In the beginning of 2010 Valery RD3AF has invited me and Alexander RA4HTX to work in ARRL International DX Contest (SSB). Work in this competition caused a particular interest as on Valery's RD3AF antenna field there was a new antenna system of ranges 40, 80 and 160 metres, established on freely standing tower in height of 82 metres. The antenna system has been developed, made and mounted under the direction of Vladimir (Willy) Umanets UA9BA in the end of 2009:

http://www.rd3af.com/articles.php?lng=en&pg=23

http://www.rd3af.com/articles.php?lng=en&pg=22

http://www.rd3af.com/articles.php?lng=en&pg=21

It would be desirable to feel and understand an overall performance of new antenna system. Employment has not allowed Valery RD3AF to take part in competition. On Friday on March, 5th Alexander RA4HTX has safely landed in Vnukovo and by 23.00 GMT we have arrived on position RD3AF where practically all was ready for competition. In advance the decision to act in subgroup MS was accepted. Participants of a command: RA4HTX and RA3CW, and Alexanders RZ3AZ and RK3AX provided strategic, tactical and technical support of a command. A signal command - RS3A.

Work was conducted from one workplace. The basic attention was planned to give to LF-ranges and to try to use advantages of new aerials. Judging by the first communications, aerials worked perfectly well. Was especially comfortable to listen to an aether in the American site, above 7.20 MHz, working on transfer to the European site of a range.

On a range of "80 metres", around 3.75 – 3.80 MHz, North Americans called enough smartly, therefore work on the carried frequencies was not conducted, unfortunately in vain. As it has appeared - the great bulk of the European participants worked on reception in more comfortable conditions, on frequencies above 3.80 ÌÃÖ which were more free from mutual hindrances. "Passage" between continents on all ranges was not steady. However the result, nevertheless, has appeared decent enough:

Low efficiency of aerials of a range of "160 metres", for communication between continents, has affected the general result.

I think that modernisation of aerials of a range coming in 2010 of "160 metres" on Valery's RD3AF position, will allow to overcome next year in these competitions a threshold in 3000 communications.

I and Alexander RA4HTX once again we express the gratitude to Valery RD3AF for the next possibility to work in large competitions to the radio amateur position, one of the best in the world.