ARRL DX Contest, SSB
Call: KQ2M
Operator(s): KQ2M
Station: KQ2M
Class: SOAB HP
QTH: CT
Operating Time (hrs): 15.0
Radios: SO2R
Summary:
Band QSOs Mults
-------------------
160: 1 1
80: 89 41
40: 65 40
20: 877 94
15: 555 91
10: 57 22
-------------------
Total: 1644 289 Total Score = 1,425,348
Club: Frankford Radio Club
Comments:
I knew before this contest that a full-time effort would be almost
impossible. At this time of year I routinely work 80-100 hours per week
and I was unable to perform the necessary antenna maintenance after the
15+ winter storms that we had. I also had the pleasant events
to look forward to of my 5 year old daughters first school play and my
sister-in-laws impending labor and delivery. I was also studying for my second
major professional exam in the past 4 weeks.
With all this going on, I approached the start of the contest differently and
with a lot less "hassle".
Cndx were great at the start and I had a most interesting mixed run of a few
JA's, Asians, South Americans and Africans. I knew that this would "be it"
since the punishing CME's and aurora were just hours away. 40 and 80 were
already being hurt so I didn't spend much time there and decided to get some
much needed sleep and "get them" the following night after the play.
I got up early and had my BEST HOUR EVER on 20 ssb - a 209 hour! followed by
three good hours mostly on 15 which qsb'd quite fast. I suspected a big flare
and went to 20 at about 1440z which was not very good either. I took a break
and then got back on a "rocking" 15 at 18z and then 20 at 19z and took more off
time at 1930z. I should have stayed with 15 as earlier as it often dies and
domes back in several cycles before finally dying. Although 20 was decent at
2030z, I needed to get my daughter ready for her play and then go with her and
my wife. The play was fun and when I got home I expected to spend some serious
low-band time ont he radio. WRONG! 40 and 80 were horribly noisy and
essentially useless, and off went the radio. I apparently missed an Excellent
opening on 160 at about 04z as well as decent 40 and 80 runs in the 05-07z
hrs.
Those are the rewards of "staying with it", those unexpceted breaks in the qrn,
which combined with a decent band opening, make the operating fun and the mults
pileup!
The next morning, 20 was awful until 13z with 15 not opening. I couldn't
sustain any meaningful rates after that in the "hand-to-hand combat" that is the
20 meter band in an SSB contest at the low part of the cycle. I don't mind
low-cycle conditions as much as I mind the constant high level of aurora
combined with flares, a Coronal Hole and a variety of other nasty "Space
Weather" phenomena that can make operating an unpleasant experience. And, the
further North you are, the nastier the effects.
It was interesting to notice that at times I felt loud on 20 and ran well, and
at other times, I just "sucked wind", calling cq endlessly with only an
occasional reply in-between the would-be frequency stealers and serial
splatterers. My 20 meter signal was often "at-the-margin", sometimes I would
have a good 5-10 minute run and then nothing for a while. If you were loud
enough to be above the qrn/qrm threshhold then all the other DX stations noticed
you and called you, and when you were just below the "threshhold", you were
unnoticed and ignored. If you look at the amazing K3LR 20 meter total, you will
clearly see how important it is to be "above-the-threshhold" as they made almost
800 more q's than anyone else on 20!!!
For those who would ask, yes I tune CONSTANTLY with the 2nd radio, but when only
one band is open, the 2nd radio doesn't allow you to put many q's in the log.
I used the miserable cndx to do so real work and then operated for a few more
hours at 18-20z, concentraing on the 10 M South American and Caribbean
stations.
I spent the last hour on 40 and 80 where I was able to briefly run some
stations.
I finished with 1644 x 289 which I felt quite pleased with for 15 hours
operating under very poor cndx. The mults were a lot lower than I would have
liked, mostly as a result of only about 2 hours of low-band operating.
It is hard to tell what I could have done with a full-time effort under these
conditions, but given the unique combination of events this particular weekend,
it was not an option.
I had one humourous situation on Sunday. A jammer/qrmer apparently singled me
out for special attention. Rather than acknowledge his presence (which would
only enourage him), I decided to test his operating skill! I cq'ed and then
listened split "CQ contest, listening my freq. and up 1", and let the stations
call where they wanted. I ran this way for about 30 minutes, after which the
jammer got SO frustrated because he didn't know on what freq. to qrm me, that he
finally left in disgust. I think some of the EU stations enjoyed this little
game too, because they often called me on the freq. that he WASN'T qrming me on.
Overall it was fun and interesting, and something different.
It was a tough contest to operate, but that's what separates the serious ops
from everyone else. My congratulations to K4ZW, W9RE, W2RE, VY2ZM and the 20
meter team at K3LR for great efforts. There are many more people who deserve a
hearty "pat on the back" for operating the full weekend, but I just can't
remember them all.
Epilogue: My sister-in-law gave birth to a healty baby boy named Michael on
Monday after the contest!
Thanks to everyone for all the q's!
73
Bob KQ2M
kq2m@earthlink.net
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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