Yes, I know, I know, I know, that the Centennial QSO party wasn't
categorized as a contest, but, with the pileups I faced most any time I
decided to get on and call CQ CENT (CW) or CQ Centennial (phone) one
might, just might, with some stretch, believe that some folks made it
into a contest. So, if a few "picky" contest types on this reflector
wish to complain about this submission, I say, "OK, it's a free country,
you have a right to complain." Without further comment, my submission
is as follows:
======================================
Put in a bit of time on the Red Badge Day, Centennial QSO Party yesterday
Centennial QSO Party Summary Sheet
Final Red Badge Day
Start Date : 2014-12-31
CallSign Used : N8XX
Operator(s) : N8XX
Operator Category : SINGLE-OP-ASSISTED
Band : ALL
Power : LOW
Default Exchange : PSM
Gridsquare : EN73fd
Name : HANK GREEB
ARRL Section : OH
Position: Past Section Manager
Band Mode
3.5 CW 36
3.5 LSB 57
7 CW 61
7 LSB 49
10 CW 37
14 CW 37
14 USB 60
18 CW 26
18 USB 38
21 CW 44
21 USB 4
24 CW 7
24 USB 26
28 CW 32
Total Both 514
Had some time, so got on the "Red Badge Day" to give out some points.
Have been amazed what 30 to 70 watts to a wire antenna can stir up once
I was spotted on the DX Clusters. Pileups 6 or more deep, sometimes I
went split, but not today, because of proximity of others doing the same
thing.
Analysis of the log says average rate was 100+ Q's per hour, max was 149
Q's/hr for 40 minute period. (pileups usually subsided after 20 to 30
minutes or less). Amazing to me, an olde fogey with antiquated
equipment and a wire antenna at 28' maximum height. I sometimes wonder
what I'd do on an island in the Carribean where I'd be the only
contestant, and thus being sought after by the hordes. Maybe I'd make
a "reasonable" effort at the to 10%?
Only had 4.6 hours to devote, but managed to hit all bands between 3.5
and 28 MHz. Conditions were fair to middlin, except for 12 meters CW
and 15 meters Phone.
Don't have a final tabulation of score, because some of the above were
dupes from earlier sessions of Centennial operations (folks don't keep
track of dupes, and it's easier to work dupes than to explain the rules
of the game. :)
The centennial sure stirred up activity - I made some 5600+ Q's in this
year's Centennial QP, most starting after the September "Red Badge
Day." With only 50 to 60% of the actual Q's counting toward my score
(other contestants NOT members of ARRL, so they don't give the member
any points), I probably made over 10,000 Q's this year.
None of us will be around for the bicentennial, so this was indeed a
once in a lifetime event.
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