ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, CW
Call: W1SJ
Operator(s): W1SJ
Station: W1SJ
Class: Single Op HP
QTH: VT
Operating Time (hrs): 24
Summary:
Band QSOs
------------
160:
80: 415
40: 334
20: 280
15: 1
10:
------------
Total: 1030 Sections = 80 Total Score = 164,800
Club: Radio Amateurs of Northern Vermont
Comments:
The basic plan was to just have fun. Only got in a hour of operating before I
had a wedding to go to Saturday night. So with 4 1/2 hours of time off in prime
time, I wasn't expecting much of a score. When I got back on, I had some very
good hours on 80 overnight, and the rates didn't drop all that much in the wee
hours. Usually I cash it in around 0900 as the rates get very soft and I get
tired. But, given the rates stayed up, so did I. By 1200, I realized that I
wasn't gonna get any sleep and decided to go for the 24 hour effort.
This wasn't such a great idea, as my copying, which had been effortless in the
early going, deterioted a lot. I slowed to 24 wpm, but this didn't help much as
many of the guys still came back to me at 35 wpm. Long time ago, I learned that
you are supposed to answer a call at the CQ'ers speed, but alas, courtesy takes
a back seat running the keyer speed up. At 35 wpm, I can copy with about 80%
accuracy, when I'm sharp. With all the CW QSO's I've been losing to the log
checker, I've decided that I not going to settle for poor accuracy. So, the
speed merchants were greeted with a ? or a QRS from me many times until they
cranked it down. This was most frustrating!
VY1EI called me on 20 meters. I think I'll send him flowers! The last section
was ND - a very hard one this time, since only KE0A was the only one on. First
sweep ever on SS CW!
This time out, I used a different computer since the hard drive in the 20 year
old 486 is falling apart, bit by bit! Alas, the new computer had issues with
keyboard RF pickup on 20m!
80 and 40 meters were in great shape, unlike last year. 20 meters was quite
punk. It produced good rates from 1400-1800 but was up and down after that.
Based on what I learned last year, I didn't hesitate to jump down to 40m to
keep the rate up.
After doing a 24 hour Iron man stint in this contest and getting quite dopey by
the end, I can't highly recommend this. But, I did have blast!
Mitch
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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