[3830] VK4EMM ARRL 10m Single Op HP Mixed - Report

[John Loftus]

ARRL 10 METER CONTEST -- 1997

      Call: VK4EMM                   Country:  Australia
                                     Category: Single Operator
                                     Mixed High Power
												 35 hours operation

      MODE      QSO    QSO PTS  STATES  COUNTRIES

      CW       719     2876       48       60
      SSB      458      916       42       40
      -----------------------------------------
      Totals  1177     3792       90      100  =   720,860

	All reports sent were 59(9), unless otherwise noted.

	Equipment Description:

		Kenwood TS850 Transceiver
		Yaesu FL-2100Z Amplifier (400W PEP)
		4 element yagi (home brew)

Good progress into the new solar cycle was confirmed during the recent
ARRL 10m contest. Each year, since 1994, I have entered the single
operator / mixed mode section, with results that closely match the
level of solar activity.

Year     QSOs    Score      Solar Flux

1994      286     36,120    86
1995      244     19,000    73
1996      477     80,620    85
1997    1,177    720,860    90

These results indicate that a small increase in solar flux has a
significant impact on 10m propagation.

On both days of the contest, the 10m long path was wide open between
Australia and the North American East-coast - for more than two hours
from 12:30 UTC. VK4 stations worked this long path to the Caribbean,
Canada, and the USA East-coast. This was a great opening with SSB and
CW signals peaking around S7 to S9. The only frustration was that this
exciting and unexpected opening caught most East-coast stations with
their beams in the wrong direction.

With increasing solar flux, this long path has great potential for 10m
propagation.

A special thank you to all stations who worked VK during the contest.

You can read my regular monthly contest report at: www.uq.net.au/radiosport/

73 and enjoy the contests
John VK4EMM

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