NA Sprint SSB Contest - February
Call: WI9WI
Operator(s): WI9WI
Station: WI9WI
Class: Single Op HP
QTH: WI
Operating Time (hrs): 1
Summary:
Band QSOs Op Time
---------------------
80: 17
40: 12
20: 4
---------------------
Total: 33 Mults = 22 Total Score = 726
Club:
Team: SMC Snowbound
Comments:
Started with hopes of making maybe a hundred QSOs before punking out in this.
Very slow start, after 11 minutes I had all of 4 QSOs. I then called CQ and
tuned around for another 9 minutes. I heard maybe 3 stations I hadn't worked.
Weakly. Couldn't work any of them. I figure I called CQ maybe 100 times in that
first 20 minutes, and got exactly one answer. So I went upstairs, heated a
barbeque skewer on the stove and stuck it in my eye. That was a lot more fun
than he contest. I figured this would be a good time to feed the dogs and cat
and take a nap, so I did. About 0130 I got on 40 meters and worked a dozen
people in about 15 minutes. Then that dried up. Then I went and made a few
contacts in the RTTY contest and walked the dogs. Got on 80 about 0300 and
worked 17 QSOs in 30 minutes. Then that dried up. Went back to the RTTY contest
for a bit, then went to bed.
It's not like I have a real bad station. I did this one from home in Madison
with a K-3 and 500 watt amplifier. The antennas are a C-3S at 30 ft and a full
sized, albeit low (25 ft) 135 ft dipole for 40 and 80. I also have a small
terminated receiving loop.
Conditions seemed punky, and participation very low. It gets worse every time.
Fifteen or twenty years ago there were many scores with QSO totals in the high
300s. In fact my best score in any sprint ever was in the SSB sprint about 15
years ago. I think I had almost 50 mults which is huge for me. This contest was
fun then.
I have no idea what to do about this. Others have made many well thought out
suggestions...changing dates, recruiting, etc., etc. Frankly the only reason I
get on anymore is to give a few QSOs to those who are serious about it.
Otherwise it's not much fun, and I feel as if I'm wasting my time. I'd kind of
hate to see it die, but nature may have it's way.
I'll probably get on for the next one or two, but if it continues like this
those will probably be the last ones.
73 to all
Jim
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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