CQ WPX CW 2009: Less Than Stellar Band Conditions Once Again A Main Story Line

By Jamie Dupree NS3T  radio-sport.net 
Posted May 27, 2009

With sunspot activity still rare in 2009, strategy in the 2009 CQ WPX CW contest will be a familiar one from recent years, with crowded conditions on 20 meters and an advantage to those who can squeeze out points and prefixes at night on 40 and 80 meters.

And there is a lot at stake this year, as several Single Operator champs from 2008 won't be able to defend their category titles.

"I was only a guest operator at D4C and thanks to circumstances I had the chance to operate as a single op in WPX CW 08," said Jurgis Ignotas LY2CY, who won the SOAB High Power crown last year.

In 2009, "I will try SOAB HP from my own station (in Lithuania) and I do not expect a high score like stations from Southern Europe or Tonno ES5TV," Ignotas added.

Also out of the running this year is the op who finished second to Ignotas, as Andy Kotovsky UU4JMG won't be heading back to 4L4WW's QTH for a repeat effort.

"It's a pity but this year I don't have an opportunity to go to Georgia on WPX CW," Kotovsky said. "Andy UU0JM will go to Georgia and work as single op all bands."

Last year's Low Power champ is also not expected to be in the running, as John Bayne KK9A won't be operating as P40A from Aruba, where he won the top slot by over two million points.

If Bayne isn't on the air, then the low power favorite may well be Yuri Onipko VE3DZ, who will be back in Bermuda at the station of VP9GE, where he tallied over 6 million points last year, good for second place.

"You don't need an amp to "feel loud" from VP9 even with simple antennas," Onipko said. "40 and 20 are open both to NA and EU most of the day."

"But most important is that I am going there with my wife to celebrate our anniversary and her birthday," Onipko added.

Meanwhile in the QRP category, the defending champ also won't be making a run at a repeat in 2009, as Bill Parker W8QZA will be at home, instead of making a seventh straight trip to TI5N for WPX CW.

"There will be an M/2 operation from TI5N this year," Parker told radio-sport.net. "So it will be much easier for most ops to get the TI5 mult!"

One of those involved in that operation is John Barcroft K6AM, who last year finished fourth in the world in High Power from ZF2AM in the Cayman Islands.

"The poor propagation has less impact in the WPX due to the double point bonus on the low bands," Barcroft said when asked about strategy in this contest.

"We can stay on 40 and 80 longer since we'll have plenty of time to get everyone on 20 and 15 during the day," K6AM added.

Over in Europe, one of those trying to "create" some sunspots is Kari Termonen OH5WH, who will be doing a 40 meter single band entry from Finland.

"The station antennas consist of a stack of 2-over-2-over-2 yagis on a 200ft rotatable tower," says Kari Malmi OH5XT.

"There is also a 3-element rotatable yagi on another 140ft tower. Third antenna, 2-el at 80 ft has its fixed direction towards the Europe."

You can see some of the antenna options in the photo on the right.

"Lots of work has been done since last winter, and our "Ferrari" is now ready to go!" said Malmi.