ARRL 160-Meter Contest
Call: K5WA
Operator(s): K5WA
Station: K5WA
Class: Single Op HP
QTH: STX
Operating Time (hrs): 7
Summary:
Total: QSOs = 396 Sections = 67 Countries = 13 Total Score = 67,440
Club: Central Texas DX and Contest Club
Comments:
I am building a new station this year and had not spent much time on my 160
antenna, so this contest was really an extended antenna test that I was simply
going to play with on Friday night. The shunt fed tower that I thought worked,
was a real dud. On Friday night, I sat and listened to K5NA calling CQ and was
fairly pleased that I could hear the stations that called him until a G, an F
and a DL called in and I heard squat! I also noticed that he was maintaining a
great rate and when I called CQ, it was a pretty mediocre response. I was NOT
loud. I went to bed around 2 AM in total disgust with my setup.
On Saturday, I decided to build a 1/4 wave vertical with an elevated radial
(just one so far) at 15'. I had a number of other projects to complete that
day, but I got the vertical up and it was resonant about 1840...close enough.
I was only able to spend about 2 hours Saturday night, but I had a great CQ
session. I realize I was fresh meat, but I was running about 100/hr and the 10
minute counter even flipped over 200 for a spell. What really blew me away was
to get calls from G3LET, G4OBK, F6CWN and DL0MDR in short order. This was
7-8PM local and I have never had an antenna that got that kind of results early
in the evening; I usually have to wait until EU sunrise. I then went to the DX
Window to see if I could break a pileup and I got ON4UN, PJ2DX, 5K0T and P43JB
on the first call. That was a HUGE change from the previous night and I knew I
was on the right track. The Europeans were louder than many of the stateside
guys.
Even though I only had a few hours to play contest this weekend, I finally feel
like I've gotten my 160 antenna figured out. We'll see if that holds up during
CQ 160 when I'll be slogging it out as a competitor (OK, I'm in 5 land so I'll
only be a participant). Now, if I could only get my beverages working
better...
73,
Bob K5WA
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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