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Maidenhead grid maps for VHF/UHF, These maps make excellent wallpaper for your contest setup.

Managing extensive amateur radio contact logs efficiently requires specialized software that integrates various operational aspects. Aether provides a macOS-native logging solution, designed from the ground up using Apple's Cocoa, to streamline QSO entry, organization, and retrieval for Mac users. It supports modern macOS technologies and offers an intuitive interface, aligning with the user experience expected on Apple platforms. The application includes features such as automatic dupe checking, which quickly identifies previous contacts with a station, and awards tracking, indicating if a new contact is needed for specific operating awards. Aether also integrates rig control via RS-232, automatically populating frequency, mode, and power data from supported Elecraft, Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, and some TEN-TEC transceivers. This automation reduces manual entry errors and speeds up the logging process. Furthermore, Aether offers comprehensive QSL management, including synchronization with eQSL.cc and Logbook of The World, and the ability to print QSO detail and address labels for paper QSLs. It also incorporates automatic callbook lookup from sources like QRZ.com and HamQTH.com, and calculates distance and beam heading, with Google Maps integration for visualizing contact locations. Full ADIF and Cabrillo import/export capabilities ensure compatibility with other logging software and contest submission platforms.

Sherwood Engineering Inc. (SEI) offers a repository of technical presentations and white papers focused on optimizing amateur radio transceiver and receiver performance. Content includes detailed analyses of _roofing filters_, transmitted IMD, and receiver characteristics, with specific discussions on products like the Drake R-4C and Icom IC-781. Presentations from events such as Dayton Contest University (2008-2014) cover topics like "How To Optimize Rig Performance," "Transceiver Performance: 10 Years of Change," and "Choosing a Transceiver: Far from Simple." Additional white papers address HF mobile antenna efficiency, ground screen alternatives to buried radial systems, and common receiver problems with solutions. The site also provides historical product information for items like the SE-3 MK IV synchronous AM detector and various 455 kHz mechanical and crystal filters, though many products are no longer in production. Receiver test data and alignment tips for the R-4C are also available, offering insights into rig modifications and performance enhancements.

Over 45 years of dedicated work by Robert Sherwood, NC0B, culminated in a wealth of technical insights, particularly concerning **receiver performance** and the intricacies of transceiver design. The site provides access to numerous presentations from events like Dayton Contest University and W4DXCC, covering topics such as optimizing rig performance, the evolution of lab testing, and the impact of roofing filters on transmitted IMD and receiver characteristics. These resources offer detailed analyses and practical advice for serious operators and contesters. While product manufacturing, including the SE-3 MK IV synchronous detector and various Drake R-4C accessories like roofing filters and cooling kits, has ceased, the legacy of technical documentation remains. The site details specific products like the Icom IC-781 and R-9000, and offers insights into 455 kHz mechanical and crystal filters, along with DSP protection strategies. Crucially, the site features extensive receiver test data, allowing radio amateurs to compare the performance of various transceivers. This data, often presented in white papers and slide shows, includes detailed measurements and explanations of key performance metrics, serving as a valuable reference for understanding and selecting high-performance HF gear.

Operating a modern amateur radio station often involves integrating various software tools, and LogHX aims to provide a unified environment for Windows users. The software facilitates comprehensive QSO accounting, allowing operators to track contacts and manage both e-QSL and traditional paper QSL exchanges, including via QSL managers or direct methods. It also offers real-time QSO preview and integrates with popular callbook data for quick lookups. LogHX supports various logbook database searches and maintains statistics for numerous awards, a critical feature for serious DXers and contesters. The program handles logbook import and export in widely used formats such as _ADIF_ and _Cabrillo_, ensuring compatibility with other logging applications. Furthermore, it interoperates with Telnet clusters and third-party ham radio software, enhancing its utility in a networked shack environment. Key functionalities include antenna rotator control, editable macros for PSK, RTTY, CW, and SSB operations, and CAT control via _OmniRig_ or direct interfaces. Embedded modules like MMVari, MMTTY, and CWServer streamline digital mode operations, while its multi-window structure allows users to customize their screen layout, preserving valuable monitor space.

Use these forms to manually enter log data to produce a Cabrillo file and submit it to a contest sponsor. The forms are designed for contesters who used paper logging or logging software that doesn't produce a Cabrillo file.

An introduction to RDF contesting in southern California, updated from a paper originally submitted for Proceedings of the 1992 West Coast VHF/UHF Conference.

The San Bernardino Microwave Society, operating under the callsign _W6IFE_, serves as a significant technical hub for amateur radio operators specializing in frequencies above 1 GHz. This organization's influence extends across Southern California, providing a centralized resource for advanced RF experimentation and **regional frequency management** within the microwave spectrum. Its permanent value lies in its extensive archive of technical papers and project documentation, which are critical for operators engaged in high-frequency design and deployment. The society's infrastructure is primarily intellectual, focusing on the dissemination of specialized knowledge rather than a conventional repeater network. It offers a robust collection of technical papers from prominent members like K6PIP, K6BLG, and WA6EXV, covering topics such as Rubidium oscillator data, logging software, and filter design. This resource facilitates advanced amateur radio operations, including participation in microwave contests and the development of custom transverters for bands like 24 GHz. The site also details various member projects, such as the Owens Valley Radio Observatory Project, showcasing practical applications of **RF propagation analysis** and system integration. DXZone Focus: Microwave | Technical Papers | RF Propagation | Contest Results

This paper presents an 80 meter wire 3-element beam antenna in an inverted-V configuration, designed for limited-height towers. Using EZNEC modeling, the antenna features a central parasitic reflector and two switchable driven elements at each end, enabling NE/SW coverage without moving parts or networks. Element lengths are optimized for SSB (3.8 MHz) and CW (3.5 MHz) operation, with a 50 Ω feed and rope-supported boom. The design delivers high gain, effective takeoff angles, and excellent reception, confirmed in real-world DX contest operation. Its simplicity, reliability, and ease of construction make it ideal for operators seeking performance without complex matching systems.