ARRL DX Contest, CW
Call: VP5S
Operator(s): K0MD AC0W K0PC
Station: VP5S
Class: M/S HP
QTH: Providenciales, TCI
Operating Time (hrs): 48
Summary:
Band QSOs Mults
-------------------
160: 218 50
80: 686 58
40: 1095 60
20: 1220 59
15: 1166 59
10: 899 58
-------------------
Total: 5284 344 Total Score = 5,451,024
Club: Minnesota Wireless Assn
Comments:
Station: VP5S
Operators: K0MD, K0PC, AC0W
Equipment: Icom 7600, Acom 1010
Antennas: Force 12 XR-5, 240 Delta, Dipole for 80, Dipole for 160
Conditions were good, so good in fact that the Europeans called us along with
the North American stations.
160 - Quiet this year, not as good as 2014 for some US multi
80 - Exceptionally good, but noisier than 160
40 - Loud and crazy
20/15 - Great conditions but 15 closed earlier than expected
10 - Better Saturday than Sunday
We were one op down this year due to K4IU's work issues. We had a great time
and Jody was a great hostess as always.
Lots of new US operators this year - glad to see new ops joining this contest!
The pile-ups were intense, at times it sounded like a RTTY contest as opposed
to a CW contest from this end. We tried every tactic - turning the RF Gain
down, narrowing the BP filters, using the RIT. We appreciate the patience of
all who waited to work us.
Sunday, QSB was intense on 40-15. Signals would fade and then become strong. It
was as if someone had a "band open, band closed" switch that was being
turned from open to closed.
20 and 40 were the money bands - likely an indication of where the sunspot
cycle was heading.
We typically worked K3LR as one of the few four QSO's anytime we moved to a new
band. Congratulations to their team for finding us so quickly.
Lots of people asked about the weather - perfect for contesting - rainy, cool,
windy so no distractions from the Beach or outside activities.
Our team encountered a few airline snafu's - becoming more the norm for US
these days but we had a great time.
We brought a remote antenna switch and moved our manual amp to the table with
the rig - this saved us time during the contest.
We still worked more dupes than we wanted - at one time, someone had spotted us
as VP5SA. We quickly qsyed to clear up that mess. I would appreciate hearing
from anyone who duped us as to what we can do to minimize them.
I wonder if the ARRL should promote some educational activities about the
contest in Europe? I have wondered if some European hams think the TCI are an
American multiplier for as often as they called during the contest. TCI is
actually a British territory or former British territory, with a picture of HRH
in the airport and drivers who use the "opposite" side of the road
from most of Europe and North America. For anyone wondering, we are DX for this
contest.
We had to do antenna repairs before the contest and thankfully K0PC and AC0W
repaired the 80 meter CW dipole two hours before contest time.
We also appreciate all of the MWA members who worked us during the contest.
See you from VP5 in 2016 hopefully with the same strong signal and better
rates/pile-up tactics.
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