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Band specific DXCC hunting using software tooling revealed

Discover a new approach to DXCC hunting using innovative software tools. Author shares journey, insights, and results. Unlock the potential to maximize your DXCC scores!

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Band specific DXCC hunting using software tooling revealed

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  1. Band specific DXCC hunting using software tooling revealed A new way of hunting DXCC’s using Software tools Author: Cornelis van Zuilen, PA7TWO – M5TWOv0.4

  2. index • About PA7TWO • The problem • Background information • DXCC hunting solutions used up to now • The test prototype setup • Testing the use-case • How to setup the tools • Some results! • Credits page • Addendum

  3. about pa7two • Licenced since 1991 as PD0RCJ = VHF LP DX in FM only • Upgraded to HAREC I in 1991 as PE1OOY = VHF + 50MHz HP DX in SSB/FM • Won several contests 50MHz over the years. Also 144MHz in QRP. DX IS! • Changed Dutch callsign into vanity PE7TWO in 1997 • Obtained British callsign G7TWO in 1997, MNI TNX to G1EUC (RIP my friend) • Passed CW exam in England in late 2000, got HAREC A/B certificate. CW IS! • Obtained British vanity callsign M5TWO one week after passing CW exam(!) • A 3 full months later(!), Agentschap-Telecom issued PA7TWO based on HAREC • Dec 2000 = My 1st HF QSO’s in log (do you remember the UFB propagation?) Thehunt for HFDXCCs began!

  4. The Problem

  5. Background Information • What initiated the hunt for software tooling? • New DXCC scores slowed down dramatically over the last years as they are running out! • Which tools were used up to now to score new DXCC’s? • Operating practice! • Elementary CW code! • Search & Pound! • DXClusters • CW esDiGi mode Skimmers • Internet tools like propagation prediction VOACAP and the knowledge on how to use these • Remote RX station

  6. My Solutions used up to now

  7. A few words on the digi Mode FT8 on HF I • FT-8 mode: • When FT8, jointly developed by Joe Taylor (K1JT) and Steve Franke (K9AN), was announced it was described as being designed for, “multi-hop Es where signals may be weak and fading, openings may be short, and you want fast completion of reliable, confirmable QSO’s.” • Being a 6 meter fan, that resonates with me! FT8 mode explained = The new FT8 mode leads!

  8. A few words on the digi Modes usage world-wide on HF II Bye bye digi modes like PSk-31 & RTTY in daily operational mode... Depicted is the mix in modes used on HF bands in 2017 / 2018 = The new FT8 mode leads!

  9. A few words on the current solar cycle 24 Solar cycle 24 = an all-time low?

  10. The test Prototype setup Hardware tools needed are: • TRX (1 or more!) + low band filters • Laptop i5, 16GB mem, 250GB SSD, Win10 0x64 • Mobile, either i-Phone or Android Software tools needed are: • Clublog • HamAlert & HamSpots • WSJT-X or JTDX (In FT8 mode) • JTAlertX • Time Fudge (manual) & Dimension 4 (auto sync) Note: All SW tools discussed are free of charge!

  11. Testing The use-case IUsing the new FT-8 mode • Procedure: • Switch on TRX and laptop • Start WSJT-X • Select FT8 mode • Start JTAlert (version X) • Make sure “Send spots to HamSpots.net” feature is enabled in JTAlert tool • Set proper filters in HamAlert Web. Pay attention to correct settings! • Open HamAlert app on mobile • Simulate DX spot to test the setup (see next pages for details)

  12. Testing The use-case II depicted

  13. Testing The use-case III • Procedure for FT-8 mode: • TRX receives the frequency spectrum • WSJT-X Decodes the FT8 signals received by TRX and feeds these details to JTAlert (which on its turn filters on new DXCC’s / BandSlots) • JTAlert spots the new DXCC / BandSlot and depicts to user • JTAlert uploads spot to HamSpots • HamAlert app receives DXCC/band/mode from HamSpots • Result: ALARM! (That is, if you set your filters correct in HamAlert!) • Advice: Pay close attention to correct filter settings!

  14. Testing the use-case IVHamalert input sources • HamAlert tool alerts were tested using the following modes: • FT-8 via your own TRX > WSJT-X > JTalertX > HamSpots > HamAlert • Alternatively, modes CW, SSB and DiGi like RTYY es JT65 based on spots from other HAMs • Input sources for HamAlert tool are: • DXclusters (including CW Skimmers), SOTAwatch, RemoteBeaconNetwork, HamSpots and PSK Reporter spots

  15. setup The use-case, part I Here the Decoded FT-8 signals are displayed in WSJT-X

  16. setup The use-case, part IIDoes the JT-Alert tool show decodeD DXCC’s? Check to Make sure Decoded FT-8 spots are displayed in Jt-alert, fed by WSJT-X

  17. setup The use-case, part III Check whether your Decoded spots are now displayed here too!

  18. setup The use-case, part IV set correct filters, way of spot delivery, QSL status, spotter callsign etc

  19. setup The use-case, part V Simulate a Specific Decoded spot in hamalert mobile app !enable sound!

  20. setup The use-case, part VI My 1st Self Decoded spot in HamAlert mobile app** enable sound! **

  21. setup The use-case, part VII JT-Alert-can be used for QSO (confirmation) messages RX-ed from DX Station *Yes*, 1st initial test succeeded! New DXCC on 80m band 03-02-2019 FK8CE - QTH=New Caledonia - 16.285KM distance

  22. Final Results • Weekly one or two new DXCC slots! • Didthe new setup solve my problem for working the last few DXCC’s? • YES, THE WAY TO GO! • See next pages for a few new DXCC slots examples spotted by PA7TWO usingthe final HamAlert filter design / setup.

  23. a few DXCC slots are still missing... But A few of these White spots got filled!See Next slides...

  24. Results! (new dxcc) Example I New DXCC on 80m band 04-02-2019 RI1ANL - QTH=Antartica –17101km distance

  25. RESULTS! (new dxcc) Example II New DXCC on 80m band 06-02-2019 TR8CA - QTH=Gabon – 5912km distance

  26. (new DXCC) results!Example III New DXCC on 80m band xx-02-2019 TI2CC - QTH=Costa Rica–9035KM distance

  27. results! (new dxcc) Example IV New DXCC on 80m band 10-02-2019 HS0ZEE - QTH=Thailand–9165km distance

  28. results! (new dxcc) Example V New DXCC on 80m band 10-02-2019 ** cfmd IN lotw but not in clublog ! ** HH2AA - QTH=Haiti – 7475km distance = fully remote operated station!

  29. results! (new dxcc) Example VI New DXCC on 40m band 12-02-2019 FK8GX - QTH=New CAledonia – 16285Km distance

  30. results! (mixed mode!) example VII New (CW) mode on 40m band 14-02-2019 V84SAA - QTH=Brunei Darussalam– 10900km distance

  31. results! (new bandslot) Example VIII New DXCC on 30m band 14-02-2019 V84saa - QTH=BruneiDarussalam – 10900km distance

  32. results! (new bandslot) example IX New mode on 40m band 15-02-2019 V84SAA - QTH=Brunei Darussalam – 10900km distance

  33. results! (new FT8 WAS state) Example X New FT8 WAS STATE on 40m band 19-02-2019 N4CC – QTH=remote station in florida –7911km distance

  34. results! (New DXCC) Example XI New DXCC on 40m band 19-02-2019 OA1F - QTH=Peru–10512km distance

  35. results! (New dxcc) Example XII New DXCC on 40m band + mode 22-02-2019 xX9D - QTH=Macau – 9200km distance ** Look at Start/end time = huge pile-up! **

  36. results! (NEW DXCC) Example XIII New DXCC on 40m band 24-02-2019 OA4AI - QTH=Peru–10512km distance

  37. results! (NEW DXCC) Example XIV New DXCC on 40m band 01-03-2019 A5A - QTH=Bhutan–7275km distance

  38. results! Example XV New DXCC on 80m band 06-03-2019 A52ZB - QTH=Bhutan–7275km distance

  39. results! DXCC Example XVII Initially a Non-confirmed DXCC slot on 80m band 09-03-2019 but QSO cfmd by remote station! tg9ajr - QTH=Guatemala – 9063km distance - No app alarm! (uhh owww, restart needed!)

  40. results! (new DXCC) Example XVIII New DXCC on 40m band + Digi mode 11-03-2019 7P8LB - QTH=Lesotho – 9409km distance

  41. results! (new DXCC) Example XIX New DXCC on 20m band 12-03-2019 7P8LB - QTH=Lesotho – 9409km distance

  42. results! (new DXCC) Example XX New DXCC on 30m band **CW mode test ** 12-03-2019 XR0ZRC - QTH=Robinson Crusoe island (Juan Fernandez Islands) – 12538km distance

  43. results! (new DXCC) Example XXI New DXCC on 80m band 12-03-2019 7P8LB - QTH=Lesotho – 9409km distance

  44. results! (new DXCC) Example XXII New DXCC on 80m band **CW mode test ** 23-03-2019 9G2HO - QTH=Ghana – 5262Km distance – ONLy LOTW CONFIRMATION possible

  45. results! (new DXCC) Example XXIII New DXCC on 40m band**CW mode test ** 12-03-2019 xw3dt - QTH=Laos–8931Km distance

  46. results! (new DXCC bandslot) Example XXIV New bandslot on 17m band 14-03-2019 7P8LB - QTH=Lesotho – 9409km distance

  47. results! (new bandslot) Example XXV New DXCC bandslot on 30m band 21-03-2019 (qso Not in log, so a re-do QSO) XR0ZRC - QTH=Robinson Crusoe island (Juan Fernandez Islands) – 12538km distance

  48. results! (new DXCC) Example XXVI New DXCC on 80m band 21-03-2019 5V7EI - QTH=Togo–5196Km distance

  49. results! (new banslot) Example XXVII New DXCC on 80m band mode 22-03-2019 XR0ZRC - QTH=Robinson Crusoe island (Juan Fernandez Islands) – 12538km distance

  50. results! (new DXCC) Example XXVIII New DXCC on 80m band 24-03-2019 9M2TO- QTH= West Malaysia –10221Km distance

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