KA3DRR (Scot): My 10,000 Hour RadioSport Challenge | 9,202 - 13 = 9,189 To Go

RBN Telemetry 10 August 2013

2013 Worked All Europe CW

2013 NAQP CW Summer

Good morning from #hamr shackadelic zone as the marine layer has burnt off leaving clear blue sky with expected afternoon temperature peaking around 70 degrees. We're experiencing unusually cool temperatures in addition very little moisture to include local water usage restrictions. Likewise, as a result of California's on-going drought effecting other local counties and San Luis Obispo County; leadership in Paso Robles is seriously concerned about the current rate of ground water depletion.

On the other hand, my mentor opened his shack door earlier yesterday morning, while the Worked All Europe CW event propagated signals all across our planet. I was grateful for the experience as an opportunity to further test my SO2R work around solution.

Tested the following --

1. N1MM Contest Logger SO2V application resulting in ICOM IC7600 dual watch (DW) sensor activation.
2. Unresolved intermittent Com Port problem (note: N1MM Contest Logger and IC7600 are communicating as IC7600 reports frequency output. However, N1MM reported Com Port conflict when initiating memory function keys after most recent update).
3. Successfully recorded .wav files utilizing IC7600 soundcard migrating files to flash drive.
4. Successfully configured IC7600 roofing filters from 6 to 3Hz across 500 and 250Hz CW filters leaving shape at sharp.
5. Successfully utilized N1MM Band Map to identify available Qs and multipliers flagging 15m-only on drop down menu. 
6. Monitored reverse beacon network (RBN) sensor telemetry to measure antenna efficiency on wavelength mentioned above.

Lessons Learned --

1. RBN sensor telemetry revealed potential path toward South Africa while beaming 30 degree polar path.
2. RBN sensor telemetry reported frequency movements with signal-to-noise measurements at each frequency.
3. Monitor RBN telemetry reported by CW Skimmer utilizing "callsign look-up" while actively engaged in the game.
4. Efficiently identified and logged available Qs and multipliers then listened to previous CQ frequency prior to re-initiating sequence.

Fifteen meters was in less than satisfactory shape given Cycle 24 and its historical trend. My Q-count was significantly off from last year. Likewise, this maybe the first cycle with an extensive collection of recordings, and wouldn't it be interesting, if those recordings are archived in the cloud, for comparison against the next solar cycle?