CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest
Call: VA7ST
Operator(s): VA7ST
Station: VA7ST
Class: SOAB LP
QTH: BC
Operating Time (hrs): 25.5
Summary:
Band QSOs
------------
80: 53
40: 174
20: 319
15: 350
10: 145
------------
Total: 1041 Prefixes = 466 Total Score = 1,308,994
Club: Orca DX and Contest Club
Comments:
* N1MM Logger + MMTTY
* FT2000 | FT920 second radio
* 3-ele. Steppir @ 27'
* 18AVT/WB all-band vertical for 2nd radio
* 40M Steppir dipole 27'
* 40M 2-element full-size quad in trees
* 80M twin elevated verticals (E or W)
2013 -- SFI = 108 | A = 3 | K = 1
2012 -- SFI = 110 | A = 3 | K = 1
2011 -- SFI = 96 | A = 2 | K = 1
2010 -- SFI = 94 | A = 3 | K = 2
2009 -- SFI = 70 | A = 4 > 18 > 10 | K = 1 > 4 > 2
Band QSOs Pts WPX
3.5 53 206 24
7 174 710 73
14 319 801 194
21 350 786 144
28 145 306 31
Total 1041 2809 466
Score: 1,308,994
Conditions seemed above average, but less than great. 10M produced domestic Qs
aplenty, but not like 15M and 20M did. No DX openings other than South America,
which provide few Qs.
The 20M EU opening on Sunday morning lasted a long time, but wasn't as solid as
I had hoped for.
Up on 15M the opening was much shorter but deeper -- one of those mornings with
loud, crystal-clear signals until the bottom dropped out.
Had a really great surprise 20M mult from LA7JO at 2300z on my little vertical,
when nobody else was calling in. The vertical wasn't getting out too well, but
the low noise floor made everything stand out if it made it down the coax.
Low bands disappointed -- 80M was empty all night (as expected with the long
off-times driving sleep breaks). 40M was all right but not a DX band from out
west with just a low dipole and an even lower quad.
Took four breaks of 1.5 to 2.5 hours or so, and two long sleep breaks of 6 and
7.5 hours each. Ended up with 25.5 hours in the chair. I don't think I missed
any good hours.
Surprised at how useful the all-band vertical was for holding a second band
while the yagi or wire arrays were on the primary bands. Mostly dueling CQs,
with occasional forays up or down the bands looking for prefixes that weren't
roaming.
Truly amazing to work dozens of stations in an area, only to have someone from
the same region park inside an already narrow passband and start barking CQs in
my face. Some guys are all watts and not much else. Fortunately, plenty of loud
callers usually elbow out anyone too close for comfort.
Not much for rate throughout the contest. Best hour was 67, but there were LOTS
of hours over 50/hr and it is true: slow but steady really adds up. Average
hourly rate was 41 Qs.
Had a goal of beating last year, and perhaps pushing past all previous bests
including high-power years. Done. Felt great to break 1,000 contacts and 1M
points without the amp, and then to go beyond my 2007 HP totals. Credit the
second radio for producing 318 Qs and countless extra mults during time usually
wasted in previous years.
Thanks for all the contacts. This was one to remember.
-- Bud VA7ST
Score history:
Year Qs WPX Score
-------------------------
2013 1041 466 1,308,994 25.5 hrs
2012 830 373 883,637 26.5 hrs
2011 836 322 806,610 27.5 hrs
2010 921 388 994,056 24.0 hrs
2009 846 335 907,180 27.5 hrs HP
2008 612 258 470,850 21.0 hrs HP
2007 972 420 1,154,160 28.5 hrs HP
2006 702 284 578,792 28.2 hrs
2005 584 264 422,664
2004 225 114 67,009
2003 344 149 147,212
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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