NA QSO SUMMARY SHEET
Contest Dates : 07-Aug-99, 08-Aug-99
Callsign Used : N6ZZ
Operator : N6ZZ
Category : Single Operator
Default Exchange : Phil NM
Name : Phil Goetz
Address : P.O. Box 1234
City/State/Zip : Alto, NM 88312
Country : United States
Team/Club : Team Handkey
BAND Raw QSOs Valid QSOs Points Mults
__________________________________________________
160CW 12 12 12 5
80CW 62 62 62 27
40CW 121 121 121 41
20CW 229 226 224 51
15CW 126 122 122 39
10CW 23 23 23 16
__________________________________________________
Totals 573 566 564 179
Final Score = 100,956 points.
Operating time: 10 hours
Soapbox Comments
________________
The two-radio setup:
Radio 1 Radio 2
TS-850 TS-850
10 C4-SXL @ 50 feet C-3 @ 25 feet
15 C4-SXL @ 50 feet C-3 @ 25 feet
20 C4-SXL @ 50 feet C-3 @ 25 feet
40 C4-SXL @ 50 feet Sloping dipole @ 30 feet
80 Half sloper @ 50 feet Dipole @ 25 feet
160 Half sloper @ 50 feet
This operating event turned contesting into an art form of frustration!
It was
my first serious attempt at two-radio contesting. Antenna work for
radio 2
was actually finished several hours before the beginning of the contest.
The first part of the contest went pretty well.....CQing on one band
with radio
1, while S&Ping on another band on radio 2 worked as advertised. TR
Log's
support of the SO2R concept is really slick!
At around 0200Z, I moved radio 1 to 40 meters. Couldn't seem to get any
runs
going on 40 with radio 1 and the C4-SXL. Tried S&Ping with the radio 1
setup
for a bit: Signals were loud but nobody hears me. Everything looks
normal,
but I decide that something must be wrong with the 40 meter beam.
Started to use radio 2 with sloping dipole as the primary station on 40
meters,
running a few with CQs. At the same time, I begin S&P on 80 with radio
1 and
the half-sloper. Never get anybody to hear me on 80 with this
combination.
Also move to 160 a few times to attempt QSOs with radio 1 and the
sloper.
Chalk up the lack of success to high QRN.
Keep plugging away on 40 with radio 2 and the sloping dipoole at 30
feet, but
it ain't like having a beam. It doesn't dawn on me that the problem is
actually
with the radio 1 TS-850 rather than with the antennas.
Changing the selection of superior antennas from radio 1 to radio 2
involves moving coax, something that I don't undertake until about
0500z, at
which time I abandon the SO2R concept and finish out the contest using
radio 2
and the superior antennas. Now I've got a working radio and a beam on
40 meters,
but the activity peak has moved from 40 to 80 and 160.
Result: A half-assed SO2R operation, reflected by 142 band changes
between
1800 and 0200z, and 10 band changes between 0200 and 0600z.
Observations: The performance of the Radio 1 850 is a mystery. It
appears to
load properly, has appropriate power output. However, nobody hears me
with it,
at least on the 160-80-40. Haven't tried it on 20-15-10 yet.
The problem would have been easier to identify and deal with if I had
the
capability of having all antennas instantly available on both radios, a
feature
of SO2R that is very desirable.
Troubleshooting while operating SO2R is difficult----the focus remains
on
making QSOs, which detracts from one's analytical capabilities.
Apologies to those who tried to move me to 160 while I was still using
radio 1
on the 160 antenna. You aren't really deaf after all.
73 - Phil, N6ZZ
I have observed all competition rules as well as all regulations
established
for amateur radio in my country. My report is correct and true to the
best
of my knowledge. I agree to be bound by the decisions of the Awards
Committee.
Date __8/8/99______ Signed __Phil Goetz_________________ Call
__N6ZZ_____
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