NAQP 2002
OP: WX4TM TOM AL
CLASS: SINGLE OP
OP TIME: 10 HRS
80M 35 19
40M 84 37
20M 109 37
15M 91 35
10M 40 20
TOTAL 359 148
CLAIMED SCORE 53,280
RADIO: YAESU FT990 (65 WATTS)
ANTS: HYGAIN TH5 BEAM, 40/80 DIPOLES AND 40/80 VERT.
SOAPBOX: WELL, AS EVERYONE EXPERIENCED, WE HAD
A HECK OF A PROP EVENT. HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE
'FAUCET' (QUICKLY OFF, LATER ON) EFFECT SINCE
MY YEARS IN ALASKA. I DID, HOWEVER, MANAGE TO
BARELY BETTER MY LAST YEAR'S SCORE (W4/KL7Q) BY A
FEW POINTS GETTING MORE MULTI'S BUT FEWER Q'S. JUST
AS I WAS FINISHING UP ON 20M, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING
TERRIBLE RF FEEDBACK FROM THE BEAM. IT GOT WORSE
TILL THE BEAM WOULD WORK ONLY WHEN IT WAS POINTED
JUST WEST OF NORTH AND EVEN THEN THERE WAS STILL
SOME MINOR FEEDBACK. IT WAS NOT PRESENT ON MY WIRES
OR VERT. THIS MORNING, I THINK I HAVE DETERMINED
THAT MY 25 YEAR OLD COAX NEEDS REPLACING! TO HELP
OVERCOME THE NOISE ON 40/80M, I USED THE VERTICAL
FOR RECEIVE WHILE TRANSMITTING ON THE DIPOLE. THANKS
TO ALL FOR WORKING ME AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO NCJ
FOR PUTTING ON, WHAT I THINK, IS REALLY ONE OF THE
MOST FUN CONTESTS OF THE YEAR.
73, TOM, WX4TM
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