13 Colonies Amateur Radio Contest
For you ham radio operators out there that never participate in amateur radio contests you will want to do this one.
The 13 Colonies contest is a fun contest held from 0900 hrs. eastern July 1 through 1159. hrs eastern July 7, 2019.
I very seldom participate in contests other than the Pennsylvania QSO party and of course the ARRL Field Day event however as of last year, I have added this contest to my dance card.
This contest is just my speed. I set up my radio, antenna, and then walk away. Over the days I come back to the radio, usually with a nice adult beverage in hand, when I have some free time to work some stations. No fuss no muss Brothers and Sisters.
Last year I QSO’d with all 13 Colonies and one of the two extra point stations all on 5-watts. I used my Yaesu 817nd, a multi-band dipole antenna at the redoubt, and while at my Mom’s July 3-4, a DIY QRP antenna. I was able to get the end of the QRP antenna up a tree ~30-feet and I sloped the wire in the direction I wanted to TX/RX, at about a 45-degree angle to the tree trunk.
The only station I could not make a QSO with was the station in Great Britain GB13COL. I RX’d the station at a 4/9 but I would dip into the weeds when I tried to make the QSO.
This year I am going to use a OCF (Off Center Fed) or Windom antenna I have been working up. More on that to come. Again, I will use my 817 and TX at 5-watts. The reason being; when you throw in “QRP” at the end of your call, the RXing station typically calls out the QRP station when their is a pileup. QRP stations have priority over higher wattage stations. Sneaky huh?
The link above includes all that you need, e.g. log sheets, list of stations, bands & modes, etc. When I turned in the log sheet, I include $5.00 for a donation.
Please share your results here in the comments section during and after the contest.
73 & God Bless
Freedom Through Self-Reliance©
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GUNS N GEAR
I’m not a “contester” but for those who literally tune-out at the word ‘contest’ let me offer the following. You’ve studied, you’ve bought equipment, you think you have your favorite antenna down to the gnat’s ass – but does it work? Even if you don’t turn in logs, don’t want points, and flat out don’t care about contests, there is no quicker way to validate the good, bad, ugly of your setup – going in many directions at varied distances. The only thing I would caution is that you ask the answering station (who will normally just give an obligatory “59”) for a “critical” or “true” signal report. Learning comes later when you sit back and look at a map with a compass rose on it and see the strengths & short-comings of your antenna. So don’t kick the word “contest” to the curb because what you have are a bunch of willing test subjects. You can still say “Nah, I don’t play contests” but you will have gotten some real world information.
AMEN Badger! You hit the proverbial nail squarely on its head.
I am not a big “contester” either because most QSO’s just want to log ya’ and move on. Not the case with the 13 Colony contest. The reason being you are contacting a special event station not a station that only wants the QSO/point.
Take care Brother!
Exactly!
5
Listening now.. K2J is racking them up.
Thanks Ersatz for your report.
I started yesterday (7/2/19) at 1200 hrs eastern and I have NY, RI, GA, MA, NH, SC, and PA in the log book.
Using a Home brew OCF dipole hung between 2-trees SW/NE facing ~30-feet up. Transceiver is a Yaesu 817nd. I have made all QSO’s on 5-watts.
Happy hunting!
73
I just stumbled across the NJ station while testing a couple of “new” (TS-130V and FT-7!) transceivers to see which one hears better. Not in a position yet to get on the air (still working on an antenna-I live in a condo) and I never had any interest in doing a contest, but this one really does sound like fun! Does this go on every year, or at other times aside from Independence Day? I’d really like to take part in the next one.