[RTTY] W1ZT RTTY Roundup 2004

[George Johnson <w1zt@comcast.net>]

Comments:
Lots of US/VE activity here and good all band coverage.  Results were not 
as good as last year but better than I had expected.  My USA/VE log has the 
highest total QSO count ever (1169).  Limited propagation really blocked 
off European activity heard here this year.  Many stations were there but 
not readable.  It was particularly frustrating to hear the eastern European 
stations try short calling because the rapid QSB would simply wipe them 
out.  I would ask for longer calls but I was probably corrupted by the same 
QSB.  But I want to say THANK YOU to all of the DX stations who spent time 
in the contest.  Your activity really makes this event great fun.

Highlights:  Lots of them...
1.  Seeing GU0SUP pop up on the screen on 80m !!  Thanks Phil and where did 
you string the antenna??
2.  Working all lower states plus DC.  Thanks to Masa at 4U1WB and VT and 
DE who I never hear in the Roundup.
3.  Someone did a HUGE effort to find TN Volunteers and put them on RTTY 
!!  They came in waves!!
4.  Caught FO5PS and FK8HN on 15m between strong CQing US stations.  Love 
that RITTY program and the narrow adjustable filters in the 756PRO.

Lowlights:  Ugh!!
1.  My second Ten Tec amp died half way through.  The first one died in 
CQWW RTTY and I was not able to fix it for the contest.  The second one was 
OK but couldn't take the full time of the contest.  I used my "off time" to 
find and fix a cobbled up SB220 to finish on Sunday.  It is a truly amazing 
and rugged box.
2.  Continued harassment in the 7038 KHz area of 40m by CW ops.  No 
callsigns so they must not have a license  :-)
3.  I received an email late Saturday night citing my presence and 
interference with the NCDXF Beacons on 14100 KHz.  I had just started my 
"off time" and was checking mail.  I looked at my log and see that I was 
right there for about 15-20 minutes and I would like to apologize to anyone 
who was trying to use the beacons and received my QRM.  I support the NCDXF 
program and try to avoid that spot in all activity but it looks like I was 
edging up to escape the auto packet stuff around 14098.  But I encourage 
everyone to avoid and respect those frequencies in our operations.

Overall, a great time in what is becoming a very international RTTY 
operating event.  My thanks to all in the contest and to the sponsors who 
do all the work behind the scenes.

The score sheet:

                  ARRL RTTY Roundup

Call: W1ZT
Operator(s): W1ZT
Station: W1ZT

Class: Single Op HP
QTH: MA
Operating Time (hrs): 24

Icom 756Pro II + Ten Tec Centurion (and SB220 after failed amp)
WriteLog 10.44B plus RITTY by K6STI

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
   80:  189   Inverted V at 60 ft
   40:  390   Rotary dipole at 65 ft (Force 12 C4)
   20:  339   2 element yagi at 65 ft  (Force 12 C4)
   15:  369           "
   10:  131           "
------------
Total: 1418  State/Prov = 58  Countries = 62  Total Score = 170,160

73, and Happy New Year to all,
George .. W1ZT








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