K0EJ ARRL CW 1997

Wed Feb 19 13:49:32 EST 1997

                              1997 ARRL DX CONTEST

     Call used: K0EJ                                           Location: TN

     Category: Single Op All Band         Mode: CW              Power: 600W
                                                           TS930->tired amp
     Callsign of Operator: K0EJ  
     Exchanged Information: K0EJ 599 TN  

     Hours of Operation: only 28:10 unfortunately

      band      QSOs     points    mults
     ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
     160         32        96       22  Inverted L, 62' vertical
      80         87       261       44  half-sloper at 55'
      40        244       732       60  2 el at 56'
      20        530      1590       69  TH7 at 66'
      15         84       252       37  ditto
      10         11        33        6  ditto and 5 el at 61'
     ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
     TOTAL      988      2964      238      SCORE: 705,432

 Interesting contest. Decided to run amp (600W) since would not be able to go
"full bore" due to commitments. Started OK on 20/40 with 80M being great with
many LOUD EU (couldn't run but S&P).  EI6BT was a beacon on 160 as well which
had me psyched!  At 0500 my remote coax switch for 40/80 smoked (RF choke). I
quit for the night wishing I had a spare!  Saturday AM EU run was
fair but at 1830Z a local unknown noise source started up to the east
completely wiping out 20/15 unless the beam was well to the southeast. Looked
for SA and a few strong EU, ran to Radio Shack to get a choke (they only had
one 100uH choke) so I did a quick calculation and a prayer and said
"everything should be OK, just run barefoot on 80". By 2130 the noise had gone
(and so had Europe for the most part!). Started a "stroll" on 40 at 2200Z with
the sun still bright. Kept at it until 0010Z when XYL and I went out to dinner
(Valentine's Day a day late) with some friends. I was a good boy and limited
myself to JUST 1 BEER! Back on the air at 0500Z doing some serious S&P on
160/80/40. Took a nap from 0800-1015Z, shower/breakfast/wake up family for
church from 1130-1230Z and then back on from 1230-1315Z. Went to church and
taught my Sunday school class and back on the air at 1645Z. Felt that 1000 Qs
was still in reach as long as I could slug it out on 20M. Noise returned
sporadically but not like Saturday! No 15M EU on Sunday for me, Saturday was
marginal. Kept checking 10M for an opening (only an LU on Saturday). At 1900Z
caught PJ9C and a PY for 10M mults!  Had a strange LA/OH opening on 15M Sunday
afternoon at 2100Z. 2 Qs in 2 minutes, then nothing!  2200Z found KH6BZF and
AH6MZ on 10M. Checked 10M again at 2340Z in deperation and caught KP3Z and the
P40/49 boys. Fell short of 1000 Qs and way short of 1 Meg but still had FUN!

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