[3830] Stew Perry QRP Challenge

[K4RO Kirk Pickering]

I thought I was going to go for one of plaques which
K1KY/W4CAT graciously sponsored, but a couple of things 
kept that from happening.  First, I had S9+ line noise 
all over the band starting at 1600Z.  I've never  heard it 
this bad.  I'm thinking it must be the holiday lights on 
people's homes or something..?  It was brutal.  Calling 
CQ was just making people angry because I couldn't hear
anything.  I worked everything I could hear, and then I 
turned off the radio.  Line noise really hurt me in the
10-meter contest as well.  I gotta do something about it.

About that time, some friends called (I'd left the phone 
turned on.)  A group wound up coming over, and we hung out
chatting and listening to music.  After a couple of hours, a
guest asked if she could "see" the contest, so I got back on 
the radio about 0230z.  The noise had subsided considerably,
but it was still pretty bad, and lots of QRP signals in the mud.
I showed my friends CQing vs. S&P and so forth, and called out
everything that was happening in a play-by-play fashion like
a sportscaster.  It was fun.

These folks didn't know a dit from a dah, but they were *fascinated* 
by the whole deal.  We went out for a late dinner, and much to my 
amazement, contesting was (almost) all they wanted to talk about. 
It was something!  We came back to my house after dinner and they 
wanted to see (hear) more.  One friend remarked that contesting 
looked like the ultimate computer game to her.  Perhaps a seed or
two got planted?

Got back on at sunrise and heard VK6VZ clear as a bell.  I should
have turned on the amp so I could work him.  Spent about 5 minutes 
on his QRG and heard about one-half of a QSO completed.  I agree that 
everyone running QRP in this contest has gotten out of hand.

Thanks to K1KY/W4CAT for sponsoring the plaques and obviously
stepping up the activity in Tennessee.

   BAND   Raw QSOs   Valid QSOs   Points   
 __________________________________________

  160CW      156         154        350
 __________________________________________

 Totals      156         154        350

    Final Score = 350 points   x 2 @ 100 watts  = 700 points



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