Contests
Since I have been licensed, I take part in contests, too. If I am not abroad, I do not miss the DARC Contests. But I also participate in CQWW, WPX, and some other contests, and in the three classical modes Phone, CW, RTTY. As a "normal" radio amateur with an avarage equipment one normally gives points to other stations, less to win but just to take part and have some fun. And sometimes one is successful, as I was it several times in WPX and CQWW in RTTY as first Germany, as the awards show. But, frankly spoken, although contesting from home is certainly nice and easy, are the limitating factors family obligations and the normal events of the day. And the XYL asks you many questions (or vice versa). The only way to flee from that all is to retire to a place far away, in this case an island. Anyway, Maideira is a good place. For Radio Hams it is easy to go there (from Germany by charter). Unfortunately LTU now belongs to Air Berlin. LTU gave additional 30 kg free for amateur radio baggage, but there was no deal possible with Air Berlin.
Here you can see some photographs from different contests.
	WAEDC (Worked all Germany CW) Contest Crew in 2004 for Bielefeld Radio Club DOK NØ1
	Operators at the station of DFØDX during WAEDC-CW-Contest 2004
Contests from Madeira Island
Madeira Island is situated about 435 miles west of Africa in the Atlantic. The size about 300 sq miles, population is about 300.000. The northern half is a very good place for ham radio, particularely for contests, because you have free range over water to Europe and North Amarica. The geographical coordinates are: Locator is IM12NT 32°48 North, 16°51 West
CT9L-Team for CQWW-SSB 2003 on Madeira Isl. (from left) DK8FS, DH1TW, OH5RX, DJ6QT, OH4XX, DL1YFF, LX1NO, DK5TX	This was the CT9L-Crew on Madeira Island after the CQWW-SSB-Contest in 2003.
In 2004 I was back again on Madeira Island as team member of CT9L. AS every year there was a lot of preparation for the contest, But our team managed it in time and could achieve good results in the contest.
	Transport of a 6 meters long tube for one of the towers
	Mounting of our 40m beam for the contest
	It was not easy to put this thing up!
	This was the CT9L-Crew on Madeira Island after the CQWW-SSB-Contest in 2005.
	Our secret weapon for this contest: The Longhorn-bullbeam
In 2006 I did not go to Madeira, because I was on the expedition to XF4, Revillagigedo Archipelago, Socorro Island. But in 2007 we worked the CQWW-RTTY as Multi Op/Single Tx. Operators were Sigi, DJ3NG, Walter, DJ6QT, JAN, DJ8NK, and I, DL1YFF. It was the first operation in RTTY from there, and we had a good result.
	View from the roundabout down in the valley up to our QTH
	DJ6QT, DJ8NK and DL1YFF at antenna work
	During the contest: DJ8NK, DL1YFF, DJ3NG (operating)
	During the contest with DJ8NK and DL1YFF
	The whole team 2007 after 48 hours of contest
	The winning team 2009 after 48 hours of contest.
CQ Magazine wrote in its recent edition of May 2010: The German powerhouse of DJ6QT, DK4QT, DJ3NG, and DL1YFF (RRDXA Chairman) drove CR3L to a decisive victory over Americans [...] at P49X. The antennas at CR3L were asembled and towers erected in the days just prior to the contest. Despite the solar low, they managed to get within 14% of the world record set by [...] HC8N at the solar peak in 2002
RTTY is a very nice mode particularely for elder operators as you can see(hi). One can have his tea, his drinks, his cigarettes, pipes etc. and all the comfortness you are aquainted to.

© DL1YFF

Last revision 2010-05-25