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TDARC QRSS Challenge

This is a fun challenge, open to members of the Taunton & District Amateur Radio Club (and others that wish to join in). There is no prize, apart from bragging rights!
The Club callsign, G5JJ, is being transmitted via QRSS on 30m - the challenge is for you to find it and report it. There are various levels of challenge, from the easiest which doesn’t even require a radio (but you will need access to the internet), to your own setup to receive the transmissions.

What Is QRSS?

At its simplest, it is just very, very slow morse code. Each dit lasts for 6 seconds, which means that to send G5JJ takes 5 minutes 18 seconds. It’s too slow to listen to and it’s a lot easier to look at the morse code and read it.
There are various methods of sending the code, but TDARC is using FSKCW, which shifts the frequency by 5Hz to send the dits and dahs. It’s really a low power mode that is capable of achieving great distances, and with a bandwidth of 5Hz, it takes very little space on the bands (typically HF and sitting just under the WSPR frequencies).

What Are The Challenges?

There are challenges for you to report on and you are free to chop and change between them. They are:

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  1. [Easiest] Look for the G5JJ transmissions using the QRSS grabbers on the internet and report which stations have heard the Club.

  2. [Difficult] Set up your own QRSS grabber but utilise WebSDRs on the internet, feeding the audio to your grabber.

  3. [Most Difficult] Set up your own QRSS grabber using your own receiver and antenna. Perhaps consider portable reception opportunities…


You’ll only be given minimal information on what to do, how to find the transmissions and how to read them - that’s up to you but if you get stuck please contact David Vickers, G7BEH (details on QRZ.com).

 

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