ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB - 2021
Call: K3KU
Operator(s): K3KU
Station: K3KU
Class: Single Op LP
QTH: MD
Operating Time (hrs): 17:43
Summary:
Band QSOs
------------
160:
80: 381
40: 89
20: 39
15: 17
10:
------------
Total: 526 Sections = 78 Total Score = 82,056
Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club
Comments:
I knew that 100W on SSB was going to be tougher than on CW, and I knew that the
supposed-to-be-useful high bands would be tougher with an "all band"
dipole. And I knew that I had not asked family to indulge me for a full-time
effort. But I was surprised by events at the start of the contest.
After SS CW, VE4EA (with help from W1VE) had talked me thru setting up a K3-0
and a remoting.com box and software so I could do remote operations. (Look for
me remote in Winnipeg. Some day. I hope.) Before SS SSB, I restored the N1MM+
Configuration settings to what I had noted they were for my TS-850. I recorded
my messages for SS, checked things out, and thought I was ready to go.
Starting at 2340Z Saturday night, I checked 20M for western multipliers (like I
always do). That had paid off in SS Cw, but now I got only MDC, ND7K in AZ, and
SK. Band not so good.
During those three QSOs I noticed that, while N1MM+ was controlling the radio
OK, it was not reading the radio's frequency. Maybe it didn't matter, but it
indicated that something was wrong, so I decided to try to fix it. Playing with
config settings didn't work. I called Cary. He guided some telephonic and Zoom
troubleshooting that didn't work. He left a voice mail for W1VE; I posted a cry
for help on the N1MM discussion board; and, after 70 minutes off I was QRV,
trying 40M at 01Z.
Ugh! STX and VE4GV (Yay!). On to 80M.
I turned the knob and did a few S&P until I found a freq that seemed
not-too-occupied, and started running.
Absolutely amazing. Because all the QSOs got logged as 3650.00, I can't be sure
when the run actually started, but it was well over 100 QSOs at about 84/hr.
I had another nice run on 80M around 0330Z, but, again, I can't be sure where I
switched between run and S&P. SDak did call in during that run; other than
it being nice DX for me on75M, I didn't think much of it until I saw that I
worked only one other SD.
Some time 'round midnight VE3KI (I think) posted the answer to my logging
problem, and I got full freq in the log. There were a few other short runs on
80M (32 QSOs at 64/h4 about 00Z Sunday/Monday).
Low bands were pretty noisy. Running on 40M was poor. Openings on 20M or 15M
were much weaker than on CW; CQing there was only to attract a VY1/VE8 (Hah!)
Western QSOs were very hard on the high bands. Could not get through to SB, AK,
OK(!). Heard but did not have a shot at SF and SDG. Never heard NT.
I did get a fast QSO with KP2M on 15M. Phil commented that I was loud; he was
(really) the loudest signal on the band. It seems that in every contest I find
him on some band with a pipeline opening to my station.
Lots of tactical time-offs during the night. (Also lots of "house
tours".) Sunday afternoon had a grandchildren activity that took a couple
of hours. In the end I gave up with a half hour to go.
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/
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