ARRLDXSSB Score Summary Sheet
Start Date : 2016-03-04
CallSign Used : K5FUV
Operator(s) : K5FUV
Operator Category : SINGLE-OP
Band : ALL
Power : LOW
Mode : SSB
ARRL Section : AR
Band QSOs Cty
3.5 52 35
7 102 52
14 138 66
21 209 74
28 117 49
Total 618 276 = 511,704
Rig : Ft-1000MP
Antennas : 80m 1/4 wave, 30ft vert with tuner,
15m dipole @25 ft, 3 el 10m @ 10 ft.
This is the first all band SSB contest I've done since 1999. I've done some
single band efforts
in the last couple of years, but haven't had antennas that would load on all
bands until this year.
At age 70, I'm finding it harder to stay awake. Also, 30 over line noise and
fence buzz, somewhat puts
the damper on full enjoyment of my new 80 meter antenna. However, there were
enough loud European and JA
stations out there, and they thankfully could hear my 100 watts.
I was able to put together 100 Qs by midnight Friday in spite of 15 meters not
being real good here.
I spent more time on 40 and 80, with fairly good results. I normally don't go
to 20 at all the first night,
but especially now, since my vertical doesn't seem to play well at night, and
hearing station CQ in your face
isn't a lot of fun.
Saturday was reasonable, with 40 and 80 being in until about 1230Z. The rest of
the day was spent on 10 and 15,
very little time on 20. I was able to start working in 40 and and 80 around
2100Z, and those bands were
relatively good from here. I only wish I had bothered to whip up some kind of
low noise antenna befpore the contest.
Maybe next time.
Sunday morning didn't seem as good on the low bands, so I went to 15 earlier. I
was totally unable to start a run
on 15, so again it was search and pounce. I really need towers and antennas.
After operating for years at good multi
op stations in TX, CT, and AR, and having had no less that a 4L Quad in the
past, it's hard getting used to how
one has to operate with limited antennas. S&P gets old as a 100% operating
method.
While on 15, I heard CR2X say where their 10 meter station was camped, so I
went down there for a propagation check.
I could hear them, so I started scanning the band with the antenna to the east.
I was more than a little surprised
to find C91IJ calling CQ with no takers. I worked them, and they went back to
CQing. It seemed to be a few
more minutes before the band started coming in to EU, so I started working
them, going back and forth to 15,
but mostly 10. Propagation was really spotty. It was possible to hear someone
at 20 over on one pass, and 10
minutes later they were barely audible. Some of the KW stations were very
weak, yet OE6MBG at 5 watts was well
over S9. I was really enjoying 10 meters, right up until around noon when the
antenna (propped up on a sawhorse)
blew over. That ended 10 meters for the weekend, The rest of the weekend was
spent cleaning as much as possible,
but the last couple of hours seemed pretty bad propagation wise. The wind came
up here, and with it the band noise
Finally frustrated, I quit about 30 minutes early.
Even with all of this, this was the best score I've had from Arkansas, even
when I had the tall towers, stacks, and amp.
I think this says more about the state of contesting than my operating
abilities. There just seems to be a lot more
participation than there was 15 years again. I'm glad. I'll be back in the fall.
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