Stew Perry Topband Challenge - Spring
Call: K1WHS
Operator(s): K1WHS
Station: K1WHS
Class: Single Op QRP
QTH: FN43mj
Operating Time (hrs): 2.25
Summary:
Total: QSOs = 44 Total Score = 134
Club: Yankee Clipper Contest Club
Comments:
I got a really late start on the Spring Stew. (Stuff happens!) I had great
plans. I wanted to get on early in the evening, and was all ready at about
21:30 UT. I turned on the radio and hooked up the WIN Keyer. I even heard many
EU stations calling 3DA0IJ while the Sun was still up in the sky. Then the
emergencies started and all my plans went out the window. I never got to even
turn on the amp and HV supply. I got back home about 0130 UT and the first
thing I did was try to find the 3DA0 station! There he was sandwiched in
between a few SP CQers so I listened and called and eventually got through for
country #144. That put me in a great mood, so I happily started the Stew Perry
at about 0200 UT and the first station worked was NO3M who was running his old
19 watt boat anchor rig. I figured I would call him on low power and we had an
easy QSO, so I decided to stay on QRP for the time remaining. I only lasted two
hours! By local midnite, my eyes were watering and stinging and I had to quit,
but I was amazed at what I could work with 5 watts. It was rare for someone NOT
to come back to my calls. I just tuned up and down the band and called stations
as I heard them. No CQing for me. I did not make it quite to the West Coast,
but I am sure that I would have if I could stay up longer. Quitting at local
midnight is not such a good move on my part. Things are just warming up then!
As far as I can tell, I think Stew Perry participants tend to have better
receiving setups than those who operate in some other contests. How else can I
explain feeling "loud" while running 5 watts? I found conditions
stateside to be quite good. Europe was not so good, but I think it may have
been more "activity" vs conditions. I tried calling a few EU
stations, but nary got even a QRZ. That is a very tough path from here with 5
watts. After a few attempts, I stuck to using my wires that favored the USA.
All in all, I had a great time running QRP. The QRM level was low. Every
operator I heard was very polite. In every case when I was struggling to
exchange information with a distant station, other callers stood by and waited.
When I was finished, multiple callers started up calling the same station. That
was nice. I wish I could have been QRV for a longer time. It was fun while it
lasted!
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/
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