CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW
Call: N5FO
Operator(s): N5FO
Station: N5FO
Class: SOAB HP
QTH: Tyrone, NM
Operating Time (hrs): 41
Radios: SO2R
Summary:
Band QSOs Zones Countries
------------------------------
160: 21 9 12
80: 100 20 37
40: 916 29 65
20: 451 31 81
15: 368 28 59
10: 31 9 19
------------------------------
Total: 1887 126 273 Total Score = 1,938,342
Club: Arizona Outlaws Contest Club
Comments:
I was on the fence about this one due to the poor conditions, but Steve, N2IC,
talked me into doing an AB HP since I had worked hard last year to get
everything ready for SO2R with linears this year. Yes, I now have a nice, new
Expert 1.3K on the second radio!
Things opened slow, and basically stayed that way thru the entire contest here.
Friday night: At 0100 I was hearing a few EU's on 40, but no success at all
trying to run. 0115, the left mouse button stuck, which plagued me for about
20mins(where's the spare!). First JA's started at 0640, but they were the
weakest I've ever heard, S1-3 and pretty much remained weak in general for the
entire contest. Running 40, 0900, the fast "woodpecker" (motorboat)
appeared and was a nuisance. At 1015, I learned that I can't run 80 and S&P
40. My 4-sq vertical dip[ole array sitting under the 40yagi blocks the entire CW
band!
Saturday: The JA run was steady, but never had the big pileups like in
2014(SOSB40 HP). I don't recall more than 3-4 stations calling at once - easy
on the ears, but not good for the numbers. Otherwise a slow day interspersed
with a few nice S&P's. By Sat evening I was pretty tired & bored so
slept from 0100 to 0530. At 0600 I realized I was running the low end of 40
with no competition, due to the slow conditions, but the JA's started coming in
steady again. At 0820 I noticed a quick buildup of static electricity
"roar" in the phones, a quick check it was +10 on 40, S7 on 80 and S5
on 160 with rain & sleet outside. By 0835 most everything was buried by the
noise for the next 2-3 hours, but at 1200 I moved up the band to run and was
surprised when XW0YO came booming in. Then RK4FL surprise LP, very strong!
Sunday: Very weak morning 40 JA run , where'd everybody go? Tried running 20 on
& off from 1400 though 1600 - gee, is my receiver broken? Spent the day
alternating running & S&P between 20 & 15, checking 10 every 30mins
or so, with better success on 15. My Mother's old saying of "picking the
bones dry" came to mind throughout the day. Only running success was a
late weak JA run on 15. The few "goodies" in the last hours on 20 had
the largest pileups I've ever heard, busting them was "rough".
In summary, the JA runs were weak, but steady when open. I would say I never
had a EU run on any band in spite of trying at all the "right times".
Got some good SO2R practice, using the 2nd radio constantly for the entire
contest. I never felt overwhelmed, and took "casual" short breaks
throughout the slow hours to keep myself going.
Thanks to everyone for working hard & being patient through these poor
conditions. Many times getting your callsigns was a challenge.
Also, the late hours 20M DX run stations for putting up with the madness.
Thanks to VY1AAA for immediately recognizing my call through the huge pileup!
A special thanks to Dave, K6LL for sharing his "contest checklist"
with me a couple years ago, I would have never made this one through without
the coffee warmer and the chocolate!
How many years is the sunspot low thing supposed to last? Can we shoot a rocket
up to the sun and stir things up again!
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