ARRL DX Contest, SSB - 2023
Call: ZM4T
Operator(s): ZL3IO
Station: ZM4T
Class: SOUAB HP
QTH: Kiwi-DX-Lodge
Operating Time (hrs): ~36
Summary:
Band QSOs Mults
-------------------
160: 1 1
80: 16 13
40: 641 55
20: 964 58
15: 873 57
10: 1352 58
-------------------
Total: 3847 242 Total Score = 2,784,210
Club: Bavarian Contest Club
Comments:
The ARRL DX contests are one of my favorites. You're great operators in NA and
offer the best rates in any contest. From New Zealand there is always one (often
more) band open to NA at any time. The first 6-7 hours I was running a constant
rate of 200 Q's/hr.
Conditions on the high bands were great even so the MUF down here never ever
reached 28 MHz and consequently, propagation on 10 m was a bit On/Off. I often
had to deal with deep QSB making it difficult to finish a QSO. I'm sorry if I
lost you in the middle...
There were long periods without any signals and all I could hear were my
Australians companions in VK4 running pile ups but no trace at my end of the NA
stations. Minutes later the band would explode and I could join the party for a
some time.
The big disappointment from here were 160/80 m. The bands were very noisy and
virtually no signals from NA could be heard which destroyed all hopes for
improving the ZL record. On 80 I could hear AS/SA/EU but there was no NA. On 160
m K3LR was the only contest signal ever heard and luckily worked, making this
the only 6 band QSO.
When the CW part was on we were us just digging out of the mud from Cyclone
Gabrielle and the massive destruction it brought to our region. Since then we
had a more extreme rain and another entertaining storm this contest weekend. In
the result there were repetitive power cuts during the night to Sunday and I
decided to shut down until the worst was over. This way I got much more sleep
than planned but my body said "Thanks".
I like the new self-spotting rule. When starting to CQ on a new band I did spot
myself and got noticed immediately. Since New Zealand is a bit "off the
track" of your main antenna directions in a contest it would take 10-15
minutes in the past to get discovered and "hopefully" spotted. Only
once spotted you get a pile up! After my initial "Here I Am " spot
you guys would do the rest as usual.
I had a great time and enjoyed the contest. And, as a bonus I wont be tired
tomorrow when enter the working class again.
73 and see you in the WPX SSB
Holger, ZL3IO / ZM4T
FLEX-6600M + RF kit (1 kW)
160 m: dipole
80 m: 4 square
40 m: 2L yagi
20 m: 3 over 3
15 m: 3 over 3
10 m: 4 over 4
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/
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