Author Topic: 13 Colonies Contest July 1-8  (Read 856 times)

Offline JohnyMac

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13 Colonies Contest July 1-8
« on: June 28, 2019, 11:36:48 AM »
For you hams out there that never participate in a amateur radio contest you will want to do this one.

The 13 Colonies contest is a fun contest held from 0900 hrs eastern July 1 through 1159 hrs eastern July 7, 2019.

I very seldom do a contest other than the Pennsylvania QSO party and ARRL Field Day however as of last year, I have added this contest to my dance card.

Last year I QSO'd with all 13 Colonies and one of the two extra point stations all on 5-watts. I used my Yaesu 817nd, a multi-band dipole, and over July3-4 while at my Mom's, a QRP antenna that I just through up into a tree slanted/sloped in the direction I was RX/TXing from/to.

The link above includes log sheets and when I turn the sheet in I include $5.00 for a donation.

Please share your results here during and after the contest.

73   
« Last Edit: June 28, 2019, 11:38:36 AM by JohnyMac »
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Offline patriotman

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Re: 13 Colonies Contest July 1-8
« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2019, 04:53:16 PM »
That is awesome Johny! What a fun contest!
Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

Psalm 144:1-2

Offline JohnyMac

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Re: 13 Colonies Contest July 1-8
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2019, 11:14:51 AM »
Patriotman, you need a FCC License.  :'( :hiding: :lmfao:
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Offline JohnyMac

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Re: 13 Colonies Contest July 1-8
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2019, 10:11:01 AM »
Just a quick update on my 13 Colonies log sheet.

Seven states in the bag since 1200 hrs. eastern yesterday (7.2.19), NY, RI, GA, MA, NH, SC, & PA. No special stations as yet.

Have a home brew OCF dipole up facing SW/NE. Using my Yaesu 817 with 5-watts out.

How are you folks doing?
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Offline Kbop

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Re: 13 Colonies Contest July 1-8
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2019, 10:20:36 AM »
You're rocking it JM!

Offline JohnyMac

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Re: 13 Colonies Contest July 1-8
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2019, 02:39:16 PM »
Thank you kbop!

Picked up NC too this AM. The bands are really all over the place.

80-meters is open but I my bandwidth on this OCF dipole is from 10 to 40-meters.  :-[ When I get home Friday I will have a better assortment of antennas to play with.  ;)
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Offline JohnyMac

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Re: 13 Colonies Contest July 1-8
« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2019, 09:58:36 AM »
Final results from 13 Colonies for ol' JohnyMac.

I made QSO's with all 13 Colonies and two of the three special event stations. The only station I could not get a confirmed QSO from, was the Great Britain station - GB13COL. All on 5-watts! I use 5-watts rather than my radios maximum of 100-watts or adding a linear amp, to remind me that power isn't everything.  ;) A good antenna and patience wins out every time.

I could hear clearly GB13COL and at times they could hear me however, they could not bring me out of the weeds long enough to get my call sign and signal report. Propagation and other hams using greater power drowned me out. If I was TXing via CW rather than phone, I would have gotten the QSO for sure. I guess I better get going on learning CW Code.

E= dot, T=dash, A=dot dash, N=dash dot, etc...............

73....
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Offline Jackalope

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Re: 13 Colonies Contest July 1-8
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2019, 04:47:58 PM »
    Well done Johny!  Sorry I didn't get to work you on HF last week, we had thunderstorms both Wednesday and Thursday evenings.  Next month I'll have more flexibility.  I forgot to show you the antenna launcher I picked up, one of the ones from the Joplin club.  Anyways, I had a chance to use C4FM digital mode on two meters, very good audio.

    If you'd like we could set up a sched to work CW, though my code speed is pretty slow these days.  At the time I upgraded to extra I could easily copy CW at 22-25 wpm, these days I might be able to do 5-10 wpm.  There's nothing like using the original digital mode.

Offline Kbop

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Re: 13 Colonies Contest July 1-8
« Reply #8 on: July 09, 2019, 08:13:52 PM »
 :cheers: congrats!  @ 5 watts too!

Offline Nemo

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Re: 13 Colonies Contest July 1-8
« Reply #9 on: July 09, 2019, 09:59:25 PM »
Well done good sir.  And done well.

Nemo
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Offline bennington.camper

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Re: 13 Colonies Contest July 1-8
« Reply #10 on: July 09, 2019, 10:09:37 PM »
I was able to make SSB contacts with 7 of the colonie stations, and 4 on FT8...
Just shy of the 13  :(

I used 100W on SSB across 80, 40 and 20m. 30W on 15, 40 and 20m.
I know much of my failings are in my antenna and its location only 15' above the ground, but you don't play with what you wish for, you play with what you have.

'73

Offline Jackalope

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Re: 13 Colonies Contest July 1-8
« Reply #11 on: July 10, 2019, 05:46:08 AM »
   Excellent point BC.  But you also demonstrated that it's still possible to communicate with a marginal antenna.