Category: Contesting

ARRL DX CW – AD5XI

I’d not been very organised in the run-up to this contest, and as it’s a USA works the world I was always going to struggle from home with a low power entry. I don’t think a high power entry would have done any better. All told I spent 4 hours in the chair. Band conditions […]

FOC Marathon 2021 – AD5XI

This contest is the highlight of the year within FOC, and the only event in the calendar that is open only to club members. My strategy, however, is to work whomever calls and give a friendly report. It’s also a great opportunity to cross paths with friends and have a quick catch-up with them, while […]

CQWW CW 2020 – AD5XI

So this contest just went badly for me. With the ongoing COVID-19 situation I decided to enter from home, knowing that it would be a struggle with my very modest station. In both 2018 and 2019 I operated from big stations in Maryland and it was a great contest, but this time even though the […]

CW Open 2020 – AD5XI

I have never before taken part in the CW Ops CW Open contests. It’s an interesting format, 3x 4-hour sessions. They are clearly designed around the East Coast of the USA for times that suit my operating and sleeping patterns. The first session on Friday 4th September was 2000-2359 EDT, which meant only staying up […]