How They Win: Ham Radio Contest Secrets from N6MJ and KL9A
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- Dan Craig N6MJ and Chris Hurlbutt KL9A are phenoms in the ham radio contesting world. They’ve competed 9 times at the World Radiosport Team Championships and have been on the podium together twice - Gold in 2014 and Bronze in 2018. I caught up with Dan and Chris just days after their 1st (N6MJ) and 2nd (KL9A) place finishes in the 2023 CQ Worldwide CW contest Single Operator High Power All Band category. For that contest, Dan traveled to ZF1A in Grand Cayman and Chris to TI7W in Costa Rica. They are open about their operating strengths and weaknesses but especially talk about the preparation and station excellence that are required to win. There is much to learn from Dan and Chris' commitment to ham radio, their high level of operating skills, and a reminder that at the end of the day we all share a fun and camaraderie filled hobby.
Looking forward to this stream.
I’ve known both of these kids since their very beginnings. “Who is this new guy on the bands” recognizing each their talent. I’ve enjoyed my friendship with these two and watching them go from pile up creators to engineers of a new realm in our hobby, what we see today. I am proud of these family men and world class contesters. 73 KL2A
Another fine interview.
Keep them coming.
It’s great to get the story behind these fantastic ambassadors of our great hobby.
73
M0DSK
A great job as always.
I especially like this interview with Dan and Chris whom I've had the pleasure to meet on the bands many times.
Narrowly missed meeting Dan (and team) last year in the Caymans where I was QRV as ZF2AA on an adjacent Island. (ZF5T/ZF9CW stn on Cayman Brac).
I agree that contesting from Zone 8/9 is magic and these 2 guys maximize the magic. FB fellas.
CU (all of a sudden!) in the next one. Mike VE9AA "NB"
Another outstanding interview by Kevin W1DED bringing Dan and Chris / Chris and Dan ;) together for a combined interview. I think I have mentioned this before in other content Kevin has published. It's just a treat to listen to the interview! This is a much watch / listen interview for anyone interested in the intricacies of contesting and the highest level. What you can't take for granted is that Kevin is so good at the interview, editing and production. The questions and flow of the interview puts the interviewees in a comfortable position to answer the questions so effortlessly. Another big thumbs up on this video! I can only say 'thank-you' to KL9A and N6MJ for taking the time along with Kevin W1DED for the work behind the scenes to provide this content to the amateur contest community. Max NG7M
Great contesterà and great guys!
Great interview of the best of the best. 73, KK7A
Dan and Chris are incredible contesters. I love their zeal for the hobby. Thanks for a great iinterview.
This was a great watch. Mind blowing and inspirational at the same time. Best of luck to you in qualifying for WRTC 2026.
The UK welcomes you and all the other elite operators from around the world.
Kevin, thanks so much for posting this interview. Contesting is great fun I have participated in many but did not know about 2BSIQ before - thank you for discussing that topic. Also good luck in your upcoming half marathon - I also run marathons and will never win or even make the top places but it is still a wonderful experience. 73 de 4X6FB
Great interview! Amazing what those guys have been able to do! Thanks for sharing! W0MU
Thanks Kevin for asking all the questions. I’d love to learn so2r or 2BSIQ but there aren’t a ton a visual representations on what is needed to get it rolling.
MorseRunner
@@NL7GPI use the program. I don’t see how to use it so2r or 2BSIQ
@NL7GP good practice...u can also try RTTY so2r to get ur feet wet de AA3R
Super interview Kevin - thanks. Been my pleasure to know both Chris and Dan. GL and 73 all, Rod/w7zrc
Thank you, Rod. I was honored to have the opportunity.
Kevin, what a great video! Another awesome one! K9KJ
Amazing job you both have done the past years in contests, Congratulations to the host as well. 73 de TI5CDA/TI1K
What a fantastic interview Kevin! Thank you to Chris, Dan, and yourself for taking the time! 73 VE3GKT
Edit: if Chris or Dan see this, how often are you on non-adjacent bands, like 40 and 15 at the same time? Are you working JA on one band at the same time as EU on another, or are you usually working the same regions on both radios?
I am extremely impressed 🏆👍
Great video 👍 73!
#LY4A
Great double interview to those twins mind blowing contesters!!
fantastic interview ! 73 de TF3T
Excellent!!! de AA3R
What a great interview. These guys are truly on the next level but I do disagree with their views on the future of contesting. I'm not going to get into it here, but we need a different direction to help bring more youth (under the age of 50) into the hobby and contesting specifically.
What do you disagree with...this is the place to discuss
@@lizzyfan1986 I've interviewed AA0Z for an upcoming episode so you'll be able to hear/watch his ideas here soon.
I have listened to several of your videos but I don’t come away with a lot of useful information especially for a single operator in a HOA with a wire antenna. For example, you don’t explain what WTRC is. I assume K3LR is Tim’s station from DXE? What makes these guys so good? Their equipment or how they operate or their location? What is their equipment? I have seen Dan’s presentation at Dayton and it appears he uses a superstation in AZ funded another person. The vast majority of us are not going to be invited to super stations. Come to my house and show me how to improve. As an example of explaining 2BSIQ, you can explain that two or more antennas in close proximity can not only interfere with each other but also damage the other radios, so band pass filters or signal controllers are used to restrict what is received or prevent multiple radios from transmitting at the same time. Perhaps draw a diagram. Show the equipment. It feels like your target audience is contesters with years of experience and great equipment, not the average person. If you read the Ham Radio FB group, you will see a lot of hate for contesters so perhaps you need to target them or your average contester sitting at home.
Hi Alan, Thanks for your feedback. Noted. I'll consider the critique and think about ways to change that. There certainly is a challenge in re-explaining/defining topics as I move forward. I have dealt with defining WRTC, a few times, in prior conversations as well as describing K3LR as Tim Duffy's, DXE CEO, superstation. How to continue to bring that up in later episodes is worth considering. You may have gathered that the video channel is a personal project that follows my own reentry path back into ham radio. Early on, you'll see many Parks on the Air videos that I do think speaks more to the single operator with limitations. Take a look at my "4 days on Maine's Midcoast," for example. As for the contester niche, I have found that paying attention to what many of these operators do - in terms of skills and equipment - can be aspirational for average day-to-day operators like myself. Again, thanks for your feedback. 73, W1DED
@@w1dedworldwidehamradio I haven't watched your older videos yet, since I am working backwards in time. No need to reexplain if you already did in another video. I do appreciate you doing these videos. Can you tell Chris to ditch the fish tank since it is kind of distracting? Or blur his background. LOL.
@@clamdiggerme I'll certainly pass on the request to Chris OR tell him to be more interesting so people don't drift away! Thanks for watching the vids and the perspective.
Fantastic interview, thank you and 73, Prasad VU2PTT