ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB
Call: W0MU
Operator(s): W0MU
Station: W0MU
Class: SO Unlimited HP
QTH: CO
Operating Time (hrs): 11.5
Radios: SO2R
Summary:
Band QSOs
------------
160: 0
80: 403
40: 441
20: 312
15: 0
10: 0
------------
Total: 1156 Sections = 80 Total Score = 184,960
Club: Grand Mesa Contesters of Colorado
Comments:
I was not planning on a real serious effort. I had not done much to the shack
to get ready for the contest. I was hoping to be at the Montana station but we
are going on vacation the 20th to Mexico over Thanksgiving so I decided I needed
to get some things done here before we left.
I sat down a few minutes before the start and found a frequency. It took a
while to get a decent rate as I had not really established it.
Wow what a wild and FUN! start to the contest. 20 closed early and I was very
reluctant to move to 40 so early but there was no choice. 40 was good to me
but went long fairly early. Moved to 75 much early than I can ever imagine. I
was thinking that there was no way the rate was going to hold until my planned
off time. Finished the first night with 1104 qso's and 79 sections. I did not
do any SO2R the first day/night. No need!
I started back up fairly early hoping for a nice 40 or 80 meter opening.
Hoping that the rate would be better than late Sunday. I Spent about 1/2 hour
working SO2R on 40 and 80 and was starting to get things going. VY2 called me
on 40m for the sweep so it was going to be a push for rate and new stations all
day Sunday or so I hoped.
My XYL walked into the shack, which is located next to the main house. It was
around 5am local which was odd. She informed me that her mother had just passed
away in the hospital. She was 81 and this was very unexpected. Obviously this
ended my effort in the contest.
I finished with 1156 and the sweep. I knew I was rocking big time as everyone
was commenting on my big number. K5TR was about 80 ahead in B class and at the
time I was up about 100 on K6LL. A couple of the Multi-ops had slightly bigger
numbers so I was psyched!
Some positives:
This is the first real effort I have put in with this station.
FT-2000 x 2 Microham MK2R+ SO2R controller
Alpha 99/Acom 1000
Cushcraft XM240 @85ft
SteppIR 4ele @72ft
Inv V for 80 @ 65 ft
DX Eng 4 sq rcv array that was working in a couple of directions.
I was able to find and hold frequencies and never moved. I almost felt like I
was in Montana. Some of the pileups were large. Maybe there were not many HP
Colorado stations on this year? There were a number of times where the rate
slowed and I contemplated band changes but chose to wait a bit longer and was
always rewarded with some nice rate. Getting older does bring along some
advantages!
Hourly rates:
QSOS
126 20m
127
113
142 40m
121
121
87 40/80/40
92 40/80
115 80m
75
27-24 minutes off at 0724
40 and 80 were continually changing. There were lulls in the runs and then the
bands would just come back. The 4sq rcv array was great on the lower angle
signals on 80. Moderately effective on 40 and not good at all (to be expected)
on the high angle close in stations on 80.
I really needed a few more antennas that I could point west or other
directions. I am planning in stacking another 4 ele SteppIR on the tower but
that will not happen until spring time. I had to turn the beam to the NW once
and worked the station I was having trouble with and then Alaska called in for
the next contact.
I thought that the 2000's played very well. Only once did I have someone come
in close and I finally got him to move. I know some people have reported that
this radio craters in heavy qrm, big signal band conditions. I can't say that
I have experienced that. I tend to rely on my ears and not all the fancy
features. the Auto notch worked fine. I was constantly adjusting the pre amp
as I utilized the rcv antennas. I need to work on a better solution for that.
I have a K3 ordered and I will be curious to see how the two rigs compare.
The MK2R+ worked great. I still need to spend a bunch of time in the saddle
with SO2R working out the receive audio and the transmit focus. I need to
figure out how to quickly put radio 1 or two into both my ears when weak
stations call and how to move back to split. I worked maybe about 10 to 20
SO2R contacts. Having a 2nd rig to listen to other bands is very handy.
All in all it was probably one of the best starts I can remember. Looks like
K6LL did a great job again. I wish he and the other big guns in Unlimited
could have duked it out till the end.
I hope to see you all in the 160 contest.
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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