QRP Club

Ham Radio Activity => QRP Club Cup => Topic started by: DF5WW on December 29, 2013, 18:28:06 UTC

Title: QRP Club Contest 2014: Discussion
Post by: DF5WW on December 29, 2013, 18:28:06 UTC
Hi Nicola,

nice idea but it would be better when we have a programmer here in the forum who can write a little program which can check complete ADIF logs for worked members. I mean a software that crosschecks the ADIF callsign field with an actual members list. At the moment here more than 500 members and it will be hard to check the log manual.

Another idea is to have a QRP Club membership number like "QRPC #001" which we can use when we make our QRP contacts.

73´s, Juergen, DF5WW
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: YO9RIJ on December 29, 2013, 18:49:00 UTC
Hello to all,
Let me to ask a A.R.R. supporter that has the possibility to write such us program. He did that before many times for different YO's contests and i was very satisfied by the results. I want to make more attractive the idea for the contest, and i suggest to have a final term of the contest to can say who are the QRP-er of the year!
73's Pet YO9RIJ
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on December 29, 2013, 20:07:53 UTC
At the moment here more than 500 members and it will be hard to check the log manual.

At this moment I foresee a moderate participation (this is mainly a way to socialize), so I think I'll not have many problems...  ;D but I'll be very grateful to those who will help us (software, ideas and all the rest)!  :-*  :D
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on December 29, 2013, 20:09:32 UTC
i suggest to have a final term of the contest to can say who are the QRP-er of the year!

Ok!  :)
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: NA1DX on December 29, 2013, 20:58:31 UTC
Most QRP categories for ARRL and CQ require 5w for SSB, too.  That is what I have done and would recommend 5w for CW and SSB.

Doug, NA1DX
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: NA1DX on December 29, 2013, 21:00:27 UTC
I recommend use of N1MM for contest software.  The could likely do up configuration for QRP Club.

Doug, NA1DX
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on December 29, 2013, 21:04:39 UTC
Most QRP categories for ARRL and CQ require 5w for SSB, too.  That is what I have done and would recommend 5w for CW and SSB.

Doug, NA1DX

Thank you, Doug!
What does other members think about it?
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: NA1DX on December 29, 2013, 21:11:16 UTC
Then you will want to get it listed on http://www.3830scores.com/ (http://www.3830scores.com/)

Doug, NA1DX
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: vk4ath on December 30, 2013, 01:53:39 UTC
Hi Nicola,
I have been Contesting with QRP on SSB 5w for many years now, With good good Results, #1 in VK and sometimes in OC, However you will need a very reliable way of checking the contacts against the membership to keep things on a level playing field. Your idea sounds great for QRP Club members, I hope it get's plenty of support from most of the members..
                                      very 73 and a Happy New Year from Down under. Tom VK4ATH -.-
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: sm5mek on December 30, 2013, 08:51:42 UTC
I agree with the first speaker, it is most fair to the ssb operator to use 10 W and for cw 5W because the signal on ssb is less effective. And on other way, is 5 W up and down any big buissnes? Not in good conditions, I tested against a JA stn and de differense was very small, 100W was 59, 10W was 57 and 5W was "slightly weaker" between 56 - 57. But in hard contitions, with qrm or qrn in receiver qth i think this little differencs is important. Surely you can use a better antenna an get up with radiating power to more than 5W./10W. In contests, the few i participate in, i use only 5W on SSB also, but when operating other times from portable qth many ssb qso is on 10W. CW always on 5W.  :-\
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: LY5G on December 30, 2013, 09:28:05 UTC

Thank you, Doug!
What does other members think about it?

I agree with Doug, NA1DX. 5W is enough for CW and SSB.
On the other hand, the 1-year event would be better to call 'QRP Club Marathon'.
Marathon time: 01 Jan - 31 Dec, 2014.

Best regards and Happy New Year!

Vitas, LY5G
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on December 30, 2013, 09:42:52 UTC
On the other hand, the 1-year event would be better to call 'QRP Club Marathon'.


And QRP Club DX Cup?  ::)

QRP Club CW Cup

QRP Club SSB Cup
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: sm5mek on December 30, 2013, 09:50:38 UTC
Is there power enough too hold this ideas in live? Seems to be lot of work for somebody, but the idea is really good. ;)
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on December 30, 2013, 10:06:55 UTC
Is there power enough too hold this ideas in live? Seems to be lot of work for somebody, but the idea is really good. ;)

With a PayPal Donate Button we could buy the Cup and cover shipping costs.  ::)
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: K2MIJ on December 30, 2013, 15:39:21 UTC
I have worked DXCC twice QRP SSB and have never used more than 5 watts. I personally think there is no reason anymore QRP Phone operations need to be different from CW Ops power wise...

72,
Jim K2MIJ
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on December 30, 2013, 15:49:45 UTC
Ok, ok: 5 watts.
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: ve3fal on January 02, 2014, 00:25:00 UTC
What is best method to know who is active and on the air...It is a long shot at times to work another member in the blind.

I am good to go all bands 160-10 cw qrp..

Fred
VE3FAL/QRP
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on January 02, 2014, 09:28:23 UTC
What is best method to know who is active and on the air...It is a long shot at times to work another member in the blind.


You can see the list of online members (click here (https://www.qrpclub.org/qrp/index.php?action=mlist;sort=is_online;start=0)) but obviously it's not a cluster.  ::)



Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: GM0LVI on January 03, 2014, 20:16:12 UTC
What is best method to know who is active and on the air...It is a long shot at times to work another member in the blind.
Fred
VE3FAL/QRP
One way might be to self spot on the DX Cluster. ""GM0LVI.. 28.060...GM0LVI/QRP..."CQ QRPC TEST""
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on January 05, 2014, 02:00:04 UTC
We have a little cluster: beta version here (http://www.freecreations.org/qrpclub/cluster/cluster.php).  ::)
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: PG4I on January 05, 2014, 10:58:43 UTC
Is self-spotting allowed?
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on January 05, 2014, 11:03:22 UTC
Is self-spotting allowed?

Sure!  ;)
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: GM0LVI on January 05, 2014, 11:35:28 UTC
Thanks for the QRP cluster Nicola. It's just great!

Dave
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on January 05, 2014, 11:40:37 UTC
Thanks for the QRP cluster Nicola. It's just great!

Dave

Thank you, Dave.  :)
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: sm5mek on January 05, 2014, 13:57:41 UTC
 ???  is it bad conditions to day? This night i got 9K2 stn on 30 m, but now Good Old England is difficult. Iput some of my calls on the cluster as you see but not much response. Sure it will be more when operators start to use it. Look at RBN and search on my call sm5mek, i was out there making some noise.  ;D Sure.
Good work making this cluster soo fast. TNX and good weekend.
PS: Is this cluster stand alone or is it reporting to the big net also? My guess is stand alone?


Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on January 05, 2014, 14:17:18 UTC
PS: Is this cluster stand alone or is it reporting to the big net also? My guess is stand alone?

Stand-alone.
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: PG4I on January 08, 2014, 19:26:13 UTC
If I make a QSO I want to check if the callsign is a QRP club member. I can of course examine the complete memberlist, if there was a way to query this list this would even be better! :)
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: PG4I on January 08, 2014, 19:39:40 UTC
Bummer! Just discovered "search for member" under the Members button at top of the page. Sorry about the previous post...  ::)
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: G0BVZ on January 10, 2014, 12:28:13 UTC
I'm a new member:  I quickly scanned through these messages and I hope I'm not going over old ground in this post.   

I believe I saw posts agreeing that QRP was 5w for both CW and SSB.  I hope this means 5W power out at the rig because that will encourage antenna experimentation.

There are other modes of transmission than CW & SSB, for example FM, AM, digital.....  All can be effective at 5w out (or less) from transmitter final so can it be agreed that as far as this club is concerned, QRP means 5w out at the rig, regardless of mode?

Many people believe QRP = CW mode . I may be one of them. Certainly I have not yet had a digital QSO but I can see that encouraging QRP levels across all modes would make for nicer bands to explore!!  I am slowly (very slowly) finding about PSK31 but I'm an 'old dog' and everybody knows it is difficult to teach old dogs new tricks. :D

I write this to foster agreement and consensus, not to create controversy and heat, so please accept that I write this without malevolent intent.

Kindest regards,

Vic
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: G0BVZ on January 10, 2014, 14:03:12 UTC
Two posts in one day might seem excessive so I promise I won't do it too often.

Contests are popular, many ops just love them, can't get enough of them, can't imagine life without them: that's kinda natural because many people are highly competitive and even combative. Other folk like contests because they're sorta lazy: rather than take their chances and call CQ, they sniff around the edges of contests and 'give away a few points'.  These folk come away simply happy that they've been on the air and have a few more entries in their logs.  -And who is to say their approach is wrong?  Not me, although this paragraph does come across as generally critical, I have to admit.

Contests are unpopular. Many ops hate them, despise them: they claim contests ruin the bands at weekends; they have furious arguments with contesters who say they only contest at the weekends, that non contesters have the bands all week.  Digital contesters faced with crowded bands during contests sometimes do the weak thing and stray into other mode segments.  Hearts rule heads and passions run high, fuelled by the ease of making inflammatory claims and counter claims on the internet.

Where do I stand?  I stand on the middle ground.  I confess to being a keen (but undistinguished!!) contester decades ago.  But I've changed after a 20 year QRT.  Now the important thing for me when in QSO is the person at the other end, not the points the contact represents.  I've stopped being so competitive.  If I come across a pile up, rather than toss my hat into the ring and add my noise to the clamour I move onto a quieter place; the 'rare ones' will just have to wait their turn to work me some other time.

I loved this site and it's graphics from the moment I saw it; more so when I joined and saw the content.  But my heart sank when I saw the word 'Contest'. Before long there could be a panoply of rules, checks, balances, computer driven and manually administered. Huge work for those administering it. In the worst case, the contest could *become* the club. (I can think of at least one morse club where the only function now appears to be to give 'awards' to mark 'achievements'.)

Can we call this contest by another name? (Ladder??) It could perform in exactly the same way but be freed from the baggage the word 'contest' drags behind it. 

The rules do not say explicitly that it is to be a CW only contest, so I guess digital and fone contacts will be valid. I wonder if that will give digital ops an edge over other modes?

I've tried to be balanced in this post and I've tried to be constructive. If I've fallen short of the mark, let me apologise now: my motives were of the best.

Vic
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: sm5mek on January 10, 2014, 14:05:27 UTC
 ;)  You are right, it is five watts on any mode from the tx unit. (Antenna output) In some media you can find an acceptance of 10 W on phone. Here we use only 5W, its enough to make good qrp dx. i see digital and cw as the best media for long distance connections. In good conditions of course phoni (ssb) is also good. I have done some big contests on ssb and 5W. Today mostly operating cw for its simplicity.
Yes building own good antennas is a big and fun part of this hobby, i have some buildt tested and used once. After that i started on next and so on. :P  it,s just fun. Not always big is good, i have worked with small antennas on long distance. Best one this year is CO8LY on my vertical. 5W cw 2*599. on 15m.
Hope to hear from you on radio soon. See more antennas at http://sm5mek.se (http://sm5mek.se)
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: sm5mek on January 10, 2014, 14:25:04 UTC
Contest or not, maybee call it challenge like the NAQCC  (http://naqcc-eu.org/eu-challenges)does on their long term contests. It is an challenge for the members of QRP Club to reach a goal to be best during 2014.
Calling it contest or challenge i think is just the different name on same product. Another name could bee activation program.
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on January 10, 2014, 14:27:06 UTC
Hi Vic, welcome aboard! Our "Contest" is basically a way to socialize. ;) Thanks for your suggestion.
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion -directed CQ calls
Post by: G0BVZ on January 11, 2014, 12:13:56 UTC
OK, let's say I want to socialise with fellow QRP Club members....

If I want to QSO fellow GQRP club members I can call CQ CQ CQ GQRP DE G0BVZ  K and so on.  If a GQRP club member can read my QLF CW, then we can QSO...

If I want to QSO fellow QRP Club members do I call CQ CQ CQ QRPC DE G0BVZ  K   ?

I've not found mention of a 'standard club call' but maybe there should be one for this situation. QRPC may already be used by another club: I just used it as an example.  A directed call is useful to those without internet access and to purists who enjoy the challenge and rewards of traditional pre-internet hf operating. What do you think? Is this an idea worth following up?

Vic /off to make coffee......

Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion -directed CQ calls
Post by: IZ5ZCO on January 11, 2014, 12:48:25 UTC
QRPCmay already be used by another club

CQ CQ QRPCLUB.ORG DE...  ;) ;D
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: G0BVZ on January 11, 2014, 13:23:09 UTC
Hi Nicola,
Many thanks for the very fast reply. Maybe CQ CQ QRPCLUB.ORG DE... could be cut down a little?  I'm very old, not very bright and might forget where I an in the middle of my cq call!!  :D  How's about CQ CQ QRPCL DE...   ? (Might be poor choice. Under bad condx CL may make listeners think station is declaring closedown!!!)

The GQRP-Club call of CQ CQ GQRP DE... is well known and, I think, effective, as is the ARCI one. Four club designator characters  seems a commonly used pattern.  Short and snappy is good, especially in QSB.

I'm short on ideas: QRPC, QCLUB, QRPCL is all I have come up with so far as mere suggestions. I believe we need something unique, short, snappy, easy to read under poor conditions which will in time become instantly recognisable across EU and possibly the world.

Just my opinion,

Vic GQRP #3078, ARCI #6211



Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on January 11, 2014, 13:34:29 UTC
We are the only "QRP Club" (without other words or letters), so we can use "QRPC".

Who uses "QRPC" yet?  ???

Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: sm5mek on January 11, 2014, 13:36:00 UTC
I know there is some clusters marking some calls with for example WFF,and IOTA in the message/call. The logbook Log4OM has a cluster, a good one, i use it  ;) . Why not get this function in this cluster with QRP club and just qrp as indication with a red flashing bar over the info.  ???
Also then using some call like cq cq cq de call call call - qrpcb ( or qrpc) :D
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: G0BVZ on January 11, 2014, 16:25:46 UTC
We are the only "QRP Club" (without other words or letters), so we can use "QRPC".

Who uses "QRPC" yet?  ???

That's fantastic: I checked around & nobody seems to have claimed QRPC so I guess you can!!
 Are you going to write this in the Ship's Log to make it official, Cap'n?  Once published it should be all ours.... ;D


Vic /nipping off to swab the bilges
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: sm5mek on January 12, 2014, 16:16:52 UTC
 ;D  Today I tried to send my cq with the addition qrpc, cq qrpc. It worked, I did get a dolphin on the hook hihi, thanks to IZ5ZCO which consequently gave me the first 3 points in club competition. As a by-catch came a VE1DX on the line even though my antenna was pointed at sse, down to Belgium, France.
Thus, we continue to execute well cq qrpc so we probably learn surroundings who we are.
72 the SM5MEK Jenny.
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: GM0LVI on January 20, 2014, 18:52:57 UTC
Questions -
From 25th January to 30th November I will be able to use the prefix - "GA" so instead of or as well as GM0LVI I can use GA0LVI.
Would contacts made using "GA" count together with my "GM" contacts in the club contest? It would be the same member and same QTH.

Second question -
I'll be QRV for about 5 weeks as SV8/GM0LVI. Would contacts count in the contest? Same member but different QTH.
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: PG4I on January 20, 2014, 18:54:52 UTC
Here is a weird question...

Suppose I make a QSO with a QRP station. Then I check if he is a club member. Let's say he is not. Then I look up is email on QRZ.COM and send him an e-mail, asking him to join our QRP club. Next day I check if he has become a member... Yes he has! Okay, so now I can send in a report for the club contest and I get 3 points. Is this valid? I have done it a couple of times.

Just trying to be honest...  ;)
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: GM0LVI on January 20, 2014, 19:08:47 UTC
Here is a weird question...

Suppose I make a QSO with a QRP station. Then I check if he is a club member. Let's say he is not. Then I look up is email on QRZ.COM and send him an e-mail, asking him to join our QRP club. Next day I check if he has become a member... Yes he has! Okay, so now I can send in a report for the club contest and I get 3 points. Is this valid? I have done it a couple of times.

Just trying to be honest...  ;)

Um, that's a bit tricky. Strictly speaking the if the station wasn't a member when worked, then the contact doesn't count, though you ought perhaps to earn some brownie points for recruiting.
The main problem with working a station who later joins is the time factor between the contact and the worked station joining QRPC. If it's allowed, would a delay of a day, a week, a month.... be allowable?
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: PG4I on January 20, 2014, 19:33:08 UTC
The report form accepts these type of contacts. If it is not allowed then there should be some check, e.g:

If (time of QSO) is smaller than (date joined) then there should be no points.

What do you think Nicola?
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on January 20, 2014, 19:35:12 UTC
Questions -
From 25th January to 30th November I will be able to use the prefix - "GA" so instead of or as well as GM0LVI I can use GA0LVI.
Would contacts made using "GA" count together with my "GM" contacts in the club contest? It would be the same member and same QTH.

Ok, but you must change the callsign here (https://www.qrpclub.org/qrp/index.php?action=profile;area=account) (from "GM0LVI" to "GM0LVI (GA0LVI)").

Second question -
I'll be QRV for about 5 weeks as SV8/GM0LVI. Would contacts count in the contest? Same member but different QTH.

Yes, you can.
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on January 20, 2014, 19:37:37 UTC
Here is a weird question...

Suppose I make a QSO with a QRP station. Then I check if he is a club member. Let's say he is not. Then I look up is email on QRZ.COM and send him an e-mail, asking him to join our QRP club. Next day I check if he has become a member... Yes he has! Okay, so now I can send in a report for the club contest and I get 3 points. Is this valid? I have done it a couple of times.

Just trying to be honest...  ;)

No problem, Joop, this is one purpose of the contest!  ;D
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: PG4I on January 20, 2014, 19:40:18 UTC

No problem, Joop, this is one purpose of the contest!  ;D

Thanks Nicola!  ;)
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on January 20, 2014, 19:47:48 UTC
Um, that's a bit tricky. Strictly speaking the if the station wasn't a member when worked, then the contact doesn't count, though you ought perhaps to earn some brownie points for recruiting.
The main problem with working a station who later joins is the time factor between the contact and the worked station joining QRPC. If it's allowed, would a delay of a day, a week, a month.... be allowable?

It's allowed at the moment, but we can provide a deadline for the sending of the report.
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: GM0LVI on January 20, 2014, 19:57:49 UTC

No problem, Joop, this is one purpose of the contest!  ;D

Thanks Nicola!  ;)

That's fine. I'm happy with that.
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: LY5G on January 26, 2014, 09:51:40 UTC
Second question -
I'll be QRV for about 5 weeks as SV8/GM0LVI. Would contacts count in the contest? Same member but different QTH.
Yes, you can.

What about points?
For example, LY5G log two Contest QSO's. One with GM0LVI, second with SV8/GM0LVI.
How many Contest points earned LY5G and GM0LVI?
Title: Re: QRP Club Contest: Discussion
Post by: IZ5ZCO on January 26, 2014, 10:07:30 UTC
Second question -
I'll be QRV for about 5 weeks as SV8/GM0LVI. Would contacts count in the contest? Same member but different QTH.
Yes, you can.

What about points?
For example, LY5G log two Contest QSO's. One with GM0LVI, second with SV8/GM0LVI.
How many Contest points earned LY5G and GM0LVI?

It depends only on the band: a station may be worked once on each band for QSO point credit.