Is an end fed wire antenna enough of an antenna to get on the air in a major contest? In this follow up to the WPX SSB contest I answer this question and give you my perspective of using a 80/160 end fed wire antenna in the CQ WPX Contest 2025.
The Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge contest provided a good opportunity to test the new RX antenna setup paired with diversity receive.
A classic Yaesu FT-1000 transceiver has been added to the SE0X line of equipment.
After years of using home-brew verticals for Topband it was time for change. In preparation for the contest season 2018-2019 I installed a new vertical for 80 and 160 meter, the commercially produced “Axtorp”. This is a linear loaded vertical from Lannabo Radio, the HF antenna specialist on the Swedish west coast. It stretches 18
Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge is one of the few contest where distance worked translates to scores. This together with the challenge of digging stations out of the noise is what makes 160 meter contests attractive to me. Here is the update from te 2019 edition of the “pre-Stew” contest.
Results are out and the High Power Single Band 160 meter SM record was broken by SE0X in CQWW CW 2018. In addition SE0X ranked #4 in Europe and #7 World.
The SE0X Skimmer has a temporary replacement antenna, a PA0RDT Mini Whip. Results are impressive considering its simplicity and tiny physical shape. There is a separate story on this simple antenna here. This post is focused on the analysis of Reverse Beacon Network spots to evaluate the antennas performance.
CQ160 SSB is always a struggle in QRM. It really puts your filters and patience to the test, no surprise there. My plan was to break the old SM record and to break-in a new hardware controller called the Stream Deck. But first…
Getting ready for CQ160 SSB this weekend by upgrading the remote shack with a better way to control RX antennas and other remotely switched functions at SE0X. Introducing the Stream Deck, a very useful gadget from the gaming community!
A new temporary skimmer antenna has been installed at the SE0X skimmer site. I didn’t expect much from the small and simple PA0RDT active mini-whip antenna, but its good performance, especially on 160 meter, surprised me in the ARRL DX contest.