CQ WPX RTTY Contest Returns With Hopes For Another Record Setting Year; P49X the Favorite

By Jamie Dupree NS3T radio-sport.net
Posted February 9, 2009

Even with lackluster conditions on the HF bands in recent years, the records keep falling in major RTTY contests, a testament to the increasing popularity of RTTY contesting in general.
The one to beat again this year is defending champ Ed Muns W0YK, who set a new world record in Single Op High Power last year with just over 10 million points.
"Yes, I plan to operate CQ WPX RTTY from Aruba with my P49X call sign," Muns told radio-sport.net, as he looks to extend his record setting ways.
While Muns broke the HP record in 2008, Mohamed Kharbouche CN8KD set the Low Power record as 5C5W with 4.1 million points.
World single band records were also set last year on 80, 40 and 15 meters. On the multi-op side though, no records changed in 2008.
It was a record year in the US as well in WPX RTTY, as Ty Stewart K3MM set the High Power mark with 6.85 million and Jose Castillo N1BAA set the Low Power record at 2.97 million as KS1Y.
"I really believe that there will be at least 5 LP stations that will break 3M points!" Castillo told radio-sport.net, as he predicted that "it will take close to 3.6M to win this year!"
With conditions as they are, 20 and 40 meters seem likely to be the most populated bands during WPX RTTY, just as they may be for WPX SSB the first full weekend in March.
"20M will continue to be the bread and butter band for sure," said Castillo, "and I time share between 40 / 80 with the second radio."
As for the multi-op race this year, part of the 2008 winning team of NP3U will be back in Puerto Rico to gun for another victory.
"Members of the CTRI Contest Group will once again be operating NP3U for this year's WPX RTTY Contest," said Bill Champagne N1HRA, who said he along with K3IU, AJ1M and W1AN will be operating at the QTH of Carlos Colon WP4U.
"On a side note," Champagne added, "Another member Rick KI1G will be operating from VQ9 during the contest."
"I am on the road again," said Rick Davenport KI1G/VQ9RD from Chagos in the Indian Ocean.
"We will be putting some kind of multi op effort in as VQ9X with VQ9LA, VQ9JC and me as ops."
Unfortunately, Davenport told radio-sport.net that his team is experiencing a rash of radio problems, which may seriously hinder their contest effort.
"The FT-1000 only hears on 40-160, the FT-920 has blown finals, the TS-570 has no receiver and the IC760 is just plain old," he said by email.
"Larry (VQ9LA) has rigged up a T/R switch and we are using the TS-570 to transmit and the FT-920 to receive on the same frequency, and that is our best equipment right now."
Before planning your operation this year, you might want to make sure to read to revised rules for WPX RTTY, a few examples include:

The low power limit is now 100 watts, down from 150 watts

8 band changes per hour (up from 6) for M/S and M2

There are now low power single-band categories

M2 serial numbers can be by band or overall in 2009
As for getting on the air and joining the fun, Castillo N1BAA says RTTY in his mind is less imposing than CW or SSB contesting.
"Anyone who tries RTTY will be instantly hooked!" Castillo told radio-sport.net.
"My advice is to get set up correctly first though...Meaning, get perfectly synched with WWV. Keep your macros short and to the point..no "PLEASE COPY" ...HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL...etc."
"Just send what is required by the rules! Learn! AND most of all...have fun!"
The fun starts at 0000 February 14 and ends at 2400z February 15. Single operators are allowed to operate 30 of the 48 hours.

CQ WPX RTTY Strategy Reminders

There are several rules for WPX RTTY that will play a very big role in your weekend of contesting.
For one, there is a 30 hour operating limit on single operators. The contest is 48 hours in length, but you must limit yourself to thirty on the air. (That of course includes listening time as well.)
As is stated in the rules, off times must be at least 60 minutes in length, which means you should make them 61 minutes long just to be safe.
As in a regular WPX contest, the prefixes of each station (i.e. NS3, KS1, UW7) are the multipliers.
Unlike other contests, the WPX multipliers are not by band, but overall.
That means 20 and 40 meters will likely be the most crowded bands, with 80 meters getting a lot of play at night as well.
Don't forget that QSO's on 40 and 80 meters (there is no 160) with different countries or continents are worth double the value of the same contacts on 10, 15 and 20 meters. (QSO's with your own country are just 1 point no matter what band.)
Before planning your operation this year, you might want to make sure to read to revised rules for WPX RTTY, which have been aligned with those of other CQ Magazine contests on a several fronts.