This also posted to 3830.
Band QSOs Pts States DX Zones
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80: 84 133 33 18 11 3 el sloper array
40: 235 469 43 48 19 2 el Yagi 86 ft
20: 507 1175 49 85 30 Phased TH7s 40/76 ft
15: 655 1632 50 70 34 Addit TH7 for second radio
10: 364 913 36 70 23 on same tower at 25 ft
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Total: 1845 4322 211 314 117 = 2,774,724
Gear:
FT-1000D Writelog/MMTTY on PII-450
FT-990 HAL P-38 on P-133
Comments:
The contest was lots of fun. Last year, I surprised AA5AU with my
(first time) low power entry. Turns out, besides winning, I enjoyed
LP for two reasons.
First, the temperature in the shack stayed within tolerable limits.
Second, I had no interactions between the 2 radios with my one
tower SO2R setup, so I could make full use of both radios. With
the way the bands were, I did a lot more S & P than running on the
secoind radio this year. Also, good thing I was LP because at least
once, by mistake, I switched radio 2 to the same band as radio 1
while transmitting. I'm sure it would have fried if the amp was
running.
This year, Don knew my intention to do LP again, so we had quite
a rivalry going. We checked in on each other several times, and by
Saturday PM he was 100 QSOs ahead. I had a reasonable EU
opening Sunday afternoon, and while I running EU, I was hoping
he'd be on 15 working 1 point stateside QSOs :.)
Condx:
Some said great, others said stinko. I vote for stinko, considering
we are at the sunspot peak. The K index of 3-4 all weekend said it
all. 15m was the only band I'd call excellent. 10m was very
disappointing, with patchy DX openings, reminiscent of the low
sunspot years. 20m was variable with poor EU openings on
Saturday, and louder signals Sunday, but most with flutter. 40 and
80 were terrible, with lots of flutter and fewer signals than usual.
Highlights:
Receiving 599-25 God Bless America as exchange from a JA.
Good number of mults moving bands.
While tuning 15, I caught the tail end of a QSO and all I heard was
"QSY 14115." So, I followed them, not knowing who it was, and it
turned out to be TR8CA! After working him on 20, he went back to
15 for me. Along these lines, on Saturday morning, about 30
minutes after our sunrise, I worked "Mr. Big Signal from JA,"
JA1BWA on 20. I asked him to go to 40, which is a real tough
one from here, and worked him no problem.
The unusual:
North Dakota on 5 bands and Georgia only on one!
Thanks for all the QSOs.
73,
Barry
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Barry Kutner, W2UP Internet: w2up@mindspring.com
Newtown, PA Frankford Radio Club
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