RAC Winter Contest

[VA3KOT John]

I have been having CAT control problems with my logging program (CQRLog). It is an excellent piece of software but yesterday, during the contest, it refused to talk to my radio. I have been able to resolve the problem. It wasn't CQRLog that caused it but the pernickety Hamlib software. Anyway, it meant I had to hand key every QSO instead of using CQRLog's built-in memory keyer.

I decided I would use the contest to grab some Canadian contacts for the GBARC Winter challenge. So I cherry-picked the contacts and managed to QSO with stations in 6 provinces:

BC: VE7NZ 14047.95 16:26z
NS: VA1MM 14049.60 16:41z
NS: VE1ZA 14021.28 17:41z
NB: VE9OA 14042.10 20:00z
AB: VE6SX 14043.77 20:06z
SK: VE5MX 7025.00 20:58z
ON: VE3FP 7035.96 21:06z

The QSO with Adam VE3FP was not pre-arranged; I just came across him calling CQ while I was scanning the bands. Adam had a good strong signal which surprised me because we are so close I didn't expect to hear him on 40m.

Now I only need 4 provinces plus the territories before the end of winter!

[Adam_VE3FP]

RAC Winter Contest was really good this year. All HF bands were active different times throughout the contest and even the "little pistols" like my station managed to rack up a respective number of contacts. I operated all CW Running about 80% of the time and worked all bands. N1MM Plus logging software is a real gem for any contest with ease. 

Operating conditions were very good and will still improve by the time Field Day comes around so should be fun if we can put this Covid behind us.

Thanks for the Q John. Your signal was quite strong as well on 40 meters but I noticed that even on 20 meters, I worked someone in GTA so the bands would go short then long different times.
I also didn't get territories but still time to end of the GBARC Challenge. 
Here are my Challenge Qs.

VO1NA      21027 CW 2021-12-18 1621    599 ON    599 NL
VY2RAC     14046 CW 2021-12-18 1633   599 ON    599 PE
VE1ANU     7032 CW 2021-12-18 1251     599 ON    599 NS 
VE2FK        3533 CW 2021-12-18 0059    599 ON    599 QC
VE3BR        3532 CW 2021-12-18 0005    599 ON    599 ON
VE4CDX     7026 CW 2021-12-18 0030    599 ON     599 MB
VE5SF        7020 CW 2021-12-18 0107     599 ON    599 SK
VE6SV        7035 CW 2021-12-18 0103     599 ON    599 AB
VE7ST        7017 CW  2021-12-18 0110     599 ON    599 BC
VE9RAC      1828 CW 2021-12-18 0426     599 ON    599 NB

Final RAC Winter Results



Winter Field Day coming up in January 29/30, 2022 
https://www.winterfieldday.com/