Sunday, July 25, 2021

IOTA contest partisapation


This was the first year I took part in the IOTA (islands on the air) contest and I very much enjoyed the time I spent in the contest. It was very well attended and many Island stations were there and waiting to be contacted. I found the band conditions on my end were very challenging at times with stations going from S9 to barley above the noise floor. This is one of the challenges of a contest and just makes things more interesting. I would say it was a nice change to hear lots of stations in the contest, a sure sign that the solar cycle is improving.  As a participant in the IOTA contest you can enter as CW, SSB or both and I choose to enter as a CW op. 

The radio I used was the Icom 7610 with the filter set to 250 Hz with the APF (Audio Peak Filter)  feature turned on. My antenna was an Endfed multiband antenna and my power output was 100 watts. One of the memorable contact I made was Cuba. With all the issues going on there it was nice to be able to make contact with that island. 

I was on the air for about 3 hours in total and made 53 contacts for a score of 5,124. It sure is not a record but I very much enjoyed my time on the radio and that's what it's all about. 

8 comments:

Juan said...

Hi, friend, excellent information

VE9KK said...

Hello Juan thanks for taking the time to read and leave a comment.
73,
Mike
VE9KK

Paul Stam PAØK said...

Hi Mike, well done. Always nice to work multiple stations in a contest. I never worked Cuba, it's on my wish list. I saw an interesting documentary on Netflix this week: Cuba and the camera man. Recommended. Have a nice day, 73 Paul

PE4BAS, Bas said...

Well done Mike. I was totally unaware there was a IOTA contest going on. I can imagine if there is someone contesting from an island it would be nice to work some stations. Those people do take a lot of effort setting up stations there. To me personally contesting is more a winter "sport". Too much other things to do in summer. Especially in the weekends. But now I finally have my summer holiday. So hopefully have some more time for hobbies. 73, Bas

VE9KK said...

Good morning Paul, I have worked Cuba a few times but for me it's a bit closer than your QTH. We are heading back to Ontario (first time in 2 years since we moved East) for a mini 2 week vacation. In the evening maybe we will get Netflix going and watch that documentary. I know of folks who have vacationed there in the past one thing they really liked was the old cars that were still on the road.
73,
Mike
VE9KK

VE9KK said...

Good morning Bas nice to hear from you, yes for me as well the summers are very busy with getting things done and also getting out and about in the nice weather. This was the first time I took part in this contest and it was very nice. It just worked out for me that I was free for part of the weekend and was able to do it.
Have a good week.
73,
Mike
VE9KK

9a2ki said...

Hallo Mike and others
Just like You, I do few QSOs in RSGB IOTA c.
Nice experience, with my only one HF antenna ( almost all my antennas where wire antennas and in spring time this year all was damaged by ice....)
https://9a2ki.wordpress.com/2021/01/26/january-january-make-your-mind/
So nice to see people like to work in this contest ( and if someone interested there are many islands in Croatia ( more than
1000 ) and also award program
https://ioca.hamradio.hr/index.php/hr/
73 to VE9kk Mike de 9a2ki ico
ps : I was onered to first time ever activated one interesting island in Brijuni group few years ago

https://qrz.com.hr/8-putnik/

VE9KK said...

Istok very nice to hear from you, Sorry to hear that most of your antennas were damaged by the weather. I hope you are able to get the antennas repaired.
73,
Mike
VE9KK