Kenwood TS-590 with SDRPlay and HRD

I haven't been writing in this blog for over two years :) Now it is time again, starting with this project: 

Kenwood TS-590 and SDRPlay working together:

Awards received: IARU HF Championship 2012 and 2013

Award received: Russian DX Contest 2014

Rig picture

I played a little with my camera (EOS 700D) and took a picture of my rig:

Pile-up business opportunity :)

I have a problem: I would like to work rare dx stations, but I have not often time to sit and try in those huge pileups. What if someone could work them for me, using my call, if I pay?

(No, I am not serious, but let's play with the idea anyway, for fun.)

What would be the optimal price list of Pile-up Services Inc? At least these things affect the pricing:

• The time spent on the pile-up. A separate station verifies this with SDR.
• The length of the call used. For example my call is quite expensive, especially in CW pileups. 
• The default pricing is based on using automatic CW&SSB calling. If manual calls are required (for authenticity/ecological or whatever reasons) the price should be higher.
• The more sunspots, the cheaper service. The K index works as price multiplicator.
• The Premium service includes all bands, and the De Luxe service contains all bands and modes. 

Money back guarantees needed:

• Money back for failed QSO.
• Money back for ruining client's reputation by calling on the dx frequency

We have seen this hobby developing a lot with Dx cluster, skimmers, reverse beacons etc, and this would be the next step. What a perfect hobby, isn't it?

;)

Scandinavian Activity Contest 2014 - CW

Also this year I participated in the SAC (Scandinavian Activity Contest - CW part) with my wire antennas and 100W. The contest end screen looked like this (WinTest):

During the last hour I realized that I will make my own personal record. A couple of "last minute" multipliers finalized the over 400 000 point claimed result. Initially I am in a good position in the claimed result list in my class.

New things in this contest:

• New rig: Kenwood TS-590S. What a brilliant transceiver, especially in pileup working; the filter stuff worked great. I needed the 50Hz filter many times during the contest.
• New class: Assisted. I wanted to check, what help I can get from the internet during the contest. Disappointment: the DX Cluster gave me just one multiplier: HS0 (Thailand) on 10m. But: the Reverse Beacon service was interesting and informative. I could check how my signals propagated, and I could follow how e.g. my fellow team station OH2BAH (where I was doing some IT preparation work before the contest) was changing bands during the contest.

My delta loops by night

I've got a new camera that I am excited about: Canon EOS 700D. These pictures are taken in dark night, using Sigma 18-50mm objective. 

My 80m delta loop.
The spruce in the middle (at bit left) of the picture holds the northern corner of the loop at about 30m.

My 20m delta loop at left and the 80m delta loop southern corner at right.