ARRL DX Contest, SSB
Call: ND0C
Operator(s): ND0C
Station: ND0C
Class: SOAB QRP
QTH: Minnesota
Operating Time (hrs): 22:15
Summary:
Band QSOs Mults
-------------------
160: 0 0
80: 3 3
40: 8 8
20: 112 57
15: 164 65
10: 130 48
-------------------
Total: 417 181 Total Score = 226,431
Club: Minnesota Wireless Assn
Comments:
I knew before the start that I wasn't really going to go "full bore" in this
one. I had some commitments as well as spending time with my family, in fact I
didn't get on until 1 1/2 hours into the contest and missed over 3 hours
Saturday afternoon. So things were pretty laid back.
Conditions seemed to be pretty mediocre Friday night and Saturday. In fact 40
and 80 were pretty tough here both nights. I didn't hear much at all and
working anything was very difficult. A noisy band, poor propagation, and
running 5 watts to a dipole at modest height is not a formula for racking up a
lot of Qs and mults on 40 and 80!
Conditions on Sunday seemed quite a bit better on 20, 15 and 10. 10 even
provided some nice EU contacts - a pleasant surprise. And the N-S propagation
kept the LUs and PYs rolling in on 20, 15 and 10 all day.
This one was entirely S&P - I never felt confident in trying to run (and hold a
frequency). There were a few stretches when I felt loud, and even got some
unsolicited compliments on signal strength (and of course they didn't know I
was QRP). But much of the time there were quite a few repeats and comments
like "you're weak" or "you're really down in the noise". But on that note... I
am so grateful for the skill, persistence, and patience of the operators on the
other end. They do a phenomenal job of pulling my weak signal out of
incredible splatter. They do the real work!
The ND0C "super-station":
Yaesu FT-897D running 5 watts
Wilson SY-3 three element triband Yagi up 15 meters; inverted vee (fed with
ladder line) with apex at 14 meters
N3FJP logging program and Heil microphone/headset
Thanks and 73,
Randy, ND0C
"You don't have to be crazy to contest with QRP ... but it helps."
"A man has to know his limitations" (Dirty Harry)
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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