ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, CW
Call: VA7ST
Operator(s): VA7ST
Station: VA7ST
Class: Single Op LP
QTH:
Operating Time (hrs): 7.5
Summary:
Band QSOs
------------
160: 0
80: 6
40: 45
20: 73
15: 49
10: 9
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Total: 182 Sections = 52 Total Score = 18,928
Club:
Comments:
This was my second CW Sweepstakes. Last year I used a G5RV and a homebrew 5-band
hex beam to make 370 QSOs in 19 hours. I planned to do better this time out,
using a new homebrew DF4SA spider beam tribander.
Last week, a severe wind storm (topped 100 km/h) bent my cheap fence-rail mast
at a 45 degree angle from the house eaves. Couldn't do anything about it till
Friday night (Halloween), when I lowered everything to the eaves. Saturday
morning, I raced into town and picked up everything I needed for a much sturdier
mast. Got the old mast apart and the antenna down to the lawn, and built most of
the new push-up mast by the 1 p.m. Pacific start time. Couldn't finish the job
and get the antenna up in daylight so I left it on the back lawn.
Ran the rest of Saturday using the G5RV only, and had to really work hard for
contacts.
After sunup on Sunday morning, the high bands were already cranking, so I used
the 4-ele 10M/3-ele 15M beam in its stand on the back lawn to make a few QSOs.
15M was wide open but between the G5RV and the "lawnbeam," I eked out about 20
QSOs over a couple of hours.
By 10 a.m. Sunday, the morning chill was out of the air (was well below freezing
at 7 a.m.) so out I went to raise the mast and lightweight beam. No dice. Strong
winds were buffeting me as I bolted on the rotator at the eave-level, so I went
in to play radios with the less-then-ideal low G5RV.
In the 2100z hour I made 16 QSOs. And the beam was just waiting to be raised on
the new hefty push-up mast. By 2200z, the winds had dropped off to zero, so out
I went for another crack at it.
Because there was a contest going strong, naturally all sorts of mechanical
challenges arose, not the least of which was a failed attempt to raise the
antenna. My wife was helping to pass the amazingly light (10-lb) and strong
antenna up to me on the ladder. All looked good, until we were thwarted by maple
branches that were, to my surprise, much closer to the house now than they were
last spring. One of the element wires came loose, so down came the beam for
repairs. Took nearly an hour to fix.
It was approaching 4 p.m. Sunday (0000z) before I was finally able to get
everything in the air. The beam is now 6 feet higher than it used to be -- still
a pitiful 33 feet, but better than the previous 27' at the 20M elements.
Was back on the air at 1:19z Sunday. 15M was gone by then, so I never got to see
how the new setup works there. I went straight to 20M and made 28 Qs by the top
of the hour. Made another 30 Qs in the final hour, wringing everything I could
out of 20M.
Highlights?
Being called by J, VY1JA, with a few minutes left.
Working WP3R first try with the beam, after perhaps 10 calls earlier in the day
with the G5RV.
All in all, it was a satisfying weekend. About half the QSOs of last year, and
18 fewer mults, but in only 7.5 hours vs. 19 hours last year.
Plus, I have the more robust antenna support and a larger beam. While it was
down, I extended the fiberglass arms to make each of the interlaced beams use
the full element spacing recommended in DF4SA's design. Will see how it plays in
WAE RTTY and CQWW CW.
Thanks very much for the contacts, and special thanks to stations that tried to
copy my small signal this weekend.
73, Bud VA7ST
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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