[3830] NAQP 08/99 - N6ZZ

[Phil Goetz]

                              NA QSO SUMMARY SHEET


    Contest Dates : 07-Aug-99, 08-Aug-99


    Callsign Used : N6ZZ
         Operator : N6ZZ

         Category : Single Operator

 Default Exchange : Phil NM

             Name : Phil Goetz
          Address : P.O. Box 1234
   City/State/Zip : Alto, NM  88312
          Country : United States


        Team/Club : Team Handkey


   BAND   Raw QSOs   Valid QSOs   Points   Mults
 __________________________________________________

  160CW       12          12         12       5
   80CW       62          62         62      27
   40CW      121         121        121      41
   20CW      229         226        224      51
   15CW      126         122        122      39
   10CW       23          23         23      16
 __________________________________________________

 Totals      573         566        564     179


    Final Score = 100,956 points.

    Operating time:  10 hours

 Soapbox Comments
 ________________
The two-radio setup:

      Radio 1                   Radio 2
     TS-850                    TS-850
10   C4-SXL @ 50 feet          C-3 @ 25 feet
15   C4-SXL @ 50 feet          C-3 @ 25 feet
20   C4-SXL @ 50 feet          C-3 @ 25 feet
40   C4-SXL @ 50 feet          Sloping dipole @ 30 feet
80   Half sloper @ 50 feet     Dipole @ 25 feet
160  Half sloper @ 50 feet

This operating event turned contesting into an art form of frustration!
It was
my first serious attempt at two-radio contesting.  Antenna work for
radio 2
was actually finished several hours before the beginning of the contest.

The first part of the contest went pretty well.....CQing on one band
with radio
1, while S&Ping on another band on radio 2 worked as advertised.  TR
Log's
support of the SO2R concept is really slick!

At around 0200Z, I moved radio 1 to 40 meters.  Couldn't seem to get any
runs
going on 40 with radio 1 and the C4-SXL.  Tried S&Ping with the radio 1
setup
for a bit:  Signals were loud but nobody hears me.  Everything looks
normal,
but I decide that something must be wrong with the 40 meter beam.

Started to use radio 2 with sloping dipole as the primary station on 40
meters,
running a few with CQs.  At the same time, I begin S&P on 80 with radio
1 and
the half-sloper.  Never get anybody to hear me on 80 with this
combination.
Also move to 160 a few times to attempt QSOs with radio 1 and the
sloper.
Chalk up the lack of success to high QRN.

Keep plugging away on 40 with radio 2 and the sloping dipoole at 30
feet, but
it ain't like having a beam.  It doesn't dawn on me that the problem is
actually
with the radio 1 TS-850 rather than with the antennas.

Changing the selection of superior antennas from radio 1 to radio 2
involves moving coax, something that I don't undertake until about
0500z, at
which time I abandon the SO2R concept and finish out the contest using
radio 2
and the superior antennas.  Now I've got a working radio and a beam on
40 meters,
but the activity peak has moved from 40 to 80 and 160.

Result:  A half-assed SO2R operation, reflected by 142 band changes
between
1800 and 0200z, and 10 band changes between 0200 and 0600z.

Observations:  The performance of the Radio 1 850 is a mystery.  It
appears to
load properly, has appropriate power output.  However, nobody hears me
with it,
at least on the 160-80-40.  Haven't tried it on 20-15-10 yet.

The problem would have been easier to identify and deal with if I had
the
capability of having all antennas instantly available on both radios, a
feature
of SO2R that is very desirable.

Troubleshooting while operating SO2R is difficult----the focus remains
on
making QSOs, which detracts from one's analytical capabilities.

Apologies to those who tried to move me to 160 while I was still using
radio 1
on the 160 antenna.  You aren't really deaf after all.

73 - Phil, N6ZZ

I have observed all competition rules as well as all regulations
established
for amateur radio in my country.  My report is correct and true to the
best
of my knowledge.  I agree to be bound by the decisions of the Awards
Committee.



 Date __8/8/99______   Signed __Phil Goetz_________________  Call
__N6ZZ_____



--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/3830faq.html
Submissions:              3830 at contesting.com
Administrative requests:  3830-REQUEST at contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-3830 at contesting.com