by Jon Kimball KL2A
A contest recap: short version
As you all know, we get on the bands days before the
test,
some arriving to do extensive repairs and setup, as we
have seen from the PJ9B's, 5V7A's, and the 6Y2A's of the
world, and all the in- betweens like the world class
single
op staions of the P4's, 8P9Z, HC8N, and etc.
The bands come alive with chatter about the contest to
come and what we have to do, or not do, band strategies,
how some "wing it", and some eat baby food. In any case
the boys are back in town and it's that time of year
again.
Same time, same/different QTH, but same story, every
year...similar situations to come...band jumpin mults
and
each other, always sure to show our savvy by being there
first..(ex. HC8N Trey and I zooming from 10-160 in 1
min..
Quickest set of doubles I ever get) This is every year!
VP2VF detour:
In transit:
I planned on getting some sleep before the contest, as
you
can imagine this became, like every year, not a reality.
(kp2)Sleep til the last min. up the tower at 8:30a, take
down
the 80m vert. roll it up... back pack it. Cut 2 pieces
of
132' wire, roll it, pack it. I'm off to the Port Customs
in
St. Thomas. As I wait for my trawler for West End,
Tortola (VP2V) I see a 30min shut eye window. I take
it.
Lying on the mesh bench, dock side, I fall into the
tunnel of
echos...where I can't seem to keep my mind off of
strategy,
even though I told myself "wing it". *Advice from ole
kkn.
The fog horn shakes the dock and people scurry to the
plank...I find myself in the front of the line looking
at the
locals behind me, wondering "how did I get here?"...let
a little
lady aboard first and I'm finding a comfortable seat to
crash.
I did and do. Laying vert., with the gentle ocean
breeze
drifting to me from the window, I balance the gatorade
on my
chest and loop the backpack with my elbow, I'm secure.
After
and hour and a half of tunnel surfing another fog horn
blows
and I'm in VP2V. Customs takes some time but I'm used to
it
and there is 'no worries'. Its only 3pm, I have til 8pm
to build
the station, surely I can be ready by sundown for a
wink!
VP2VF is waiting outside amongst the taxi driver
greeting
party, and he escorts me to the chariot.
The drive to the top :
The drive to the station is basically straight up for
about 45
mins. If you're familiar with the Caribbean roads, we
drive
on the left, and the grade percentage is rather high, of
course
the roads are slippery when wet... but anyway up and
up...
and up...we're "on top of the world" I keep saying to
Dirk..
He's obviously in a hurry to get me to the station so I
can
begin, so his eyes forward. As he's doing all the
concerning,
I'll just chill and watch the views as soon they will
change...
to a knob...etc. We arrive at his beautiful home, meet
the
xyl Louisa and some rather interesting dogs.
Station prelims:
He shows me the tower, we discuss my plans with
antennaes and he hits the switch, down comes the tower.
While the tower is approaching, I lay out the 160, and
the
80.. by the time it reaches the deck I'm ready to attach
the
antennae. Connect em', test em', got to add a couple of
feet
to the 160, but looks good. Help string up the 40 on
the
other tower. *stringing out the radials for 80/160 did
take
some time, as was on steep terrain guess I need a new
pair
of Nikes! -can I get paid for that plug? ;O
Transition to the shack prep :
Darkness comes and I'm finished for outside, however I
didn't make the beverages for the low bands, I'm gonna
"wing it" and hope for the best. I need food. Maybe a
nap, gonna be a long 48 hours ahead, and if I'm to
compete
from 2 point land I need every quality minute. Inside
to
familiarize myself with the surroundings and CT. I end
up
fiddling with this until the last min. and decide to go
on without.
**The rest is another story**
During CQWW CW 1998 :
However, during the contest I witnessed the best condx
I've
ever heard, and the station played very well. *as for
the time
I was QRV. Was nice to go back to the old ways of hand
key-log and enjoyed the memories of growing up at KL7Y,
actually day dreamed while making Qso's on auto pilot,
about
the great openings and Dx I would work from Alaska, the
arctic flutter, and 'The Gold Paddle,*N2MIC? wishing I
was
using it. (the smoothest paddle I've ever witnessed).
By the
way, where are they, I need a double on 160.. It felt
nice to
have a personality again, as I was able to accent my cw
rather
than a computer cloning me like every one else on the
band,
minus a few.
Highlights:
1. All the great competitive spirit
2. All the Qsos on 160/80
3. The high rate on 40
4. Hearing W7RM long path in the middle of their night
on 10m
5. Logging 232/hour on 10m from 1600-1700z
Thanks for all the Q's and see ya next year.
KL2A/KP2
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * *
CQ WORLD WIDE DX CONTEST -- 1998
Call: VP2VF (KL2A) Country: British Virgin Is.
Mode: CW Category: Single
Operator AB
Zone: 08
BAND QSO Q PTS PTS/Q ZONES DXCC
160 138 284 2.06
12 24
80 456 1067 2.34
16 61
40 818 2037 2.49
27 80
20 699 1767 2.53
33 90
15 1047 2660 2.54
33 97
10 1278 3234 2.53
30 95
-------------------------------------------------------------
Totals 4436 11049 2.49
151 447
BOTTOM LINE = 6,607,302
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * *
Station: Tortola, British Virgins Elevation: 1500'
w/ 360 deg.
FT 1000mp and TS 950 -Commander Amp
160: Inv L up elevated and topped @
70'(Tower 1)
80: 66' vert with 4 elevated
radials (Tower 1)
40: Trap Inv V up 40' (Tower 2)
20: TH11 winched up to 75'
15: "
10: "
--
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