[3830] K4RO NAQP CW SO Aug 98

[K4RO Kirk Pickering]

  NA QSO Party CW     Contest Dates : 1-Aug-98 , 02-Aug-98

  Callsign Used : K4RO       Operator : K4RO   Category : Single Op

  Default Exchange : KIRK TN

  Team/Club : Tennessee Contest Group Team #1


   BAND   Raw QSOs   Valid QSOs   Points   Mults   
 __________________________________________________

  160CW       41          41         41      22 
   80CW      124         122        122      36 
   40CW      162         156        156      43 
   20CW      147         139        139      38 
   15CW       82          80         80      29 
   10CW       11          10         10       7 
 __________________________________________________

 Totals      567         548        548     175 

    Final Score = 95,900 points.     About 9.5 hours operating time


After almost everything working right in the IARU two weeks ago,
Murphy decided to mess with me this time out.  Problems began with
the very first QSO, when the keyboard CW stopped working.  Using
paddles 100% made the second radio much harder to use.  I sure am
getting better at sending "CQ TEST K4RO" on the Bencher though.  :-)

Took several unplanned breaks trying to fix the problem.  (I fixed it
on Sunday afternoon, a day late...)  An antenna switch also failed,
causing another unplanned break trying to figure out what happened.
I didn't take the breaks when I wanted, and missed out on some 10m
and 15m action as a result.

Other lowlights included the time stamps getting messed up, and
logging many QSO's on the wrong band (or NO band) because the radio
interface didn't work right (also fixed on Sunday.)  The wrong band
logging resulted in my duping lots of folks.  Sorry about that.
A really intense headache came on about 2300Z, and I had to stop
operating until I stopped seeing spots.

The frustration level was enough that I was ready to punt, big time.
The only reason I kept at it was because I was on a TCG team, and
I didn't want to ruin the team score.  I barely noticed the lousy
conditions, as I was too busy being frustrated with Murphy.

Highlights included a few successful moves (need to try that more)
and the contest coming to an end.  Not a whole lot of fun this time
around, truth be told.  I've got to learn to test the station more
thoroughly BEFORE the contest begins.  It makes all the difference.
I've got to learn to pay more attention to 10 meters, and try more
moves to the higher bands.  Thanks to those who chanced a move.

Worst name award goes to KP3L.  It took me several repeats to get it.

Congratulations to all the TCG team players who joined us for the
first time, and to all TCG seasoned vets as well.  I worked almost
two dozen different Tennessee calls!  Some of you were working your
first CW contest -- most excellent!

Looking forward to a much better CW NAQP next time.  See ya on fone,
if I don't go to the Huntsville hamfest instead.  Thanks for the QSOs.

-Kirk  K4RO



Breaks: (there were also several additional unplanned breaks)

; Break started at 20:00:03
; Break finished at 20:30:21  This break = 0:30  Total off time = 0:30
; Break started at 23:00:36
; Break finished at 23:30:58  This break = 0:30  Total off time = 0:60
; Break started at 23:54:25
; Break finished at 00:25:53  This break = 0:31  Total off time = 1:31
; Break started at 02:56:47
; Break finished at 03:27:00  This break = 0:31  Total off time = 2:02


Rates:
                               K4RO NAQP CW AUG 98

HR    160     80       40       20       15       10    HR TOT CUM TOTAL  SCORE
--   -----  ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------ ---------  -----
18    ---     ---      ---     10/6     47/20     6/4    63/30    63/30   0.00M
19    ---     ---      ---     52/18     5/2      2/1    59/21   122/51   0.01M
20    ---     ---      ---     18/3      ---      ---    18/3    140/54   0.01M
21    ---     ---      5/5     27/5      4/2      ---    36/12   176/66   0.01M
22    ---     ---     39/19     6/0     11/2      1/1    57/22   233/88   0.02M
23    ---     ---      ---      8/0     12/3      ---    20/3    253/91   0.02M
 0    ---     ---     27/8      6/1      1/0      ---    34/9    287/100  0.03M
 1    ---    14/12    32/4      9/3      ---      1/1    56/20   343/120  0.04M
 2    ---    47/15    13/4      3/2      ---      ---    63/21   406/141  0.06M
 3    4/4    29/5      2/0      ---      ---      ---    35/9    441/150  0.07M
 4   23/12   10/3     29/3      ---      ---      ---    62/18   503/168  0.08M
 5   14/6    22/1      9/0      ---      ---      ---    45/7    548/175  0.10M
D1   0/0     0/0     44/24   121/32    79/29     9/6             253/91
D2  41/22  122/36   112/19    18/6      1/0      1/1             295/84
TO  41/22  122/36   156/43   139/38    80/29    10/7             548/175

      1858:          4 per minute     (240/hr)
      1905:         22 per 10 minutes (132/hr)
      1912:         74 per hour

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