-25 0000 ***ON    11   VE3VL    04 
 14156 PH 2025-10-25 0001 ***LY    20   VE3WN    04 
 14000 PH 2025-10-25 0054 ***PLL   11   VE3VL    04 
  7000 PH 2025-10-25 0342 ***FKW   15   VE3VW    04 
  7070 PH 2025-10-25 0406 ***DOF   15   VE3WN    04  

Do not simply ignore this section of the LCR. I study dupes to think of ways to improve how we enunciate our call sign, choice of phonetics, CW speed, etc. Every mistake, ours or theirs, is an opportunity to learn and improve. The same goes for busted calls and exchanges. How can you make it easier for others to log your call and exchange more accurately. Again, calls obfuscated in the LCR extract above.

Changing your operating practices can result in fewer dupes. That frees up time to work new stations and earn more points.

How to improve?

Perusing the LCR there are several lessons to me and my team that can lead to improvement in future contests:

• Watch for bad spots! They'll appear on the band map exactly at your operating frequency. Don't simply shrug and plow onward. Send your call more often and more slowly so that stations drawn to the bad spot will recognize the mistake and not waste their time or yours by logging dupes.
• Operators may accidentally speak their own call sign instead of the one used for the multi-op station. Train yourself and your ops to used the pre-recorded messages. For some reason in phone contests many operators unnecessarily speak rather than push a function key. I like to save my voice and make fewer mistakes. Accurate, clear messages are superior to scratchy and negligent voicing when tired.
• QSY when a bad spot draws too many dupes. We are loathe to abandon productive run frequencies yet sometimes we must to avoid wasting time on dupes, QRM and other annoyances. With spectrum displays it doesn't take long to find a new run frequency even on the busiest bands during a popular contest.
• Never react to the pile up. There are more stations waiting in the wings and you don't want them to leave if you take too long to get to them, but that is never an excuse for busted calls and exchanges. Take the time to get it right, and ask for repeats if necessary. With practice you'll get better and the rate will naturally rise. Don't force it. Accuracy comes before speed.

There are contests where QSOs are deleted from both logs if either operator made an error. That can be helpful since it makes operators more careful. I sent your call incorrectly? You have an incentive to try again rather than shrug and let me lose the points. I have mixed feelings about those contests. Rather than dive into that here I'll direct you to an article I wrote about it several years ago.

One feature you should become familiar with is X-QSO. If you are uncomfortable with the accuracy of a call sign or exchange and you are unable to quiz the other station, or you're not sure they logged you, you have the option of marking the contact using the X-QSO feature. 

By marking the contact as an X-QSO you are claiming no credit for the QSO and will not be assessed a penalty (if there is an error) while allowing the other station to be awarded points if the QSO is correct in their log. The most popular contest logging applications, N1MM and DXLog, support this feature. Marking the contact is a judgment call. Make your decision quickly and move on.

One final note about log analysis in a multi-op. Most contesters want to learn from their mistakes, but not everyone. I gave the operators all the data they need to correlate errors to their activity. I leave the rest to them. My primary objective was for everybody to have fun making a big score with a big station. In that we succeeded, spectacularly.

Practice is Boring

Have you heard of the 10,000 hour rule? Even if it were true it leaves out more than it should about how skills are truly developed. That is, if you put in the time and effort can you ever expect to compete in a Grand Slam tennis tournament? Hit a home run in the major leagues? Run a marathon in 2 hours?

It is very unlikely that a reader of this blog can honestly answer yes to any of those questions. But how about winning a major radiosport event like CQ World Wide? Now I can reasonably expect that one or two hands will be tentatively raised. That shouldn't be a surprise since this blog is far more likely to be read by those in the latter group and not the former. Even so, few make it the top of any field despite a major investment of time and effort.

Years ago I stood in the batter's box of a recreational facility with a machine pitching balls at the distance and speed typical in the MLB. My hope was to at least connect with the ball. I failed in half a dozen attempts. 

It has been claimed that this particular skill is unlearnable if you have not already had it "wired" by your mid-teens. The same may be true of many technical sports which require exceptional coordination of mind and body. By the time we become adults the ability to program our bodies to this degree is greatly diminished. I have poor coordination so I have always done poorly at most sports despite enjoying them.

What goes into being really good at something:

• Practice
• Coaching
• Motivation
• Talent

Practice, motivation and even coaching are insufficient if your objective is to reach the pinnacle. The truth can hurt: time and effort can't overcome a lack of talent. You can go far without it but you will plateau and progress no further.

Talent is often unappreciated. We believe, and are raised to believe, that we can do anything if we work hard and sacrifice. That means practice, practice, practice. If only that were true! 10,000 hours is a myth. It's an attractive lie that explains why due to our busy lives of raising families and earning a living there is no time to practice -- that could have been me hitting the game-winning home run.

All of us have talents, discovered or not. That's why many parents push their children to try a variety of activities -- sports, music, academics -- since that is a good way to discover talent and interest. I know of no deterministic method to predict talent.

Talent alone can be motivating, but what if you don't have it in the sport or vocation you've chosen? Competitiveness is bred in all of us so we are driven to excel when we're young. Failure to due to lack of talent may be explained away with excuses. As we grow to adulthood most of us give up those dreams and settle down to a comfortable life that is within our grasp. We lower our expectations.

What about radiosport? There is no money to be earned and little enough recognition, yet many of us are motivated to compete and improve our skills and results. The requisite skills -- CW, SO2R, 2BSIQ, etc. -- may not be talents of your, so your only recourse is intense regular practice. Are you willing to put in the time and effort to rise to the top and put that cherished plaque on the wall?

Coaching won't get you there. Like I have, you can approach talented or accomplished operators for tips and advice but in radiosport you are really on your own. You can always bury yourself in a multi-op team to spread the glory and blame, however development of your skills remains your responsibility.

But practice can indeed be boring. At least that's what I've found. This is true for me no matter the skill, be it one where I have talent or not.

A lack of talent can destroy one's initial enthusiasm. We hit one roadblock after another in our quest for improved performance. It takes a lot of motivation to not give up in the face of poor results. With talent discovered it is far easier to practice since we have quick and tangible results. It is thus that talent leads to success. Practice is mandatory whether or not one has talent. It's unavoidable.

You may be surprised to hear that I have no talent for CW. What I had was strong motivation when I was young. It took years of practice and fumbling to become proficient. I was barely able to copy and send well enough to get my first license (10 wpm). Every QSO risked embarrassment due to my many mistakes. I would pretend to copy text that I missed. 

I tried everything: slower speeds, copying on paper, copying in my head, or undemanding "599" contacts. I might have abandonned the code forever after I upgraded with phone privileges had I not discovered contesting. That helped maintain my motivation to improve my accuracy and speed. I built an iambic keyer with memories to facilitate contests and to avoid a lot of mistakes. Well, at least after I painfully learned to send with the paddles.

It took years until I became truly capable of high speed CW. Without talent or coaching it took a lot of practice and motivation. Even today, without regular practice my skill degrades. It took me a few years to retrain myself after a 20 year hiatus from the hobby.

In contrast to my CW struggles, at the same time that I was first licensed I discovered a talent that I didn't anticipate: computer programming. Within days of starting the subject in high school I was miles ahead of the teacher and exploring novel algorithms and languages, and machine architectures. I had stumbled upon a talent. Several decades later my CW is very good while my programming ability has declined. The former has been practiced more than the latter. Talent is helpful but...use it or lose it.

I hate practice so I tend to avoid it. There are wonderful training tools available such as Morserunner (I use the version embedded in N1MM Logger+) and Rufz. I occasionally use them but invariably give up after 5 or 10 minutes. I know many top-notch contesters that use tools like this quite a lot in the days and weeks leading up to major contests. That's great for those that enjoy it. I do not, and I suffer the consequences.

Instead I focus on small contests for practice. They're real. Yet I avoid the short sessions like CWT since they don't feel real to me. Among the contesters that I know opinions are varied. Here are some of the ways I practice on the air in small contests:

• 2BSIQ for an hour or two
• High power on the high bands to Europe to practice running a pile up 
• QRP to hone tactics for being heard by those running a pile up
• SO2R on the low bands, dealing with noise and poor SNR reception in both ears
• Quickly run up the mults using assistance (human and skimmer spots) 
• SO2R phone, which is a new skill I need to practice

I have a similar attitude to physical training. I am a pretty good cyclist and runner with a modest talent for both. When I was in my prime I would spend many hours during the cold winter months on an indoor trainer to prepare for the coming season. In retrospect I'm amazed that I could endure so much practice. Really, it's boring. These days I get bored after 20 or 30 minutes even while listening to loud rock and roll.

I can't easily or safely run or ride for any distance in the winter so I strap on the snowshoes. That's my chosen alternative that is roughly the equivalent of operating in small contests. I get a good workout get the stimulation of being out in nature. I can go slow or fast, choose open fields or forests for the many obstacles. That activity is far preferable to practice on a bike trainer or treadmill.

You don't have to be talented to learn and enjoy a skill. Just be prepared to put in the time and effort, and reach out to those more skilled to see what you can learn from them; that is, get coaching if you can.

But my premise remains the same: practice can be really boring. Whether it's CW, running, drawing or shooting hoops, you can progress with practice. It'll be slow so find whatever it is that motivates to get you through the first stages when the cause might seem hopeless. Once you see results the motivation will naturally rise to help overcome the boredom.

Without practice to improve your skill you are simply pursuing a pastime. That's okay but don't deceive yourself into believing that you're doing more than that. Boring or not, practice works.

Postscript: A few of the pictures in this article were generated using a public interface to Stable Diffusion. It was an experiment to brighten up the wall of text. Finding human drawn artwork that is pertinent to the topic and also public domain can be difficult. Since the training data doesn't seem to include ham radio material the results were often amusing. Yagis, keys and many other objects common in our hobby are unknown to it so it guesses. The results can be surreal or plain nonsense. After rejecting the worst there are still absurdities in the pictures I chose to use.

Deep Freeze

This the coldest time of year in most of the northern hemisphere. It occurs about 1 month after the winter solstice when incoming solar isolation equals outgoing radiation. From now until mid-summer the former will be greater than the latter so the temperature will gradually rise. 

While it's nice to know that we're over the "hump" we still have to survive the weather that comes our way. In particular, our stations have to survive. The topic seems timely with a major winter storm about to hit the US and probably us as well. It's -30° C on Saturday morning as I type these words.

Cold temperatures are not by themselves an impediment to tower work. I've lived in colder climates and I've done tower work at temperatures as low as -15° C. There is little margin for error on high towers since you must plan for the time it takes to get down before your extremities go numb. That can be disastrous. On shorter towers it is easy enough to climb down for a warm up. 

Despite the need for speed, never stint on the use of fall arrest equipment. It'll slow you down and you'll get even colder, but you'll live to tell the tale. When I was young I didn't appreciate the risks I was taking. Now I know better. So should you. It is all too easy to hit a patch of ice on a tower strut or lose your grip due to thick gloves or partly numb fingers.

A far greater serious risk than temperature is wind chill. I've lived in climates where there were regular warnings about exposed flesh at risk of freezing in as little as 30 seconds. I know many others that have lived and worked in colder climates, including the high Arctic. When I first moved to eastern Ontario long ago I used to joke, when asked why I moved here, that it was for the mild winters.

No matter your cold tolerance or your enthusiasm, it is prudent to build stations that can survive the cold. Better to stay warm in your cozy shack and operate to your heart's content than to find yourself trudging through the snow and biting wind to chip the ice off electrical enclosures to make repairs. You'll find yourself shouting words unsuited to polite company

I want to minimize the risk during the peak of contest and DXpedition season. We do tower and antenna work in the winter only when conditions are favourable. Many repair jobs should be left until spring for reasons of safety, no matter how important the malfunctioning item to your operating goals.

What can go wrong in the deep cold?

• Moisture and ice inside cables and connectors, both RF and control
• Grease that turns semi-solid
• Electrical components that fail or radically change value
• Water inside enclosures that turns to ice and shatters PCBs and other fragile components
• Hard plastics become brittle and will shatter, and the pliable ones become rigid
• Cable jackets crack and accumulate water and ice
• Tension on guys and cables increases
• Chunks of ice can fall from higher up onto fragile antennas and unprotected heads

Of course we all have our environmental challenges, even those living in warm climates. These include: hurricanes, salt, wildlife, intense UV exposure and more. This is not a contest over which group of hams suffers the most. The annual threat of frigid temperatures is simply what I have to deal with.

I will not delve into extreme detail on the matter of protecting our stations from winter's assaults. A few examples can prove helpful to ensure we make the right decisions. When everything seems fine in July it is difficult to imagine what that box of electronics will experience in January. A few careful choices will get us most of the way there.

In an earlier article I mentioned that the TH6 had failed. I opened the re-housed Balun Designs balun and found the ferrite and coax winding fully submerged. The PVC enclosure had a seemingly small crack and water got inside. That may have been due to the cold but could just as easily have been caused by a material defect. There is no indication of UV deterioration. Thermal cycling in our climate can be insidious.

I removed the water as best I could but that didn't help. There were no weep holes. Although that day was above freezing it is likely that the water had frozen and thawed, perhaps more than once. My time was limited so I couldn't positively confirm that the stress of the freeze-thaw cycle was responsible. Repairing or bypassing the balun could not be done quickly (winter days are short) so I left it for another time. I'll have to get by without the antenna.

There is a wide variety of electrical tape on the market. The cheapest does poorly in cold weather. It may seal effectively but it cannot be worked. Better tape is required to be usable in the cold. The above picture is an extract from 3M's spec sheet for Scotch 33+ tape. This is the minimum quality tape to use for effective sealing and cold weather use; I have better when needed. Note the temperature data.

Keep in mind that electrical tape that cannot be applied in cold weather can still work well after having been applied in warmer weather. In the cold it can't be worked so you can only remove it with a knife. The best tapes can often be removed and even reused in freezing weather. 

Even the best products have a low temperature cutoff below which you can't work with it. In very cold weather I keep tape rolls in a pocket or under my parka rather than a tool pouch so that it stays warm and pliable until needed. It will cool quickly when attached to cold metal such as coax connectors so don't dawdle. 

To reduce the need for expensive long runs of cable I've reduced the 8-conductors for Hy-Gain rotators to 5. Two of those conductors (#4 and #8) are eliminated by placing the motor phasing capacitor (it's a "run" capacitor, not a "start" capacitor) on the tower near the rotator. 

Many electrolytic capacitors are specified to operate down to -40° C. If suitably protected they are safe and reliable for outdoor use. The capacitor at right was an inexpensive product purchased online. I don't know whether the specs are to be trusted for these nameless Asian imports, but it has been reliable down to -20° C, so far. 

A different brand of motor capacitor that was used on an earlier side mount rotator is still fine after several years of service. It can't be seen in the pictures of the linked article but it's just to the right of the terminal strip underneath the wide angle bracket. The twin of the one pictured is on the tower with the side mount bracket for the rotatable 15 meter yagi. The rotator turns well in the current spate of very cold weather.

Motor capacitors, run or start, are intended for industrial and critical applications. They are usually located inside the motor, not on the outside as I am doing. The temperature inside a metal motor will not be much different from one that isn't enclosed, but it must be protected from snow, ice and sunlight. I wrap mine in UV-resistant plastic and mount them under the bracket that supports the rotator.

Relays are devices that do not always perform well or quickly in the cold. Above is an extract from the spec sheet for an Omron G2RL DPDT relay. I have many of them in my station. Note the temperature rating. I always check that line before placing an order. Some are rated to only -30° or even -20° C. That's insufficient where I live.

I have had relays stick or freeze in the cold. Several G5V relays from the same manufacturer occasionally need to be cycled on and off a few times in cold weather before they will operate normally. Sealed relays keep out moisture that can imperil relay performance and lifetime.

Any discussion about temperature has to include grease. Grease is most commonly used in our stations inside rotators and bearings. For the 6201 bearings above, it is generally better to use a double-sealing bearing like that on the right. However, check the catalogue to ensure that it is rated for the expected temperature range. Sealed bearings have a lower RPM rating at low temperatures due to the grease. In most high speed applications that is acceptable since its temperature will quickly rise. 

That is not true of rotator bearings. They are used infrequently, torque is relatively low and they turn slowly. This causes a different class of problems, such as fretting and cold weather starting. The shielded bearing on the left is easier to service if greasing is needed.

I used a variety of lithium wheel bearing greases for years on rotators with little trouble except at the very coldest temperatures. Synthetic greases have a wider temperature range and remain stable at high temperatures. The latter is important even in our climate since the inside of a rotator exposed to July sunlight can get very hot indeed. The grease should not thin so much that it oozes out.

The greases on the right were used on one of my prop pitch motor gearboxes. They work well in the cold but there are better products available. This is not a product review or recommendation! Specialty automotive shops can be a good source for the range of products we need in our stations. Shop online if you must but read the specifications carefully.

One last example is that of metal expansion and contraction. It is easy to think of steel and other metals as temperature stable. They are when compared to many other materials. Yet seasonal temperature cycling will have an impact.

Fasteners can loosen due to thermal cycling. The bolt and nut can have different coefficients of expansion (CoE) or the preload (initial torque setting) may be set less than expected due to friction when tightened. As the fastener cycles between temperature extremes the clamping force can be periodically reduced and they can turn (loosen).

This is more common for large size hardware used to fasten together tower sections, bushings and rotator housings. But it can occur on electrical connections, whether ground wires or terminal blocks for control cables. 

It can be difficult to diagnose after the fact since you can't be certain whether the preload was properly set, the screw never tightened properly or the copper wires being secured yield under excess force. I've had cases where I suspect thermal cycling as the cause.

Tower guys are also subject to thermal cycling. In our climate the preload on a guy can change by up to 10% between annual temperature extremes. For the CoE of the 5/16" EHS guys on my big towers the preload is specified as 1100 lb, or 10% of breaking strength. If you set it in January it may be 1000 lb in July. 

That isn't necessarily dire since the 10% value is not a rigid directive. However, as hams we typically don't use very accurate tension gauges. The Loos gauge I use is designed for the multi-strand cable common on sailboats. The correction is inexact and must be calculated. For this reason it is better to set the tension so that it is no less than 1100 lb in mid-summer. Higher tension in the deep cold of winter is safer than a low tension in summer.

Throw another log on the fire and keep warm. Spring will come again. 

NAQP CW using 2BSIQ

NAQP is an interesting contest: short, intense and high rates. Unlike the major global contests, the rates are not so high that SO2R is gruelling. 2BSIQ is perfectly doable by those of mediocre skill, such as myself. 

I had several challenges in this month's contest, some shared and some unique to myself:

• Conditions: The K-index was 6 early in the contest which mostly affected 20 meters and the low bands. That didn't disadvantage me since everyone was subject to the poor conditions, though perhaps less so for those further south. From this region low angle radiation was preferentially absorbed, favouring low horizontal antennas. For example, on 80 meters the inverted vee outperformed the vertical yagi until late in the evening.
• Antennas: The south-pointing TH6 and the south direction of the 40 meter reversible Moxon were not working. The major impact was on 40 where I only had the high 3-element yagi. As said, low horizontal were superior for the prevailing conditions.
• Preparation: I don't practice SO2R and 2BSIQ. My practice is participating in small contests. Practicing these skills bores me -- I can only take about 5 minutes of Morserunner before getting fed up. Better operators are better because they practice, if only in the days leading up to a contest.

The top 30 low power scores reported to 3830 are shown at right. I did better than I expected, though worse than those with superior skills and tactics, or a superior location. Antenna problems certainly didn't help but that's no excuse.

I parked the Skyhawk (tri-band yagi) at about south-southwest to compensate for the unavailable TH6. The upper 5-element yagis of the 10, 15 and 20 meter stacks were most useful for the western half of the continent so that's where I pointed them; I've done the same in previous NAQPs. 

I didn't worry about the east and northeast since there are few stations in that direction and they can usually be worked on back scatter. On 160 meters I stuck with the southwest Beverage receive antenna and relied on proximity to work the northeast.

The presetting of antenna directions is important since there it's difficult to switch antennas while doing SO2R and especially 2BSIQ. I switch antennas or bands when the rate drops to hopefully reach new stations. Never marry a run frequency; agility is key. Activity in NAQP starts on the high bands and gradually works lower as the contest progresses. You must follow the crowd to maintain a good rate.

My objectives for the contest were only partially about the score. Antenna and propagation challenges removed the pressure to do well. Further, I was not on a team containing high scorers. I felt free to experiment and practice my skills. This is what I set out to do:

• 2BSIQ: NAQP is an ideal contest to practice the skill since the rate is high but not too high. Usually there are no more than 2 or 3 stations calling at a time. Although the exchange is relatively lengthy it is pre-filled by call history in most cases. That saves typing but only if you confirm that the pre-fill matching what is sent.
• Receive switching: There are two alternatives for default receive audio switching, and I wanted to practice this as well. My choice until now has been stereo full time, in which the receivers are heard in one ear all the time unless I override to mono, to focus on one for better copy. The best 2BSIQ ops choose to hear the receiving radio while the other is transmitting the other. It is easy to lose track of which radio you're listening to. If both are receiving you hear one radio in each ear, just like for the first option. I set up N1MM Logger+ function key files for both options so that I could switch back and forth. DXLog has more options using its scenarios feature.
• Antenna assessment: I was curious how the antennas would play. That is, whether the less than ideal choices would affect my score. I'd rather not have done the experiment but with the TH6 and Moxon unavailable I decided that I might as well.

The Icom 7600 was limited to about 80 watts due to a DC cable problem which I couldn't entirely resolve before the contest. The 1 db power reduction likely only had a minor impact. The problem was resolved after the contest.

The solution surprised me. After extensive testing I decide my time was better spent buying a new cable. That was how I discovered that the same cable is used on the Yaesu FT950. I have one -- it's my spare rig. Swapping cables returned power to 100 watts. It takes very little resistance at 20 amps to cause a measured 2 volt drop to 11.8 VDC inside the rig.

Before talking about how I did relative to my objectives, the log analysis is worth a look. You can do the same with the Cabrillo file for many of the major contests online using the CBS tool. I used the web interface which is most convenient.

-------------- Q S O   R a t e   S u m m a r y ---------------------
Hour     160     80     40     20     15     10    Rate Total    Pct
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1800       0      0      0      9     49     32     90     90    7.5
1900       0      0      0     20     55     24     99    189   15.8
2000       0      0      0     25     64     33    122    311   25.9
2100       0      0      1     53     64      0    118    429   35.8
2200       0      0     48     66     26      0    140    569   47.4
2300       0      0     23     14     13      0     50    619   51.6
0000       0      0     60     54      0      0    114    733   61.1
0100       0    100     55      0      0      0    155    888   74.0
0200      14     59     55      0      0      0    128   1016   84.7
0300      73     41      1      0      0      0    115   1131   94.2
0400      34     25     10      0      0      0     69   1200  100.0
0500       0      0      0      0      0      0      0   1200  100.0
------------------------------------------------------
Total    121    225    253    241    271     89   1200

Compared to more skilled operators in this region my performance lags in the opening hours: my rate was about 50% lower. I am focussing on QSOs since multiplier hunting for non-assisted operators doing a lot of 2BSIQ will necessarily suffer. You trade multipliers for QSO points.

The reasons for my under-performance are twofold. One, I persisted with 20 meters at the start when I ought to have avoided it until later. Everyone was on 15 and 10 where the activity was much higher. I've been burned in the past trying too hard on 10 meters leading to the opposite mistake in this contest. I also did more S & P on 10 than I should have, hoping to find multipliers before the band closed. But 10 didn't close early.

15 meters stayed strong for a long time, including short skip to the mid-west US and back scatter from the eastern seaboard. It was a very productive band. My rate increased as the activity gradually concentrated on 15 and 20. Many high scoring stations in this region had more contacts on 15 than on 20. It was that good. I was late to the game. My various high band errors cost me 100 to 150 contacts.

My initial showing on 40 meters was poor, as expected with the high yagi. To deal with it I took my one and only off time from 2300Z to just past 0000Z. That wasn't the ideal off time, however I wasn't do well on 40 and the time fit with my personal schedule (supper time). I operated until 0430Z when I hit my 10 hour quota. 

That at least appears to have been a good decision. In previous outings I would take another 30 minute off time mid-evening to take better advantage of the low bands around midnight (0500Z(. This time the low bands were poor and there were few stations to work in the final hour. Skipping the last 90 minutes of the 12 hour contest worked for me.

Let's return to 2BSIQ now that I've analyzed my tactics and abilities, good and bad. Although I have no detailed analysis, my estimate is that 85% to 90% of my QSOs were by 2BSIQ. The remainder were done using classic SO2R: one radio running and the other hunting. That is far more 2BSIQ than I've done before. That counts as success. 

To be clear, by "success" I refer only to near continuous 2BSIQ operation and not my score. The negatives were fewer multipliers and frequent gaps (2 or 3 minutes without a QSO) that could have been filled by hunting stations. But you just never know since so many multipliers call when you're running, and many of those time gaps were followed by runs of 4 to 5 QSOs per minute. 

• When is a gap so long that you need to QSY or switch to S & P?
• Which mults and how many am I missing by not hunting? 
• Many others are also running all the time so I can't work them when I'm 2BSIQ. Does the rate from 2BSIQ compensate for the loss of not hunting the perpetual runners?

There are no easy answers. My typical tactic when switching bands was to start with S & P and resume running when I encountered a clear frequency. That took no more than a few minutes. Other times I'd pick a clear spot on the rig's waterfall spectrogram after a band change and jump straight into running.

Assisted operators were scoring 50 to 100 more multipliers than I was. The comparison is interesting but invalid since we were in different categories. It only shows the potential of how many mults were available. The comparison that mattered was to other unassisted operators. On that score I didn't fare too badly.

The truly talented unassisted operators would operate 2BSIQ almost full time and ask stations to move to other bands. That may be to the other band where they are running or they'd both QSY to the target band. Many stations are surprisingly accommodating to those requests. On the other hand, some say yes (to be polite?) and don't show up. But if you don't ask you won't get the mult. This is a skill beyond my ability. 2BSIQ and even classic SO2R is difficult enough for me.

2BSIQ in NAQP is easier than in major contests like CQ WW or contests with long complex exchanges like ARRL Sweepstakes. It isn't difficult to pick out a full call with no more than 2 to 3 callers; there can be far more in CQ WW. Nevertheless there are many times that I missed calls or copied only a letter or two because my brain was occupied elsewhere or the signal received on the other radio was loud. 

Copying errors cost time and can be embarrassing when you ask for a repeat more than once. The other op must wonder why I have difficulty copying a loud signal in the clear. All you can do is shrug and continue. If you let it bother you you'll abandon 2BSIQ or SO2R and that will hurt your score. As one friend put it to me, "shameless" 2BSIQ is the way to succeed. That is, don't worry about the mistakes and plow ahead regardless. Annoyed stations will come back or not, but you'll still come out farther ahead. Indeed, everyone benefits regardless since SO2R increases the overall number of QSO points scored by all operators in a contest. It's a matter of perspective.

I remain self-conscious about my mistakes though less than when I first attempt 2BSIQ several years ago. I am also learning and using techniques to improve QSO synchronization so that I make fewer mistakes and drive fewer callers away by unintended dead air. If I lose my run frequency it's easy to find another in NAQP. The loss can be more costly in CQ WW. CW skimmers will quickly spot your new run frequency.

I made ample use of call history in this contest. It is critical that it be used as an aid and never as a crutch. You are busy enough when doing 2BSIQ that the reduction of typing is welcome, but only if you compare the pre-filled name and state with what is copied. There is no excuse for blindly accepting the pre-fill, yet many do. The resulting error rate can destroy your score since call history is often wrong: names change (guest ops, and SK tributes) and people have more than one residence. 

The bottom line is that I'm pleased with my NAQP CW result. I learned what I can do and what I can improve. However, I am not ready to tackle 40+ hours of 2BSIQ in CQ WW, with a dozen callers on each running radio during the peak of openings to Europe. I doubt that I'll ever reach that skill level, and I don't know if I want to try. Maybe it'll be easier when sunspots recede and the high bands aren't all open at the same time.

I made improvements to my operating desk layout a year ago to improve situational awareness. I've kept it that way (see pic at the top). Both radios are up front with the monitor on top. There are several visible indications of the operating state:

• Transceiver LED and meters to distinguish receive versus transmit status
• N1MM Logger+ Entry Window TX/RX button lights.
  
• N1MM Logger+ scrolling text for what is being transmitted, or has just been transmitted

That should be enough. However I find the N1MM indications difficult to follow. The TX/RX indicators are small and must be looked at directly, since they are almost invisible in peripheral vision. The scrolling text is tiny and similarly difficult to see and follow unless looked at directly. Frankly, I don't like it. The rig power meter LEDs are more helpful since they're bright and large.

If you use one keyboard, the logging software places receive focus on the correct radio in this case so that what you type is for the correct radio. Although that would seem to favour use of a single keyboard the situation can quickly deteriorate when both radios are receiving. That is when 2 keyboards can be much better, by removing all doubt as to which radio your typing is for.

The core of the OTRSP commands for the N1MM Logger+ function keys originally come from N2IC and have been widely copied. These ensure that you are only listening to the receiving radio when the other one is transmitting:

F1 Cq,Test {MYCALL}{OTRSPOTHER RX}{END}{STEREOON}
F2 Exch,{SENTRSTCUT} {EXCH}{OTRSPOTHER RX}{END}{STEREOON}
F3 Tu,Tu {MYCALL}{OTRSPOTHER RX}{END}{STEREOON}

I made two function key files before the contest with and without these OTRSP directives. As in the past, it didn't last long. The combination of visible indication deficits and my own skill level defeated my attempts to follow the QSO flow. After 10 minutes of 2BSIQ I reverted to manual stereo control for the remainder of the contest. This involves pressing the ~ key to turn stereo on and off as needed to copy one station without the other radio getting in the way.

It's more work but I was never confused as to which radio I was listening to. Using the keyboard controls is a more sophisticated method of receive audio control than what I began with several years ago. Of course you need an OTRSP device, which in my case is the SO2R Mini.

There is much more to say on SO2R and 2BSIQ but this article is long enough. I may go into more depth in a future article. Not because I'm so good at it, which I am obviously not, but because it might be of interest to those considering SO2R and 2BSIQ. Others might benefit by learning from my successes and failures.

I'll speak briefly about NAQP SSB this past weekend. I made only 100 contacts since the contest doesn't have a great appeal to me other than as a casual operation and to say hello to friends. It can even be quite relaxing on a winter evening. My sole objective was to set the station up for phone SO2R which is more difficult than for CW. TTS (text to speech) has to potential to make 2BSIQ as easy as on CW, but that was not my purpose at this time.

I ran into numerous difficulties getting message playback from the PC to each radio's internal codec and to route the mic to each radio. When you speak the other station's call sign or anything other than play the pre-recorded messages you must ensure the mic is connected to the transmitting radio. You must also use VOX or a foot switch for that radio. I installed two foot switches as many do for improved situational awareness. Switching the mic and transmit focus isn't trivial and I ran into trouble setting this up with the SO2R Mini.

I need to get it working, not so much for myself but for requests I've received from prospective guest ops. This is one more project added to my long list of winter projects. Well, the wind is howling and the snow is piling up so I might as well see what I can do.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

To mark the new year this article will look back to my activities in 2025 and my plan for 2026. It is a tradition on the blog though not one held to rigourously. It can be helpful to honestly review what was accomplished and how that compares to what was planned. 

You are free to compare what you read below to that year old plan. I will not. My aspirations tend to run ahead of accomplishments since the former is far easier than the latter; that is, words are easier than deeds, which is true of any endeavour. I should also mention that I am an eternal optimist, so these things happen.

2025 accomplishments

Despite my best efforts to be distracted by non-radio activities quite a lot got done in 2025, both with respect to the station and operating. Distraction is okay since this is a hobby not a job. There is life outside of amateur radio.

First up are the antennas. There are new ones and improvements to old ones.

• The reversible 40 meter Moxon was built, raised, fixed, raised again and finally put into service in the early fall. This is now my favourite antenna. Its performance is excellent, instant reversing between Europe and the US, and a low SWR across the band. However the Ham-M used to turn it is under-powered: I had to reposition the mast once so far. It has allow developed a fault which I'll come to a little later.
• I don't use the 30 meter delta loop often since there isn't as much casual DX available as in the past. Its intended use is therefore for DXpeditions. The antenna performs very well on long distance DX. It is all the antenna I need for 30 meters. 
• While not a new antenna, the lower 5-element 15 meter yagi of the stack is almost rotatable. The bracket and rotator are installed and working. However the antenna remained firmly attached to the tower when winter settled in. One or two warm days should see the project through.
• I did less antenna modelling than in past years, reflecting the maturity of the station. I am currently exploring various antenna models for future implementation. Anything interesting will eventually show up in an article.

Other projects were started though not completed by year end. More about those later. A large tree fell across two Beverages a week ago. Fast work with a chainsaw returned them to service in time for the Stew Perry weekend. They'll next see heavy use during the CQ 160 CW contest later in January. 

The TH6 and one direction of the 40 meter Moxon developed faults in the first week of January, just in time for NAQP CW. I hope to be able to  repair both without lowering them to the ground. That will require careful rigging and more clement weather. Maintenance in a large station never ends.

Here is a quick summary of my non-antenna projects:

• Prop pitch motor controller: As reported, it works and is in daily use. However, I have not had time to implement more features such as the all important soft rotation limits -- prop pitch motors have no mechanical limits. 
• New PC: The main station computer was upgraded to deal with increased computing demands of skimmer spots and various contesting features. My early impression is that it helped only marginally. Well, I suppose it was time to move to Windows 11 anyway, and hard drives on old PCs are always a risk. I've had a few computers fail that way. Backups are essential.
• Solid state amps: I began my transition with the purchase of an Acom 1200S. That made it easier for guest ops to navigate the station's complexity. I will continue the migration in 2026. However, both tube amps -- Acom 1500 and Drake L7 -- will stay. The 1500 continues as my daily amp of choice for its clean transmit signal and duty cycle at high power. After repairing it protection circuit glitches occurred twice, and that will require a closer look.

With respect to operating, my interests haven't changed too much: DX, contests, 6 meters, etc. There were guest ops for a few contests, one multi op in CQ WW SSB, and then my own single op contest efforts, including CQ WW CW. Let's look at this in more detail.

With regard to operating there were events worth noting since my 6 meter mid-season update. My 6 meter DXCC worked count increased by 2. I now have 149 worked and 138 confirmed on LoTW. The 3 additions for 2025 were 4U1UN, 9J2FI and C5R. More were heard but not worked, including: VK, EL, 9L, HV and ZS, and others I've previously confirmed like FK, V5, VP8 and many others. There was one notable QSO this fall with an extraordinarily strong ZL1RS (who I've worked before). I worked him again in the first week of January. DX crops up when you least expect it.

With weak hints of a second cycle peak in 2026 we can cling to hope for better DX this spring. But with the number of countries I've worked the diminishing returns are becoming brutal. I've thought about a larger antenna or a stack but I doubt it would help all that much. It's unlikely to ever happen since the cost-benefit ratio is poor. That said, perhaps I'll do it anyway, though not this year.

There is little else to say about the 6 meter season so I was able to replace a season end article with two paragraphs. 

After skipping 2024 we resumed multi-op contesting in 2025. The big event was CQ WW SSB in which we did pretty well in the M/2 category. We were not globally competitive, nor can we be. Unfortunately there is little in the way of bragging rights (or an award) for winning Canada. A second multi-op (M/S) was in the RAC Winter contest. There were just two of us, where he (VA3UMM) did SSB and I did CW.

After failing to once again break 5000 QSOs as a single op in CQ WW CW -- mostly due to poorer conditions and my mediocre 2BSIQ skills -- I have to decide whether to try again in 2026 or to increasingly focus on multi-ops. Although I believe that I can improve my score with practice and effort, I am not very motivated to try in 48 hour contests. Long duration 2BSIQ can be grueling for mere mortals such as me.

2026 plan

New construction has slowed as the station approaches its tenth anniversary. There will certainly be more antennas and improvements to existing ones, but I doubt that any future project will be at the scale of what I've already accomplished. 

Any major improvements to the antenna system will require at least one new tower. I can easily acquire and put up towers so that isn't the problem. The problem is maintenance and the march of time. Eventually my climbing days will come to an end, hopefully later rather than sooner, but the end will come. More towers and antennas will become physically difficult to manage. My current physical condition and strength are excellent, but I must plan ahead.

As mentioned earlier, antenna trouble cropped up in advance of the NAQP CW contest. These jobs have been added to my 2026 project list: TH6 and the "south" direction of the 40 meter reversible Moxon -- it works fine in the "north" direction. Both antennas are conveniently close to each other so I climbed up and had a look. 

The problems were diagnosed and can be dealt with when the weather warms. The 40 meter Moxon will have to come down for repair (again) if I don't come up with a way to access the element switch boxes from the tower. It can be done, however the rigging details are critical.

The TH6 is a continuing problem, and has often failed in wet weather. My patience with this venerable antenna is running thin. When it works it is too narrow band and lossy (due to the traps). Guest ops have difficulty with the high SWR at the upper end of the SSB segments (tuning is optimized for CW).

The present fault appears to be repairable on the tower. I'll do that when the weather cooperates even though I am planning to replace it. I am investigating designs for lightweight mono-band yagis for 20, 15 and 10 meters. All of them will be fixed south for instant switching to the multiplier rich and QSO thin south direction. 

The following is a summary of antenna projects planned for 2026. One or more may be contingent on a new tower since there is little available space on the existing ones, or side mount options where destructive interactions can be avoided.

• Rebuild the 80 meter yagi: The first steps were taken before winter set in. It can proceed in stages during the year, with completion slated for the fall. Summer is the slow season for the low bands so when the antenna has to be taken offline for a few weeks it will not be a problem.
• SSB for the 80 meter inverted vee: The antenna is pretty much unusable above 3700 kHz. A standard dipole, unlike a vertical, cannot have a low SWR from 3500 to 3800 kHz. Although solutions are straight-forward, it's lower priority than other planned projects.
• Add SSB and an efficient 160 meter mode to the 80 meter yagi: The physical rebuild of the antenna is a prerequisite for these projects. It's at high risk of being deferred to next year.
• 12/17 yagi: After installing a 30 meter antenna in 2025, resonant antennas for the remaining 12 and 17 meter WARC bands are desirable. Non-resonant antennas, with transceiver ATUs or tube amps, are how I've operated those bands until now. Since the antenna has to be rotatable there will be a challenge finding a suitable tower position for it.
• Rotating the lower 15 meter yagi: The bracket and rotator have already been installed but I couldn't finish the project before the cold weather arrived. I hope to complete it this winter if the weather cooperates. It will provide more operating agility and stacking gain into Asia and the Pacific.
• More Heliax: I have sufficient LDF5-50 on hand for new runs to the 20-15 meter tower to support more antennas. A new trench will have to be dug before or after the farming season.
• New and improved rotators: I can't escape the need for rotators so I put up with their fickleness. I recently acquired a Yaesu G2800DXA that I hope to put to good use. I also acquired a Green Heron RT21 controller and two Hy-Gain controllers that can be interfaced with a PC. I hope to have all the rotators software-controlled from both operating positions. 
• Beverage replacement study: The never ending maintenance for the Beverages is annoying even though they're easy to repair. Alternatives include BOG (Beverage on Ground) and vertical arrays. Both require pre-amps that are immune to high signal levels for compatibility with SO2R and multi-op contests. That may be difficult. The existing Beverages do very well in that respect.

Projects in the shack will be to modernize the station's capabilities and to make contest operating as easy as possible. More agility in contests and for daily operating will be welcome. It won't come cheap even though I do a lot of home brewing since major hardware will need to be purchased. I might even discard one or more home brew projects and go commercial in the interests of time.

These are the most significant items for the shack and contest operating in 2026:

• Solid state amplifier: The intent is greater agility during contests and less training for guest operators. The latter is particularly important if I follow through on hosting more multi-ops. It's a difficult choice and I am continuing to evaluate the alternatives, yet stay on budget.
• Rewrite of the antenna selection software: I've begun but it is unlikely to be done before the end of this contest season. You would think winter is the ideal time for software development inside a warm shack. Other tasks easily distract me. When it's done, each operator will have their own antenna selection window, antenna choices will be clearly displayed, and expansion and maintenance will be made easier by means of configuration files.
• More 2BSIQ: Despite saying I'd rather not do this and my plan is more focussed on multi-ops, it is an important skill to learn. I improved my desktop layout for SO2R based on a friend's advice, and now I have to schedule practice to hone my skills. Close to 90% of my contacts in the recent NAQP CW contest were done with 2BSIQ. The live training was vital but it cost me multipliers.
• Encourage new contesters: I have started to encourage younger hams to try contesting by inviting them to operate my station. CQ WW SSB and RAC Winter contests are two recent examples. Too many hams of my generation fret about the future yet do nothing about it. The candidate pool is large: there are more hams in our country that ever before, and the same is true in many other countries. Although most are drawn to other aspects of the hobby, competitiveness is inherent to the human spirit. Awareness and opportunity can unlock that potential.

As usual I am over-reaching in my annual objectives. That's okay: it's better to aim high and fall short than to achieve what comes easily.

The blog

My productivity has had a sustained pace for 13 years. I promised myself a few years ago that I would aim for about one article per week, which I managed to do again in 2025 (46 articles). With so much of my available time dedicated to the station there is always a lot of material for the blog. I will never write "fluff" just to meet my schedule. Every article should have substance and be of interest to at least some readers. When I have nothing to write, I write nothing. 

As far as topics go, it should be understood that the blog follows what I am doing and thinking, not what others want or is popular. I aim to please myself and hope that it is interesting and useful to others. I am comfortable with the mix of technical and operating articles I choose to write about.

Despite no promotion the readership appears to have grown. I say "appears" since I do not use any tracking tools. It is based on the number of article hits and referrals (net of spam and bots), and sometimes comments. The previous article about digital seems to have hit a nerve with readers. Links to it have been shared leading to discussion on other forums and bringing some of them here to comment. Rarely does an article get so much reaction.

Although it isn't my intent to be provocative on controversial topics, I wanted to make a firm statement about the issue. I expect most hams to remain entrenched in their views of FT8 and its cousins. I won't shy away from what I believe are important issues facing our hobby that ought to be addressed. We need progress and renewal, not a desperate clinging to a mythical golden age that never truly existed. It's the future that needs our attention.

The blog will continue for as long as I have the drive and there are interesting topics to write about. I don't foresee a slowdown in the near future. 

The future

This fall will mark 10 years since I moved to this QTH and started building my present station. Time flies, and it will keep flying. That raises several questions:

• How much longer will I be able to do tower work?
• Who can I get to do tower work that is economical and knowledgable? 
• When I must downsize, can I keep the station and operate remote?

Entropy never sleeps. I was deeply affected by the passing of several friends and elderly family members in 2025. None of us will live forever.

On the other hand this is an ideal time to invest more in the station. With less time ahead of me I am free to spend more as long as I set aside enough for vital matters. It is time to write my shopping list. So it isn't all bad. I am cursed with optimism.

I look forward to seeing you on the bands in 2026 and for many years to come.