CQWW WPX Contest, SSB
Call: KQ2M
Operator(s): KQ2M
Station: KQ2M
Class: SOSB20 HP
QTH: CT
Operating Time (hrs): 32
Summary:
Band QSOs
------------
160:
80:
40:
20: 2719
15:
10:
------------
Total: 2719 Prefixes = 1097 Total Score = 7,457,406
Club: Frankford Radio Club
Comments:
**NEW US RECORD**
This is not really a "write-up" but an ongoing attempt to post my score quickly
after the contest and do the write-up later. :-)
Another truly amazing 20 meter operating experience in my favorite contest!
Primarily a daytime contest with brief openings to the Pacific and West Coast
around 01-02z. Even South America disappeared shortly after dark! A few brief
moments of JA run (but only 94 total!!) interspersed with the occasional BY, YB,
HS, VR2. I actually worked VK7ZE SHORTH-path for the first time. We both
laughed when I told him that. Sunday late afternoon was really tough with the
oncoming vicious T-storm & Tornados that had caused a lot of damage earlier in
NC and then PA. Static crashes built to S9+20 making most q's impossible,
especially those in Asia. Very sorry for appearing to be an alligator!
Fortunately the nasty lightning, marble-sized hail and high winds waited until
0030z (phew!)to come, giving me just enough time to finish the contest and
disconnect everything.
I made about 600 LESS EU q's this weekend than ARRLDXSSB even though cndx
seemed a touch better. When the K index climbed to 3, the runs went away; such
is life at the bottom of the cycle. Fortunately the amazing equinoctial
propagation blessed us with a lot of interesting dx. I can't remember the last
time I worked a JT on 20 or an HS in the morning AND the evening! Even worked 7
Chinese stations! Usually I only get one; if I am lucky.
Only worked 640 US and I tried REAL HARD to work them. Having only one
rotatable 20 certainly hurts when you need to keep it on EU or JA. I am sure
that I missed a lot of US/CA/SA prefixes off the side/back of the antenna.
Maybe next year. Sure glad I put up my "West" dipole on Wednesday. The
"South" dipole had worked so well, that I wanted to try a 2nd directional
antenna. 35' isn't a great height, but the nulls actually helped at times.
Since these dipoles are on separate feedlines from my 20 meter stack, I
developed a thick callous on the fingers of my left hand with the thousand+
manual "switches" that I made on the MFJ 6 pos switch switching between the
antennas. The setup is so "low-tech" that it is pretty laughable. I can just
imagine someone visiting my station and saying "You actually use THAT?" :-)
Kudos to my WRTC-partner and good friend Dan, W7WA, with his usual great
effort
Single Band on 20 from the EU-challenged West Coast, and to CN2R who was giving
out a high 4900+ number before the end. WOW!
Check out the VE8EV blog if you like reading interesting and insightful contest
stories. I read John's blog after every contest and I finally had the pleasure
of a contest qso with him. His efforts to get on and give us q's truly are
heroic!
Finally, operating SSB is TOUGH! I was reminded once again why I love CW so
much. Less bandwidth/splatter/intermod, easier to copy signals, more Eastern
EU/Russian activity and a lot less wear and tear on my ears!
I look forward using the "new 40" in the future. It used to be said that 40
SSB was the toughest, nastiest most unpleasant sub-band to operate contests on,
now that "honor" has moved to 20 SSB.
Thanks for all the q's and the mults and cu in WPXCW!
73
Bob KQ2M
kq2m@earthlink.net
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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