RSGB Commonwealth Contest, CW
Call: VE3FU
Operator(s): VE3FU
Station: VE3FU
Class: Open HP
QTH:
Operating Time (hrs): 24
Summary:
Band QSOs
------------
80: 2
40: 18
20: 266
15: 72
10: 116
------------
Total: 474 Total Score = 5,810
Club: Contest Club Ontario
Comments:
(plus 3 dupes)
Antennas: TH6 @ 72ft, EX14 @ 72ft, wire vertical dipole (40m), wire
vertical
(80m)
Rig: TS-950SD, TS-430 (TX broken. Used to listed for signals /
openings on
other bands)
Amp: TL-922 (tnx VO1AU / VE3AAQ)
Software: SDC v14.22
Biggest lesson learned this weekend? I need separate RX antennas for the low
bands!
I've been _slowly_ putting together a new station since changing QTH a few
years ago. The towers and tribanders went up last Fall. My plan was for a
couple of phased loops for 40m and to shunt feed the towers, one for 80m, and
one for 160m (not that I could use it during the BERU :=), but I ran out of
time before winter and it's extra-curricular activities hit.
About 6 weeks ago I had no antennas for 40m or 80m. Not wanting to miss out on
the BERU like I did last year, I put up a wire vertical dipole for 40m hanging
from one tower and a full sized wire vertical for 80m hanging from the other
tower. Other than when I connected them to check the SWR, this was really the
first chance I had to listen on them.
The noise on the low bands was surprising and not what I was expecting. This
is a relatively rural area with no large industry - just 1.5 acre residential
lots and farmers fields. I was hoping that the noise was related to the
conditions, so I called a local friend to see if he was hearing the same level
of noise. We tuned in the same station on 40m and I could hear the station
better over the telephone than I could hear myself.
As evident from my 40m and 80m QSO numbers compared to other VE3s, there were a
lot more stations to work. I think I was getting out OK - it was just the RX
part that was the problem. Sorry if I sounded like an alligator. Most of the
QSOs I made on those bands were just at the noise level. In most cases, I had
to send the received number back to the station calling to confirm that I had
it right. There were quite a few times I could tell some one was calling but I
just couldn't make them out. I won't be surprised if the difference between my
submitted score and my corrected score is much higher than usual :=)
Still one of my favourite contests. See you again next year - hopefully with
RX antennas for the low bands!
Thanks for all the Qs!
73,
Chris VE3FU
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
______________________________________________
3830 mailing list
3830@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/3830
|