This event has an interesting scoring process - it is the cumulative "kilometer-age" of all contacts made during the 48 hour period. I haven't used JT9 (or JT65) in ages but am planning on participating at least a bit in this Russian-sponsored contest. http://rdrclub.ru/dni-aktivnosti-rtsrk/825-jt9-activity
I was on 40M for this JT9 contest on Friday evening when band condx were pretty good. There were dozens of stations on, mostly from EU and a surprising number from Argentina. I did search-and-pounce hoping to pick up a few new Russian grids. A few Russian stations were on when I started around 0030Z.
UA6LET showed up with very good signal (-11), so he was easy to work for a new grid (LN17). Another dozen or so Russian stations shortly followed, but I had their grids already confirmed. Later R3KAB popped up at around -25 and it took two tries but I got him also for a new grid (LN09). I saw several stations from UN and UA0 (Asian Russian) who were working mostly EU and a few LUs. Around midnight my time the band shortened up and only some western EU and now dozen or so NA stations were active. I checked 80M, but not much activity there.
Didn't participate on Saturday due to lousy band condx (high noise), but deemed the JT activity a definite success.
Hopefully, there will be more events that use JT9 or JT65. Couldn't have even heard R3KAB with FT8 and if so, would have probably not completed the QSO due to the 'kilowatt QRM' that I often experience with crowded FT8.
Rig used was the Elecraft K3S and a second-rate, ground-mounted 40M vertical. Power is usually around 40 watts except on occasion when signals are weak.
73, Rich, K3VAT
----- See GAPAwards.com for many great (and inexpensive) color awards/endorsements for confirming grids with the digital modes. ----
Author
Topic: "JT9 Activity Days" this weekend (Read 861 times)