Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio

Elecraft Co-Founder Eric Swartz WA6HHQ

CR6K: CT1ILT takes his Family Station to New Heights

To understand world-class radiosport contester Filipe Lopes, CT1ILT, you need only look toward his father, Jose, CT1CJJ. Jose was the role model that showed young Filipe the joy of morse code, the thrill (and preparation) of IOTA DXpeditions, the value of hard work in building a station and, most importantly, the camaraderie that comes with close ham radio friends. Filipe is now contributing his own unique skills to station building and innovation, bringing his close friends together to operate, and achieving extraordinary results in contesting with two (so far) appearances at the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC). If you participate in contests, you almost certainly have Filipe's family contest station, CR6K, in your log multiple times.

So You Want to Contest? The Contest Crew Tells You How

After one of our past Contest Crew conversations, Doug Grant K1DG, fired off an email reminding me that there are resources available to contesters - a book that he wrote (and that the ARRL publishes), and Contest University. So, I asked him to come on the show to talk about those resources. Doug is a worthy contest educator given his participation in 5 World Radiosport Team Championships (he medaled in 3) and his well earned place in the CQ Contest Hall of Fame. We also talk about learning options if you can't travel all the way to Xenia Ohio or just can't get the gumption to crack the tome that is "Contesting for Beginners" or the dense compilation of Contest University powerpoint slides. The bottomline is that you'll have plenty of options - including subscribing to this YouTube channel - if you want to learn about ham radio contesting. Thanks for joining the Crew for Episode 5.

2024 ARRL DX CW, Setting Goals, Moving Mults, and Having Fun

Episode 3 brought the entire Contest Crew together from their far-flung corners of the United States: Scott K0MD from Minnesota, Randy K5ZD from Massachusetts, Dan N6MJ from California and Chris from Montana. The conversation focused on plans for the upcoming ARRL DX CW contest as well as tips to stay motivated, the art of multiplier moving, station rivalries, multi-op vs single-op, WRTC qualifying, club participation and Randy's unique version of non-serious contesting. The only thing better than this crew's decades of ham radio contesting experience is the friendly, fun-loving dynamic that is self-evident when they get together  - even virtually. Whether you're a veteran contester, or a newcomer to radiosport, please join us for our weekly, informal gathering of the Contest Crew. If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the channel. If you have questions for the Crew, send them to W1DED via my email address on QRZ. 73, Kevin

NAQP, Murphy Strikes and Contest Tips: KL9A and K5ZD

A handful of top-notch ham radio contesters have agreed to join me on a regular basis to talk about their contest experiences and best practices. In this inaugural gathering of the "CQ Contest Crew," Chris Hurlbutt KL9A and Randy Thompson K5ZD  participate in a discussion about the recent North American QSO Party, Chris' experience with overcoming challenges at N9RV's contest station, and some sage operating advice from Randy. In the future, Dan N6MJ and Scott K0MD will also be joining the group to add their unique perspective. If you have questions that you'd like to have answered on future shows, send me an email (QRZ). Thanks for watching, and subscribing to, W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio. 

Run. Win. Repeat. The N5DX Winning Streak

Kevin Stockton N5DX is the unofficial winner of the 2024 ARRL DX CW in the Single Operator All Band High Power category. Like other US contesters at his level (N6MJ, KL9A), Kevin came from a ham radio family and began contesting under the tutelage of his father, Stan K5GO. Over a decade in the early 2000's, he participated in many K5GO multi-op efforts picking ups skills from his dad and his dad's buddies. He qualified for the 2014 World Radiosport Team Championship in Boston. By 2015. magic happened when he began contesting from the extraordinary N2QV / WU2X station located in the Catskills of New York State. In-person operating quickly evolved to fully remote operation from his home in Arkansas and his winning streak in various contests have continued to the present. Please join us for my conversation with Kevin Stockton N5DX and if you like what you hear, please subscribe.

The Best ARRL DX CW Ever? The Contest Crew Weighs In

Propagation was outstanding during the second weekend in February 2024 and, by all accounts, the ARRL DX CW contest was one for the record books. Dan Craig N6MJ was operating SOAB HP from the ND7K superstation, Randy Thompson K5ZD was also competing in the SOAB HP category from his impressive station in Massachusetts, and Chris Hurlbut KL9A was on the 15 meter desk at perennial Multi-Multi winner K3LR. Per usual, the Contest Crew weighs in with insight about the weekend and what they encountered on the bands. The conversation is full of contesting tips and their trademark interpersonal competitiveness and banter. Join me for Episode #04 of the Contest Crew and don't forget to send me questions and topics for future shows with the Crew.

Winning Contests, Climbing Towers & Earning Respect. The 2017 Young Ham of the Year Makes His Mark.

Marty Sullaway, NN1C, gives me hope that the amateur radio hobby will endure long into the future. He is technically savvy, operationally sound, and willing to commit the hours needed to be extraordinary. At a very young age, he’s already attained an envious level of proficiency. Marty joined me to talk about contesting in general and the recent ARRL 10 Meter contest specifically.  For that contest, Marty operated ZF1A in Grand Cayman remotely with his usual team of top-notch ham radio contesters.

Ham Radio Contesting in Bonaire for the ARRL 10 Meter Contest Low Power Win

Veteran Ham Radio operator and contester, Fred Dennin WW4LL, explains the planning, strategy and execution behind his very successful (winning) ARRl 10 Meter contest entry.  Fred explains that despite a last minute change in operating stations, moving to low power, and antenna issues, good planning and skills was able to overcome those obstacles. His team, operating remotely as PJ4LL from Bonaire, earned themselves the top spot in the Multi/Single Low Power category.

The Ham Radio Operator Behind VoIP and the FCC's Pulver Rule: Meet Jeff Pulver WA2BOT

Jeff Pulver, WA2BOT, agreed to talk to me about his experience operating a remote super station in the 2022 ARRL SSB Sweepstakes. Not only did I get interesting insight into ham radio contesting, and the Sweepstakes specifically, but I also heard a fascinating story about how ham radio opened up an amazing, unimaginable, world of success for Jeff.  Join our conversation to hear exactly how a 9-year old’s fascination with amateur radio led to contesting which led to contesting software development and eventually put Jeff Pulver on the cutting edge of VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology and the regulatory decisions that created a new industry. If there ever was a story about how ham radio can contribute positively to a career path, this is it.