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VE1ZAC's analysis details the performance of **MFJ927** and **SGC239** autotuners with portable HF vertical antennas, specifically comparing 31 ft and 43 ft configurations. The resource originated from challenges encountered during a Maritime QSO Party roving operation, necessitating a lightweight and easily deployable antenna system. Target bands for the contest included 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters, with a maximum power handling of 100 W CW. The author utilized a 30-foot carbon fiber push-up pole to support a vertical wire element, noting its 2 lb weight and reliability. EZNEC modeling was employed to predict performance, showing favorable results for a 30-foot vertical with elevated radials, particularly on 40 and 20 meters. Feedpoint impedance measurements, taken with an AIM4170C, are presented for various HF bands, both with and without a 41-foot RG6 stub designed to reduce reactance on 80 and 20 meters. The stub significantly improved matching on these bands, easing the tuner's workload. Operational tests revealed issues with the MFJ927's reliability during contest setup, leading to reliance on the K3's internal tuner. The SGC239, tested post-contest, performed flawlessly. A detailed side-by-side comparison covers mechanical aspects, connection options, power bias, impedance range, board quality, and documentation. Modifications to the MFJ927, including a new aluminum case, white paint for heat reduction, and upgraded impedance-measuring resistors, are also described.

Andrew Roos (ZS6AA) details his practical approach to building a Single Operator Two Radio contest station within suburban constraints. The article explains how he leveraged a Force-12 C-31XR triband beam's unique separate feed arrangement to operate on two bands simultaneously. Using band-pass filters and an antenna switch, he achieved sufficient isolation between bands without requiring multiple towers. The setup includes automatic band selection, audio switching, and computer control. Testing during the 2007 CQ WPX CW contest confirmed the system's effectiveness, demonstrating that competitive SO2R operation is achievable with limited space and budget.

Join Kirk Pickering, K4RO, as he delves into the importance of calling CQ in amateur radio contesting. Learn about the debate over spotting assistance and why developing tuning and identifying skills is crucial for contest operators, especially newcomers. Discover valuable insights on how to enhance your contesting experience and maximize your success.

This page provides detailed instructions on how properly setup the Win-Test contest logging application for windows with the popular Yaesu FT-991 transceiver by installing properly the UART Bridge COM to USB port drivers to properly set the switched inside the Win-Test application.

How to record the full contest audio into .mp3 file(s). t is possible to record the receiver's audio through the USB sound card in the radio (USB Audio CODEC), but only the transmitted SSB audio can be recorded, unfortunately not the CW.

This page provides a detailed instructions on how to setup the KX3 transceiver with the Win-Test software. How to configure the contest logging software Win-Test to be use with the Elecraft KX3 transceiver for CW. Using only the dedicated Elecraft KXUSB cable between the radio and the computer, enabling to send CAT commands and pre recorded CW messages with the F1 to F7 keys.