ARRL 10-Meter Contest
Call: NA5S
Operator(s): NA5S
Station: NA5S
Class: SO Mixed HP
QTH: NM
Operating Time (hrs):
Summary:
Band QSOs Mults
-------------------
CW: 310 70
SSB: 736 91
-------------------
Total: 1046 161 Total Score = 436,632
Club: Silver City LIDS
Comments:
I have to agree with the general consensus, without sunspots the 10M contest is
a grueling marathon of massive desperation. With my C31 pointed towards the
Caribbean most of the day Saturday, it was a contest of reflections, backscatter
and heavy QSB on most signals. I used the "?" constantly trying to get full
callsigns as they would fade in and out. I really try to work all those QRP
signals in every contest, but it seemed that the majority of signals were weak
and disgusting because of poor propagation. Sorry to all those that I just
couldn't pull through, since I did feel like an alligator in this one!
We also had a pipeline to Florida, especially on Sunday, with the 138 FL
stations I worked comprising over 13% of my log. I did manage to work all
states over the weekend, although a few only on either CW or SSB, but not both.
Canada was also a problem from here in the Southwest, and I never heard any
VE1's, VY1's or VE8's. I only worked VE2, VE4 and VE7 on SSB, and VE5 and VE6
on CW. Contrary to some other posters, I had better conditions on Sunday
morning, when I finally worked a couple EU's and a few AF's. I also had my best
runs on Sunday before the A-index went through the roof. Obviously, our best
propagation was trans-equatorial to South America, as could be seen by some of
their very high Q numbers. The South Americans were the only stations I was
hearing late in the afternoons. I did work a few JA's on both days, but nothing
close to last year's numbers, and nothing else in Asia. Congrats to ZL1V and
their huge signal from ZL6QH each day.
All in all, I think the ARRL 160M contest the weekend before, had better
propagation and quieter noise levels than during this year's ARRL 10M test,
especially from here in the Southwest. I also had a consistent line-noise
problem that plagued me through the contest, especially since I was beaming more
south than normal, and the weather was warmer than normal. Thanks for all the
Q's, and I also think that the Caribbean might be the place for operating the
10M contest during the next few years as solar cycle 23 wanes.
73 es happy holidays to all de Britt, NA5S
www.na5s.com
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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