CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB
Call: K5ZD
Operator(s): N5RZ
Station: K5ZD
Class: SOAB HP
QTH: MA
Operating Time (hrs): 44
Radios: SO2R
Summary:
Band QSOs Zones Countries
------------------------------
160: 18 6 9
80: 211 17 72
40: 287 23 77
20: 852 33 108
15: 1384 29 110
10: 759 24 95
------------------------------
Total: 3511 132 471 Total Score = 6,069,195
Club: Yankee Clipper Contest Club
Comments:
What an experience for this Texas boy.
It has been 11 years since I have done a serious Single Op SSB DX contest, and
when Randy mentioned his station was available for a Single Op or Multi Single,
I seriously considered doing a M/S. After carving out a long weekend and
utilizing a Southwest Airlines Freebie ticket, Randy convinced me to do a Single
Op. In spite of my grueling work schedule (I had to make a one day trip to
Denver Tuesday evening and return Wednesday evening, and had to work a half day
the Thursday before heading up), the idea really grew on me over the three weeks
preceding the contest. Then all the thoughts started nagging me. While
realizing working Europe was the easy part, the thought of missing openings,
crapping out halfway through the contest, etc., haunted me a bit.
Arrived late Thursday night to Provience Airport on a 4 leg flight, but a very
relaxing trip (luckily I rest well on flights). Randy showed me the station and
the basics of WriteLog, which I had only played with a week before and never
made a QSO with. Looked like something I could handle. Randy has a pair of
FT1000D's which was the radio I used for 12 years, so no learning curve there.
And he has a well laid out antenna switching scheme. So far so good.
I didn't sleep very late Friday Morning, and played a bit on 10 & 15 and was
amazed how easy it was to generate a EU pileup.
Randy had gone to work and I visited a bit with Randy's FB XYL, Connie and their
18 month old daughter Jannelle. Took a short nap and got up about 12:30 local
time. Randy had mentioned that the grocery store was about 2 1/2 miles away.
The WX was not bad and decided to walk into town & shop for my contest food.
Connie was away, so I took off not even knowing which way to head, but was able
to get directions from the friendly folks of Uxbridge.
Even had time to get a haircut while in town and got back to the house about
3:45 PM with some snacks. The walk was great and tired me out just enough to
get another 3 hours of sleep.
After about 2 hours of 20/40/80M at the beginning, I realized the flare was
taking its toll, so I just dogged away on 160 - 20. Went to bed at 0915Z with
400 QSO's in the log. Got up after an hour to a wide open 20M and realized I
wasn't in Texas anymore!!! Quickly moved up to 15M and had great rate. Was
listening to 10M on the second radio and move up there when I heard K1KI & other
W1's getting after it. After about 15 minutes, the band wasn't happening for
me, so I went back to 15M and continued on with the great rates there and
scratching my head about 10M. A look at the antenna switch said it all - I
hadn't switched from the 20M antennas - what an idiot!!! Back up to 10M with
real antennas and things worked. As the day progressed, I worked down the bands
with great hours on 15M & 20M. Twenty meters pretty much closed to EU by about
22Z and I was now a bit lost. I did end up with over 2000 QSO's after 24 hours
which seemed pretty respectable, though a bit short.
I was running short on mults and 10 & 15 were pretty quiet. I made another
mistake & went into tune mode and missed the 40M sunset opening.
Aboout 0100Z, things started picking up and 80M was great for CQing. An then a
short western EU opening on an otherwise very disappointing 160M. I was then
able to get a good run on 40M. Went to bed at about 0730Z when things pretty
much slowed to a crawl, realizing I had a lot of work to do on multipliers. Got
up about 10Z to a non-runnable 20M, so took a quick shower and picked up a few
Pacific Mults and some JA's on 40 before heading up the bands. 15M was
definitely the band on Sunday. Try as I might, I just could not find the mults
and was very disappointed to have not even gotten to 100 countries on 10M.
When the contest was over I think I have a better appreciation for how to do it
from W1 Land. Yeah - you got to hit F1 the whole time you are on and dig hard
for mults on the 2nd radio. Anyway, I was pleased with the score and joined the
family for Pizza and some cold beer. I was quite coherent and not really too
tired, which means there may be a few more single ops left in me. It also means
I didn't work hard enough!!!!
I had to be to the airport in Providence by 7:15 AM, and on the way there I
realized I hadn't even looked at the antennas all weekend!!! His antennas are
well concealed in the trees and invisible from the house and drive.
I'd like to thank Randy and his family for having me in their home for the
weekend and for the wonderful opportunity to experience the New England radio
experience. Sure will be hard to operate from Texas now, especially over the
next 4-5 years. Maybe I'll be back?!?!?!
Thanks to all for the QSO's and see ya in SS CW (PS: I will not be in WTX).
73, Gator
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