I will be posting this one to the contest reflector also because I think
it does hold some worth to the contest community.
Started off SS on 15 as I do about every year. Found the band very long.
Could never really get a run going at all. Worked some 6's and 7's is
all.
So went to 20 meters, Yuck. Darn I hate that band, not as bad as 75 but
there is just no room to operate for a Low Power station. I did finally
find a freq above 14.300. The lucky thing about operating from NC in SS
is that I usually have the beam in the NW. Well lo and behold who calls
me but VY1JA. Glad to get that one out of the way. About 20 minutes later
a KL7 called. Nice to get those out of the way quick. Then about an hour
later a KH6 called. My eyes were really getting wide now. The freq was
getting harder and harder to hold so at 2300 I went to 75. Went by 40 and
it was a rat race. Thought I would come back later to it. Did find a freq
and started some running. About 0700 got a phone call I had to answer and
it took 20 minutes. Thought it would be a good time to grab a bite to eat.
After coming back from eating I found a quite freq. I know that is hard to
believe but I did. I started my run. For three hours I was over 100 q's
and only had on person complain. I was on 3.911 and some guy came down
and said I was messing a QSO up on 3.913. I explained that I had allowed
them the 1.5kc room which I always try to give. After that I receieved
several carriers and all. I am an EX Marine and a retired Firefighter
Paramedic. I am very hard headed and if you do that to me I will not move
if I never make another contact. So with the notch filter I was able to
keep my run going. I went ahead and worked till about 0700. Time for my
sleep period. Planned on getting up 4 1/4 hours later. With the eating
time earlier that would have gave me 5 hours off.
I have a couch in my shack for sleeping during contests. Laid down and
about 0900 woke up with this terrible pain. Being a paramedic I assessed
it as a kidney stone. Never had one in my life. I just laid there and
fought the pain till my wife got up. I told her to take me to ER. It was
a kidney stone and the doctor was going to give me some pain medicine. I
asked him not to make it to strong. I am sure everyone knows why.
So I came back home after loosing two hours of operating and set down to
go at it again. So before anyone says anything, Yes I was under the
influence of drugs and darn good ones to. I worked the rest of the contest
with pain pills and kidney stones.
I am well satisfied with my score considering everything. It really seems
that all the hard work on the new tower and antennas are paying off. I
was wanting to break 200K but maybe next year.
I do think that I should win the IronMan SS award this year. As I have
said before you have to dedicate yourself to a contest to make a big
score and that is the only way I do it. It will make for a good contest
story around the lounge at Dayton next year.
Thanks to everyone who called me and for your patience while I did my best
to hear you. Hurry back Sunspots so we can spread out in contests.
73 Jim
BTW It is Tuesday and still have the stone!!
**********************************************************
* Jimmy R. Floyd (Jim) Thomasville, NC *
* *
* Amateur Call: >> WA4ZXA << *
* Packet Node: >> N4ZC << *
* Internet Address: >> floydjr@interpath.com << *
**********************************************************
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