ARRL DX Contest, CW
Call: VE6CNU
Operator(s): VE6CNU
Station: VE6CNU
Class: SOAB HP
QTH: Calgary
Operating Time (hrs): 23
Summary:
Band QSOs Mults
-------------------
160:
80: 24 12
40: 86 39
20: 401 82
15: 41 16
10:
-------------------
Total: 552 149 Total Score = 246,744
Club: ALBERTA CLIPPERS
Comments:
Conditions were a whole lot better than last year, and running a small amp
helped things a lot too! This was my first ARRL DX CW contest running HP,
although most of the time I ran my FL-7000 in the reduced power mode to avoid
having the noisy fan come on. My score went from last year (LP) around 92,000
to about two and half times that - so I'm headed in the right direction. I was
also able to put more hours in the chair, and usually that meant QSOs.
Friday evening allowed for a bit of 20m before moving to 40m. I was quite
surprised at all the loud European stations on 40m, which I haven't been
hearing for a LONG time. With constant S7 noise on 40m and 80m, it made life a
challenge and the noise filtering on the old MP isn't quite what I would like.
Still, I was able to work most of what I heard - which also could be improved.
My 40m inverted vee is ok, but it refused to tune up on 80m (Alpha Delta loading
coils don't seem to work). So I was limited to my Butternut HF9V for 80m. I
don't have 160m working right now, but I doubt I would have made many DX
contacts from here anyway. Friday night 80m was actually not bad, but still
had to fight a lot of noise and wasn't able to stay up late.
Saturday morning, I should have started earlier but I slept in (until 8AM
local) and missed some good DX to Europe and Caribbean. Europe was better than
I've heard for a couple years, so I'm hopeful we're climbing out of Cycle 23.
15m opened up a bit from time to time in the late morning and early afternoon,
but 10m was dead for the whole contest.
Sunday was pretty much a repeat of Saturday. Unfortunately, I never heard much
Africa (no ZS), although I did work Zimbabwe for the first time. Asia was
pretty much absent except for JA, although I did work YB on 40m early Sunday
morning. I was glad to see a lot of JA stations on 40m Sunday morning.
Its amazing how much better I feel after this year's contest than last year's.
I didn't have to struggle nearly as hard - although the last hour on 40m was a
real grind.
Thanks to all who pulled me through on 40/80 as I know it wasn't easy at
times.
73 and CU in the next one.
Jerry, VE6CNU
Rig: FT-1000MP
Amp: FL-7000 (about 400W)
Ant: TH6-DXX for 10/15/20, INV VEE 40m, HF9V Vert for 80m
Software: N1MM
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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