CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW - 2019
Call: GW4J
Operator(s): GW0ETF
Station: GW4J
Class: SOSB20 HP
QTH: Gwynedd
Operating Time (hrs): 24
Summary:
Band QSOs Zones Countries
------------------------------
160:
80:
40:
20: 1307 30 106
15:
10:
------------------------------
Total: 1307 30 106 Total Score = 376,040
Club:
Comments:
Decided on a slightly more relaxed contest this year so decided to do single
band 20m with the overall aim of trying to tackle my abysmal record of mult
collecting when unassisted. I would force myself to do more band trawling even
if I knew I could sit and run which can sometimes feel like the easy option in
cqww. I finished slightly early on Saturday for a music event but otherwise was
a serious effort. Specific goals were 1000 Qs and 100 dxcc.
Despite some rumours of storms I found conditions seemed quite good especially
on Sunday. There were weird things happening on Saturday with many near EU
signals suffering extreme echo which caused at least one qso with a TM? to be
abandoned (postponed?) and others only made after a request to qrs. First qso on
Saturday was 0535 and 0634 on Sunday. Final qso on Sunday was at 19.30 when I
persuaded HP3SS to hear me for a closing mult. Most grin worthy qso was being
called by VK9CZ after expecting to be sat in a pile up for this one - thanks
guys! Most memorable was coming across a just audible 3B8M underneath 2 or 3
other signals apparently doing their own thing. In a rare quiet couple of
seconds I dropped my call in once and was surprised to hear it sent back with
the zone, great ears. The qrm returned and I was never completely sure of the
final confirmation from them but after sending my exchange and call again I
decided it was worth the risk and logged it.
No frequency fights to speak of, and wide or modulated signals seemed less in
evidence though it only needs one to be annoying. The main problem was after
checking a frequency and starting a run to then find I'm sharing this frequency
with someone else who I can't hear and the ensuing confusion especially if they
happen to be in zone 14! I quickly adopted the habit of giving my call after
every qso but still fear for my NIL count. Pleased with my pile-up return, I
recall just one getting away but can't remember which. AH2R and ZM1A were the
worst but after knowing what cluster generated pile-ups are like at the other
end I always made use of the XIT and don't understand why many others don't do
the same - just a few hertz makes all the difference.
The automatic pre-fill of US zones seems to be getting increasingly unreliable
(N1MM), presumably an accumulating effect of relocating hams hanging on to their
original calls; I've never had to overwrite so many as this year. Still don't
understand why an incorrect zone is not penalised while NILs which are often not
your fault get both barrels. Some nice runs to North America especially on
Sunday and I suspect I may have been the 'only GW in the village' at the time
1307 Qs plus 15 dupes - 30 zones and 106 countries (no GW..;-) for 376,040
claimed points. Time in chair approx 24 hours.
K3/Gemini HF-1k
Moxon @10m and a 1/4 wave vertical wire
Great fun!
73,
Stew, GW0ETF
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