Time was limited. Took Weesie to see the new James Bond film Friday
night. 7 PM movie was really a sneak preview for something else so we
had to wait for the 7:45 showing. Then Saturday night, to dinner with
Weesie and a cousin and to "Fosse" at our Rivercenter. So, I missed
prime operating time both nights.
Nevertheless, the band was very quiet both nights and I think I got out
better than I ever have with my MP, Alpha 78, and 80 meter inverted vee
dipole fed as if it were an end fed random wire through a big MFJ tuner
I bought in 1981.
Maybe it is a function of the declining sunspot cycle, but for US and
Canada and Caribbean, I have never done so well. I did hear and call a
DF2, a G3, and SP2FAX, but not very seriously. Did work KH6ND with no
problem. Still need a KL7. Did hear stations calling and working NL7Z,
but couldn't hear him. VE7SL answered my CQ and that is the first time
ever on 160. Usually I have to struggle through some big pile up if I
get a VE7 at all.
Worked all continental US sections except SF, NV, and ND. Also missed
NL, MB, AB and NWT/YT/NU. And missed KP4.
Slightly fewer QSOs than last year, but more mults, and a higher score.
Only DX mults were FM5GU, ZF2NT and ZF2AH, and P40TA. It was good to
work Herb, ex KV4FZ, again QRV with his new call NP2MJ.
A lot of QRP stations were having fun. I don't know about whether
activity was down as Mike suggested or not, since I missed the peak
times both nights. I would agree that it seemed to be down during the
early and late hours that I was able to be QRV.
Last year: 516 x 62 = 64,728.
This year: 484 x 74 = 72,520.
Hope everyone has a good week. Please keep my travels in your prayers.
Look forward to working everyone this week from Barbados and on both
modes in ARRL 10 M next weekend.
73,
John, K4BAI.
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