[PaQSO] More on 20m and Good Neighbor QSOs...

[kb3co at comcast.net]

John, 
The issue was definitely the latter - via the WKUSB device. That was mostly obvious from the git-go. In past years we had used a microHAM microKEYER (a great device) but the interface cable now has a problem and I am hesitant to buy a new one ($90USD) since I only ever use the 706 in the car. So this year I bought a WKUSB Lite to use in the car for this contest - a much more economical proposition. As you said, it is more susceptible to RFI than the microKEYER. 

73, 
Charlie 
KB3CO 


----- Original Message -----
From: "John Bednar" <k3ct at verizon.net> 
To: kb3co at comcast.net, paqso at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 6:51:57 AM 
Subject: RE: [PaQSO] More on 20m and Good Neighbor QSOs... 


Intermittent WinKey issues are usually caused by Windows powering down the port. If you are using a USB port for any control (radio, WinKey, rotor, etc), make sure you open Device Manager, right click on every USB Root Hub, select Properties, click on the Power Management tab and uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". This may have to be repeated if the USB device is removed. 

It can also be caused by RF entering the computer or WinKey device. Keep in mind that some WinKey solutions may not be as RF prone as the original K1EL design. PC lock-up is one of the symptoms of RF ingress. 

John, K3CT 

-----Original Message----- 
From: paqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:paqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of kb3co at comcast.net 
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 5:35 AM 
To: paqso at mailman.qth.net 
Subject: [PaQSO] More on 20m and Good Neighbor QSOs... 



It was not only the West coast stations that felt left out this year - Last week I received the below attached email from an unhappy county hunter from Texas. 
The truth is that we went to 20m CW very early in the contest but found that we had the same problem with Winkey as W3CQB and others did - the entire PC locked up. So we had to abandon that and settle for 20m PH which did not yield very much. Fortunately the problem was limited to 20m only - otherwise we would have had a serious contest changing problem. In past years we always had a good following on 20m CW - mostly Europeans, 5's, 6's, and 7's. We very much regret not being able to do the same again this year. It was my miss that I did not check out 20m CW operation prior to the contest. 

73, Charlie KB3CO 



From: <Unhappy Texan > 
Date: October 15, 2013 at 5:06:30 PM EDT 
To: < kb3co > 
Subject: pa QSO party 




Next year please find a 20M cw antenna and use it. 

27 counties I missed because you never ran on 20cw and of course, from TX to PA during the day on 
40 and 80m isn t going to work with my inverted vee up 30 feet. 

Saw your comments on 3830 reflector. 

Half the country had no hope of a clean sweep or getting the counties they needed. 

647 cw contacts and not a one on 20m 

Maybe they can change the rules so you all don t sit on 80 and 40 all day long and work each other while 70% of the country and 100% of the DX has no hope of working you 


73 
<Unhappy Texan> 


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