ARRL DX Contest, SSB
Call: N4KG
Operator(s): N4KG
Station: N4KG
Class: SOAB QRP
QTH: ALA
Operating Time (hrs): 33
Summary:
Band QSOs Mults
-------------------
160: 13 12
80: 37 30
40: 73 45
20: 174 71
15: 273 78
10: 84 36
-------------------
Total: 654 272 Total Score = 533,664
Club:
Comments:
ARRL DX CONTEST - SSB 2004 - N4KG SOAB QRP
QRP Phone can be a LOT of FUN when 10M is filled with Europeans spread out over
800 KHz all morning long. That didn't happen this year, forcing everyone into
250 KHz on 15M, 200 KHz on 20M, and 60 (or 80) KHz on 40M for DX with QRM and
Splatter the order of the day. In addition, we in the USA got to share 40M SSB
with the EU BC stations who also migrated to the lower frequencies at night. I
decided to give QRP Phone another go this year, just to ensure that whoever won
the plaque made a sincere effort and to exploit my Low Band Antennas.
10M Propagation suffered from a major drop in MUF. 9A1A was the only EU heard
(and worked) on Saturday. Sunday provided propagation to EA7RM, CT1DVV, CN2R,
EA8BH, 5U7JB and VK4UC in addition to lots of activity from NA and SA DX
stations.
15M was the 'Money Band' to EU but JA's seemed less plentiful than on CW.
20M was also good to EU most of the daylight hours with only 2 JA's worked.
40M is always difficult, having to overcome the BC interference in EU. This
year was the MOST difficult ever. Can you imagine not even getting a QRZ from
the BIG GUNS such as HB9AUS, HG1S, HG6N, LY4A, M4A, OM7M, RK4FF, or RW2F? Or an
exchange with G4BUO that went "KG? KG? Is that you N4KG?", followed by "Roger,
Roger, Roger, Roger", and then, "You must be QRP!". In spite of those missed
contacts, 45 multipliers were still logged.
80M was blessedly quiet with good propagation to EU (CT, F, G, GI, I), AF (CN,
CT3, EA8), NA (14 NA mults), and SA (FY, HC8, HK, P4, PJ, YV, 8R).
160M provided surprisingly easy contacts with most of the Caribbean DX stations
except PJ4G and TI8M who obviously had difficulty hearing the second and third
tier USA stations.
After only 4 hours sleep Thursday night, several NAPS helped get through the
weekend. Another hour was lost early Friday evening due to Severe Thunderstorms
and Lightning passing overhead. 'Chair time' was 33 hours.
Multi-band Contacts were noticeably impacted by the lack of 10 and 40M Europeans
with only 57 stations worked on 3 Bands or more. It was difficult to find
'fresh meat' after mid-morning on Sunday and Packet Pileups were especially
unpleasant. QRP on Phone is hard and frustrating for both the QRP operator and
especially the DX operator under marginal conditions. More power on the Low
Bands would be a lot more effective and enjoyable. Special THANKS to all the DX
stations for their patience and persistence in pulling my call and report out
from their noise floor.
6B - 7 Q's SA - FY5KE, P40L, PJ2T,
NA -TO5A (FM), WP2Z, WP3R, 8P1A
5B - 12 Q's EU - CT1DVV, AF - CN2R, EA8BH, SA - PJ4G
NA - KP2A, KP4KE, TI5A, TI8M, V26DX, VP5B, VQ5A, VP9/W6PH
4B - 7 Q's EU - F6DZU, SA - 8R1K,
NA - J88DR, TI2VW, V31MD, V47KP, 6Y8Z
3B - 31 Q's EU (20), AF - EA8ZS, 5U7JB, OC - KH7X,
NA - C6ANM, 8P6EX
SA - HC8L, HK3JJH, LU1NDC, LU6ETB, OA4SS, PX2A, 5K1X
2B - 63 QSO's (mostly EU)
1B - 306 QSO's
Other interesting DX on 20M (EA9, EX, JT,) and 15M (DU, EA9, FK, TU)
Radio: FT-990 reduced to 5 Watts Output
ANTENNAS:
160M NEW Tree supported Inverted L at 60 ft over 50 radials / wet land
80M Dipole between 130 ft towers favoring NE / SW (KILLER ant)
Wire vertical over same radial field as 160M Inv. L
Elevated GP
40M CC 2L40 at 95 ft (GREAT Little Ant)
Dipole SA / Carib (100 ft Center Fed w/ Ladderline + Matchbox)
20M Telrex 3L20 at 75 ft + TA32, TH3, TH7
15M CC 4L15 at 55 ft + TA32, TH3, TH7
10M HB 5L10 at 62 ft + TA32, TH3, TH7
TA32 at 60 ft fixed South
TH3 at 40 ft fixed SE
TH7 at 40 ft (THANKS to KY5R / KP4BZ for replacing bad Rotor/Cable )
de Tom N4KG / QRP in North Alabama
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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