North American QSO Party, CW - August
Call: K7IA
Operator(s): K7IA
Station: K7IA
Class: Single Op LP
QTH: SW N. Mexico
Operating Time (hrs): 9
Summary:
Band QSOs Mults
-------------------
160: 4 3
80: 68 29
40: 186 49
20: 271 49
15: 11 7
10:
-------------------
Total: 540 137 Total Score = 73,980
Club:
Team:
Comments:
Summer Monsoon season in Southwestern New Mexico is a bit different this year.
It started about three weeks late ("on time" start day is 4th July), and it's
still in full strength, at least as far as electrical displays go. Thus, while
the WX man is predicting 20-30% probablility of precipitation, we tend to get
only thick clouds and a fair amount of nearby lightning and little, if any
moisture. Not good for a) the veggie garden, b) off grid solar electric
generation, and c) contesting. I lost three hours to the nearby lightning
threats, and I wouldn't have chosen any of those time intervals! I see that
N2IC, 10.3 miles crowflight away, lost four hours; but he's on a hilltop, and
I'm in a "protective" canyon...
10m was empty every time I checked. 15 was so sparse that in retrospect I
wonder why I checked 10, but I keep hoping for a CW Q with a KL7 on ten to
round out a 5BWAS (CW). Maybe in December?
20 is always the money band for me, but the conditions were very variable, in
line with the elevated prop. parameters. Although I wasn't particularly
looking, I heard no EUs as I was digging out the W1s.
40 & 80 meters were quite productive (for me) despite steady S9 QRN levels that
never let up (although they did periodically get worse). For the first time, I
ginned up and used a Call History file, using my past year's NAQP logs. Even
though some ops "change names" and operate from vacation spots, the CH file was
of great help when signal strength dipped belos the noise on 40/80. But when
the fill in boxes were empty, those lucky ops got a lot of practice sending
their names and states! Many thanks to all who endured my lack of ears!
I looked at several lightning event maps on the web, and with widespread
electrical activity shown, I wondered why my outgoing signal was so easily
copied while incoming signals were not. Thanks again guys!
It was all good fun despite falling short of last year's (best) score by 100
Qs. No equipment problems, N1MM logger worked flawlessly, perfect "curb
service" food, beverages and backup diesel generator starting/stopping--who
needs perfect weather, anyway?
73, dan
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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