CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB
Call: VP2MDG
Operator(s): K2DM N0SMX
Station: VP2MDG
Class: M/S HP
QTH: VP2M
Operating Time (hrs): 44
Summary:
Band QSOs Zones Countries
------------------------------
160: 204 10 23
80: 366 16 56
40: 331 16 54
20: 1267 26 84
15: 1694 29 95
10: 533 11 21
------------------------------
Total: 4395 108 333 Total Score = 4,656,519
Club: Florida Contest Group
Comments:
This year I was accompanied by a friend and fellow resident of The Villages,
Dennis, N0SMX. Dennis has always wanted to be on the DX side of a pileup, and
I am getting to where putting in a full single-op effort is a little much, so
this was a perfect win-win for us. In addition to the contest, we wanted to be
the first ops to give out Montserrat on FT8.
After a LONG day of traveling (3AM to 6PM) we arrived at Gingerbread Hill guest
house on Montserrat. We immediately hung a 40M dipole (in the dark) so that I
could work a few friends in the late evening CWT, and so we could get going on
FT8. We made hundreds of contacts on FT8 using Dennis' call, VP2MMX. Needless
to say, he was VERY popular.
But our primary purpose was the DX contest, so we started erecting the antennas
at sunrise on Thursday. We got everything ready by Thursday afternoon in time
for me to get a huge ham radio thrill. My fiancé, Karen, had JUST received
her Technician Class license as KN4GQP, and we were able to make a contact on
10M. We made another contact during the contest, and of course I worked the
three ZMs, Jeff, Peter and Patrick. Not to be outdone, Dennis made contacts
with his wife, Sharon, with his Uncle Dan and with his father. What a hoot!
Speaking of the contest, we had a great time. Everything worked fine all
weekend except for an intermittent high SWR on the 40M yagi that appeared
Saturday morning. Every time we thought it resolved itself, it came right
back. I put the aforementioned 40M dipole back up mid-day Sunday to use on
Sunday evening.
Some of our runs were fantastic. When 10M opened to the USA Sunday afternoon
it was spectacular for a few hours. We had contact totals that were near
records for the station on 160M and 80M. Yes, our multiplier totals are low,
but we didn't set up to really chase multipliers. I worked a handful on the
mult station, but that was about it. Dennis had some fine runs and would have
stayed in the chair for hours if I hadn't booted him out so that I could do
some operating. All in all it was a very satisfying contest effort for us. I
am certain that we have a lock on winning Montserrat. And it was special to
have so many old and new friends call us during the contest. The Villages is
NOT a hotbed of contesters, but we made contacts with a handful of neighbors
who made the effort to get on and look for us. Thanks to you all!
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/
______________________________________________
3830 mailing list
3830@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/3830
|