[3830] VK1FF SOABHP CQWW CW 1997

VK1FF/WB2FFY Jim Muller VK1FF at contesting.com
Wed Dec 3 13:33:34 EST 1997


Call    Hrs    Score    QSOs   Q Pts   Zone     DX    
-----   ---   -------   ----   -----   ----    ---
VK1FF	37    846,450	1009    2850	94     203    

                        Equipment
                        =========
- Antennas:     3 Element triband beam at 40' 
                dipoles for 40 and 80 also at 40'
- Transceiver:  Kenwood TS-520SE
- Amplifier:    Dentron Clipperton-L
- Key:          Homebrew Accu Keyer (1979) with bencher paddles + computer 
- Logging Pgm:  N6TR v4.05

                        Comments
                        ========

I didn't do as well this year despite the better band conditions on 
15 and 20.   Guess it was just one of "those" contests but I could
never get a good run going.   Last year I had several hours of over 
80 QSOs/hour - this year I had only one.   

Murphy, of course, paid a visit which significantly affected on how
things turned out:  
- the first problem was 10 over S9 QRN from a weather storm which basically
  kept me off 40 and 80 both nights.   I tried working stns on both bands 
  but just couldn't pick the calls out....even some of the big US stations.   
  So potentially lost out on 300-400 QSOs or more.
- The other problem was a transistor failure in the rig's receiver section 
  which occured the first night at 4am local (or 1700z).   I have been 
  having intermitten problems for a while and suspected a bad transistor, 
  so had a replacement on hand.   Took the rig apart, replaced the transistor,
  and was back on the air after a couple hours.

Biggest disappointment:  Hearing but not being able to work 5A2A and 5V7A.

Highlights:   
- Friendly hellos from a number of friends who I seem to work contest 
  after contest - year after year.
- working the US on 20m long path.   More than half don't expect to
  hear VK's LP and genuinely act surprised to hear me coming through 
- I had a terrible time making contacts on 10m but worked A61AJ on the 
  second call.
 
I'm returning to the US mid next year so this is was my last CQ WW 
contest from VK1.   Didn't set any records but had a good time.  

Below is a brief summary of the 5 CQ WW CW contests I've operated from here 
and you can clearly see the big hit I took this year on 40 and 80 compared 
to last year.    

           160     80      40      20      15      10   Total Q's  Tot Score
           ---    ---     ---     ---     ---     ---   ---------  ---------
1997        1       8     149     271     549      31     1027       846,450
1996        3     104     628     433     599      44     1811     1,865,958
1995 (40m)  -       -     618       -       -       -      618       213,226
1994               14     218     345     469      29     1075       774,750
1993        -       -     298      12     351       -      661       359,464
          ====    ===    ====    ====    ====     ===     ====
            4     126    1911    1061    1968     104     5192

Overall I'm happy with the results considering the modest/poor antenna
situation.   It would have probably been easier to "get by" with this 
antenna set up during the peak of the solar cycle instead of the bottom, 
but things didn't work out that way.   

Contesting from "down under" has certainly been an interesting and 
enlightening experience.   I've certainly enjoyed it and would 
particularly like to thank the regulars who I've worked many times 
on 40m for the contacts over the last few years.   I'll be around 
again next year - hopefully from a M/M or M/S in the Washington DC area.   


73, Jim VK1FF/WB2FFY

Internet Email:        VK1FF at contesting.com
Amateur Radio Packet:  VK1FF at VK1KCM.ACT.AUS.OC

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