Call Hrs Score QSOs Q Pts Zone DX
----- --- ------- ---- ----- ---- ---
VK1FF 37 846,450 1009 2850 94 203
Equipment
=========
- Antennas: 3 Element triband beam at 40'
dipoles for 40 and 80 also at 40'
- Transceiver: Kenwood TS-520SE
- Amplifier: Dentron Clipperton-L
- Key: Homebrew Accu Keyer (1979) with bencher paddles + computer
- Logging Pgm: N6TR v4.05
Comments
========
I didn't do as well this year despite the better band conditions on
15 and 20. Guess it was just one of "those" contests but I could
never get a good run going. Last year I had several hours of over
80 QSOs/hour - this year I had only one.
Murphy, of course, paid a visit which significantly affected on how
things turned out:
- the first problem was 10 over S9 QRN from a weather storm which basically
kept me off 40 and 80 both nights. I tried working stns on both bands
but just couldn't pick the calls out....even some of the big US stations.
So potentially lost out on 300-400 QSOs or more.
- The other problem was a transistor failure in the rig's receiver section
which occured the first night at 4am local (or 1700z). I have been
having intermitten problems for a while and suspected a bad transistor,
so had a replacement on hand. Took the rig apart, replaced the transistor,
and was back on the air after a couple hours.
Biggest disappointment: Hearing but not being able to work 5A2A and 5V7A.
Highlights:
- Friendly hellos from a number of friends who I seem to work contest
after contest - year after year.
- working the US on 20m long path. More than half don't expect to
hear VK's LP and genuinely act surprised to hear me coming through
- I had a terrible time making contacts on 10m but worked A61AJ on the
second call.
I'm returning to the US mid next year so this is was my last CQ WW
contest from VK1. Didn't set any records but had a good time.
Below is a brief summary of the 5 CQ WW CW contests I've operated from here
and you can clearly see the big hit I took this year on 40 and 80 compared
to last year.
160 80 40 20 15 10 Total Q's Tot Score
--- --- --- --- --- --- --------- ---------
1997 1 8 149 271 549 31 1027 846,450
1996 3 104 628 433 599 44 1811 1,865,958
1995 (40m) - - 618 - - - 618 213,226
1994 14 218 345 469 29 1075 774,750
1993 - - 298 12 351 - 661 359,464
==== === ==== ==== ==== === ====
4 126 1911 1061 1968 104 5192
Overall I'm happy with the results considering the modest/poor antenna
situation. It would have probably been easier to "get by" with this
antenna set up during the peak of the solar cycle instead of the bottom,
but things didn't work out that way.
Contesting from "down under" has certainly been an interesting and
enlightening experience. I've certainly enjoyed it and would
particularly like to thank the regulars who I've worked many times
on 40m for the contacts over the last few years. I'll be around
again next year - hopefully from a M/M or M/S in the Washington DC area.
73, Jim VK1FF/WB2FFY
Internet Email: VK1FF@contesting.com
Amateur Radio Packet: VK1FF@VK1KCM.ACT.AUS.OC
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/3830faq.html
Submissions: 3830@contesting.com
Administrative requests: 3830-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-3830@contesting.com
|