CQ 160-Meter Contest, CW
Call: K7FA
Operator(s): K7FA
Station: K7FA
Class: Single Op HP
QTH: AZ
Operating Time (hrs): 28
Summary:
Total: QSOs = 700 State/Prov = 57 Countries = 14 Total Score = 123,185
Club: Arizona Outlaws Contest Club
Comments:
Go Outlaws !
Rig : K3, AL-800H
Sfw: N1MM-Logger Ver. 9.12.9
Antenna : Inverted Vee with apex at 130-Ft. AGL
Started late due to work. Soon discovered that Mr. Murphy had begun his work
early (VSWR 2:1). Recent rain must have added water to balun or feedline. No
second antenna choice available, so Run begun on 1846 with hands on the
keyboard and eyes on the AMP (to watch if it would sizzle).
During the next several minutes I watched the AMP, while the first several
contacts were made (including about 20 fellow Arizona Outlaws Contest Members).
What a warm welcome, and a nice reward for starting late! Because my QTH is
distant from most AOCC Members (Phoenix area), I seldom even hear more than two
or three other AOCC members during a contest.
First night, conditions on 160 were amazing! Although from this QTH a couple
years ago, openings to Oceania were better in January. QRN was very low, and
local sources of noise behaved (except for an hour, commencing at 0605Z). It
was great to receive calls from Central America, Caribbean, Europe, and few
between. What must EF8M have for antennas? A nearby mountain range impairs
signals to my east on most HF bands (so European contacts are a treasure), but
the mountain appears to have less affect on 160-m propagation. About 12:40Z,
openings to Japan and Russia appeared simultaneously (maybe a polar route?),
and lasted intermittently until daybreak.
Second night (my full-time all-nighter) was much less spectacular, especially
considering that more than half my Qs were made during that period (despite
taking 3-hours off for sleep during that first night).
Did anyone notice the cozy conditions (crowded) as adjacent RUN stations
squeezed in? Fellow Outlaw, N7CW kept me close company for a while, but
unfortunately he was later replaced by K7NJ (a.k.a. Mr. Key Click). I find it
difficult to pull an all-nighter (my second night). I actually stayed on the
same frequency in the chair for more than 8-hours without a break (Was I really
having that much fun?). Sorry if you heard AGN more than once. Sunday just
before daybreak, my rate jumped . . . and I had 4 in the queue when I heard
QRL?, followed shortly by TEST (within about 150 Hz). Very nice! I have been
here since before midnight (local) still waiting for a nice JA run, currently
have a few locals on the hook . . . but this guy is an alligator! (all mouth
and no ears).
What about the hot AMP? None the worse for wear: Over time, the antenna SWR
steadily improved and finished at a low of 1.3:1 at the conclusion of the
contest.
Thanks for all the Qs. See you next time.
73, Tom â?? K7FA
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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