[3830] 1998 CQWW SSB 160 Contest

[Roderick M. Fitz-Randolph]

                              CQ 160 SUMMARY SHEET


    Contest Dates : 27/Feb/98 - 01/Mar/98


    Callsign : N5HV
    Operator : N5HV

    Category : Single Op, High Power

    Hours Operated: 25.5

    Default Exchange : 59 TN

             Name : Rod Fitz-Randolph
          Address : 79 Highland Hills Cove
   City/State/Zip : Jackson, TN 38305
          Country : United States



   BAND  Raw QSOs  Valid QSOs  Points  States  Provinces  Countries
 __________________________________________________________________

  160SSB    714        714      1610     48        4         15
 __________________________________________________________________

 Totals     714        714      1610     48        4         15


Club Affiliation: TENNESSEE CONTEST GROUP


 Final Score = 107,870 points.


 Equipment Description:  FT-1000MP/AL-1500 to Inverted Vee @ 128'
                         plus 3 Bi-Directional Beverages

 How It Played: Couple of hours into contest, smelled smoke: SWR &
                power out was very erratic; OK until I would bring
                power up to about 450 watts output - then would
                drop back to 20 watts.  Thought the amp had given
                up the ghost because odor was strong when I put my
                nose over the amp vent.  Found it was simply sucking
                up smoke/odor from somewhere else.  Then suspected
                FT-1000MP.... but found that it was the MFJ RCS-4
                Coax Switch Control Box RF Choke that couldn't stand
                the the power at high VSWR above 1900 KHz!!  Turned
                it into a real crispy critter.  Bypassed the control
                box and proceeded with contest: cost me a good 45
                minutes at prime time.... BAH!

                QRM was fierce.  Had to move several times because
                of individuals encroaching closer and closer.
                Finally stood my ground at 1803 KHz and battled it
                out with two unscrupulous operators that popped
                in on me about a half KHz from me... that took a lot
                of valuable time with no QSOs possible for me or the
                offenders during that time but I had looked for
                a place to go and there wasn't any, so I stood my
                ground!

                QRN was fierce.  Beverages didn't help nearly as much
                as they usually do.  Don't know why the only 10-15 dB
                reduction of QRN when using the Beverages over the
                Inverted Vee but it usually is a much greater reduction.
                Missed a lot of QSOs because of the QRN.... simply
                couldn't hear the call letters sufficiently.

                Was pleased to work all 48 states and 5 Provinces.
                Didn't hear Alaska or Hawaii.  Was surprised to work
                15 countries in all that QRM/QRN.

                Used Macintosh & Marathon S/W for contest logging.
                Very easy to use and worked great.  Had a great time!!








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