WAEDC-Contest 2003
http://www.waedc.de
The 49th WAEDC is right ahead! Shortly after the summer holidays, this is the
starter for the new Contest season. Be part of the activity!
Dates:
CW: August 9/10, 2003
SSB: September 13/14, 2003
RTTY: November 8/9, 2003
New Rules:
There are no changes with regard to last year's rules. Last year, there were a
number of changes - here we list them again to make sure you know:
Additional multipliers for EU participants
Splitting of the Single OP category into High and Low Power classes
Markup of the "unassisted" participants
Abolishing the 10-minute QSY rule for Single OPs
Non-ambiguous definition of the Multi Single operation
Credit for stations outside the contest
SWL Category
Check the current rules.
Logging Software:
The following software packages have been updated for the new WAEDC rules:
CT by K1EA version 9.80.005 and up. By the way CT is now freeware.
SD by EI5DI version 9.89 and up. QTC traffic for EU participants only.
TR by N6TR version 6.70 and up.
Writelog by W5XD version 10.34 and up.
RCKLog by DL4RCK version 1.20 and up.
UCXLog by DL7UCX version 3.50 and up.
Profilog by DL1HJS, version 80.02 (August 2002) and up.
QW by DL4MFM, which is supported by DL8QS today
Logger by N1MM, is now starting to support WAEDC. The label for version 3.0.27
says "still very shaky code...".
Older software - EU-Stations:
If you are planning to use older versions of TR or CT, you may consider
modifying your CTY.DAT country file. What you do is to to split W, VE, VK, ZL,
ZS, JA, PY and RA8/RA9 and RA0 into separate lists. We have done that for you
already and here is a modified CTY.DAT file. Please remember that you should use
this special file only if you are using older versions of this software which is
not supporting the new rules. Make sure you are testing your setup before you
get on the air.
Older software - DX-Stations:
There are no changes with respect to QSY rules and Categories so you may with to
continue using the software you have been using in previous years.
QTC Traffic:
There are many ways to handle QTC traffic. For DX stations it is easy: Open up
the QTC screen of your favorite logging software and let the computer do the CW
part or read down what you see. The tough part is on the receiving end.
Over the years, several logging programs have come up with functions to enable
real-time copying of QTC traffic. For this, however, you have to be good at
typing as you will have to copy CW at 32..36 wpm and type it into the correct
fields at the same time.
Several methods have been used to copy QTCs.
Copy right into the Computer
This is the best way to copy QTCs. You will know - at all times - how many QTCs
can still be collected from what station and you will have no additional work
after the contest. However, it requires good skills both at copying and typing
at the same time.
Some software allows copying QTCs elsewhere (on tape or paper) but still have
the software handle the QTC numbers and scoring. I personally know of CT with
the -ON startup option.
Recording QTC traffic on tape
Some folks fear they will miss something and so decide to record QTC traffic on
a tape or by digital recording. This is fine, but you still have to be aware of
QRM and noise and ask the other station for repeats - otherwise you will not be
able to copy the QTCs from tape later. Make sure you have enough audio tape for
the whole contest!
This method can be used also as a back-up in case you wish to go listen in again
later.
Copying QTC traffic on paper and re-type it after the contest
Sucessful stations have also practised copying QTCs on special paper forms, in
combination with logging software handling the QTC scoring. The paper method has
the advantage that you have to copy in-place and make sure you get every piece
of information while at the same time you will not have to struggle with a
computer. A special form (DIN A5) was supplied (courtesy of BCC) which may be
freely copied.
The work then comes after the contest, when you type in these QTCs into your
logging software. Please be sure to indicate the correct times and bands as the
rules require this information.
Warm-up
For training purposes, we have collected a few audio samples of QTC traffic.
Audio samples of CW-QTC traffic from August 2001
These CW audio samples are ordered by difficulty. Start with the first and work
your way down to the last. ZW5B is kind of hot.
Station QTC Series Duration MP3 File QTC-Text
W4BQF 9/10 1:48 w4bqf.mp3 w4bqf.txt
PY2NY 19/10 1:47 py2ny.mp3 py2ny.txt
LU1EWL 02/10 2:38 lu1ewl.mp3 lu1ewl.txt
TU2XZ 28/10 1:47 tu2xz.mp3 tu2xz.txt
AA3B 109/10 1:44 aa3b.mp3 aa3b.txt
W6XR 14/10 1:35 w6xr.mp3 w6xr.txt
N3RD 57/10 1:31 n3rd.mp3 n3rd.txt
RW9SW 47/10 1:31 rw9sw.mp3 rw9sw.txt
ZL6QH 45/10 1:30 zl6qh.mp3 zl6qh.txt
KL9A 40/10 1:27 kl9a.mp3 kl9a.txt
K2NG 55/10 1:18 k2ng.mp3 k2ng.txt
ZW5B 46/10 1:15 zw5b.mp3 zw5b.txt
Audio samples of SSB-QTC traffic from September 2000
Station QTC Series Duration MP3 File QTC-Text
JH8SGD 19/10 1:39 jh8sgd.mp3 jh8sgd.txt
LS7N 63/10 1:25 ls7n.mp3 ls7n.txt
LU1FC 73/10 1:23 lu1fc.mp3 lu1fc.txt
W2OX 89/10 1:21 w2ox.mp3 w2ox.txt
PP5JD 82/10 1:19 pp5jd.mp3 pp5jd.txt
KQ2M 157/10 1:03 kq2m.mp3 kq2m.txt
K3WW 52/10 1:20 k3ww.mp3 k3ww.txt
N6ZZ 8/10 1:09 n6zz.mp3 n6zz.txt
VE3SY 83/10 1:08 ve3sy.mp3 ve3sy.txt
RW9QA 80/10 1:05 rw9qa.mp3 rw9qa.txt
5B4/RW3QC 39/10 1:04 5b4_rw3qc.mp3 5b4_rw3qc.txt
Thanks to DJ9RR, DL1MGB, DL6MHW and DL8NFU for their help with compiling this
collection!
Tips:
How do you send or receive QTCs? Practice well ahead - especially with QTCs!
Get lots of sleep the night before.
Keep your mind off all the useful things you could be doing that weekend!
Don't celebrate before the last QTC has been sent resp. received.
For CW, some code practice, a few weeks in advance, could really help.
Try to work as many of those "after supper, think I'll work a little contest"
stations as possible. Those hams giving out 001 and 002 contact numbers won't be
there long!
It's hard to pull away from 40 when it's hot, but that's usually when 80 is
open.
Remember - having a good time is the bottom line. (winning is nice, too!)
Improve your CW copying skills with these two free CW-programs: RUFZ by DL4MM CW
High Speed Training Info Download
PED by JE3MAS CW Pile up Training Info and Download
Questions?
If you have any questions, send an E-Mail to the Contest Manager DL6RAI. Also,
if you need paper forms or wish to receive printed results from last year,
please contact me.
Bernhard Buttner, DL6RAI
[email protected]
URcontest reflector/Thanks to UT1IA Vlad
6 august 2003
UZ8RR Updated:
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