WI0WA SO/HP
Qs Pts Mults
80m: 88 194 24
40m: 116 314 45
20m: 264 399 70
15m: 469 1035 194
10m: 189 459 80
Totals: 1126 2401 413
Score: 991613 Total:
Band conditions were poor from the upper midwest due to the A and K
values.
Ten meters was way down from last year. But, 15 was excellent. There
appeared to be more activity on 80 and 40 than in prior years, but it
wasn't enough to totally compensate for the demise of 10 meters. As the
solar cycle declines it will only continue to get worse, which is bad
news for those of us in the middle of the US towards the north.
I printed a lot of rough or raspy sounding signals during the contest.
I was SO1R2D (Single Op, One Radio, Dual Decode). I ran a DSP-599ZX
as a dumb terminal with remdodulation and noise reduction turned on and
rttywrite running on the sound card. Typically there is only a nominal
difference between them. This time however, the DSP-599ZX consistently
printed better than rttwrite, especially on 10 and 15.
Of my 4 five-banders only one was in the USA. My five-banders were P43P,
HP1/DJ7AA, VE1OP, and W1RY?? There could be one more than listed but I
didn't keep any records during the contest so this is strictly from
memory.
One of my big moments was when A51B answered my CQ Friday evening on 20.
Unfortunately I didn't work him with my own call, but I have the
satisfaction of knowing I worked him with my own station. It was a great
feeling when he called in!
Unfortunately it seems like the face of RTTY contesting is changing and
maybe not for the better. I had several bad experiences during the
contest with the high speed CW types who are new to RTTY contesting.
For example I CQed, and got a call. I sent the exchange and in return
get a CQ message sent to me. I immediately hit my "NR NR NR ?" message
figuring he hit the wrong key by mistake and heard nothing in return. I
again hit "NR NR NR?" and got no response and kill the Q. Also, several
times in working a station I got no TU or CFM message. I know it is
quicker not to send that and just send CQ or QRZ, but am I in his log,
did he get my exchange, etc?
Five years ago when I first got into RTTY contesting I was pleasantly
surprised to find it was more gentlemanly and far less cut throat than
SSB or CW contesting. Now unfortunately I'm starting to get that
DeJavue feeling. I just hope that a few "hot rods" will not drag the
rest of us down to their level..
Also, it bothers me that at least one serious stations station who is
known to be in a call area other than the one in their suffix was not
signing with the
portable designator. This only bothers me because the rules require it
and it can impact multiplier count.
73 and lets do it again next year.
W0ETC/WI0WA Larry in IA.
|