ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB - 2020
Call: AA4LR
Operator(s): AA4LR
Station: AA4LR
Class: Single Op LP
QTH: Georgia
Operating Time (hrs): 8.5
Summary:
Band QSOs
------------
160:
80: 78
40: 43
20: 73
15: 36
10:
------------
Total: 230 Sections = 66 Total Score = 30,360
Club: South East Contest Club
Comments:
Antennas:
80/40/20m trap dipole at 10m high
160/80/40m trap inverted-J with two radials
Equipment:
Elecraft K2/100 w/KAT100 running 100 watts
K1KP-stle voice keyer (1 message)
Comments:
SS Phone was the first contest that really got me hooked, and I really enjoyed
operating this time.
Just a casual operation from the Fulton County QTH. It was a bit of a struggle
Saturday night given the crummy antennas. I kept getting beat out and it seemed
like no one could hear me. So I switched off after about 14 Qs and and came back
Sunday afternoon.
Had a problem with the K2. I had installed a K60XV option earlier in the month.
For some reason, after the K2 is left on for a while, something weird happens,
and the radio AGC activates with full S-meter indication and no audio. This is
intermittent, but almost continuous. I found the radio doing this when I went to
operate Sunday afternoon. It was happening on all bands, except for TRN1 band
set up for 50 MHz. This made no sense. I suspected that the K60XV might be
somehow involved.
10 screws later, the KPA100 comes off the top of the rig, and I pulled the
K60XV. I replaced it with a re-work eliminators boards and tried it. Bingo, the
radio now works properly. I operated the next several hours with the K60XV
hanging out the back of the rig, and about six screws holding the KPA100 on.
Radio would fine that way.
Had another issue with the K1KP voice keyer. At some point, I went to call
someone, and the VOX wouldn't trip. I tried another headset, but no joy. Then I
removed the voice keyer and things worked again. I think there's bad connection
in the voice keyer. Operated the whole contest without using it
Things Sunday were considerably easier. The Inverted-J worked OK on 15m and 20m,
but the dipole seemed better on 80, 40 and 20m. Conditions seemed pretty good.
Operating with virtually all S & P until around 0055z on 80m, I got a clear
frequency and had a pretty good run for almost 20 minutes. Funnest moment was
having my brother NJ8J call in with a higher QSO number.
I only missed five states - AK, MS, OK, WY and FL. Can you believe it, I missed
FL. Heard VY2MM with a HUGE pileup at one point.
Good time with SS Phone. Perhaps I'll have some real antennas next time.
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/
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