[3830] CQ160 CW N7GP Multi-Op HP

[n5ia@zia-connection.com]

                     CQ 160-Meter Contest, CW
                    
Call: N7GP
Operator(s): W7MCO, WA6CDR, K7JWD, N5IA
Station: W7MCO

Class: Multi-Op HP
QTH: AZ
Operating Time (hrs): 27
 

QSOs: 826  States/Provinces: 57  Countries: 17  Score: 168,128

Comments:

I decided to finish a project at Larry, W7MCOs QTH, and involve him and some 
other ops in the CW outing this year.  Larry and I spent two Saturdays and the 
full week prior to the contest installing the Beverage farm on a small mesa 
above his home.

The transmit antenna had been finished a year or so earlier and consists of the 
following.  Thirty feet of Rohn 25 up to a home brew insulated section, then 90 
feet of Rohn 25 with insulated guy wires and a Force 12 C4XL for the top hat.  
Fifteen 1/4 radials slope down and are tied off to fence posts near ground 
level.  Feed is with LMR-400 cable directly to the element and radials.

The two feedlines from the C4XL and the rotor cable are isolated for 160 Meters 
with coil chokes at the insulated base.  This makes a real nice 7 band antenna 
system in one structure.  Only 80 and 30 Meters are left out.

Murphy started early as the power supply transformer in one of the remote RX 
antenna selector control boxes died shortly before start time.  Also, for some 
reason the computers did not want to talk over the serial cable.  Finally got 
the run station going at 0100 with W7MCO at the helm.  Three hours late but 
what the heck.

The computer link problem and the antenna controller problems were cured and 
the hunt station joined the fray at about 0700.  Everything then worked 
flawlessly for the balance of the contest.  WA6CDR and I operated most of the 
late night and early morning hours.  

We worked all states but two, including DC for the very first time in this 
contest.  No Europeans heard but we managed the EA8 and most of caribbean 
stations.  Three ZLs called in along with the VK3.  Three KH6s but no KL7.

Robin got a fairly good JA run going and put 36 in the log.  9M2AX rounded out 
the mults for the first night.

The 2nd night we were joined by K7JWD who had been off competing in an archery 
contest earlier in the day.  It was mostly scour the band for any new meat and 
hope some of the missing mults would show up.  Again no europeans were heard at 
our location in southeastern Arizona.  

We were rewarded for our diligence and found PY, VE4, V4, FY, and three KL7s 
only 14 QSOs apart.  The missing states from the first night, NE and SD showed 
up for a clean sweep of all 50.  We missed only a couple of maritime provinces 
and the northern territories in Canada.

Finished off the night with another ZL for 4 total and eight more JAs for a two 
night total of 44.

All in all it was a great time had by all, especially the two newbies.  I think 
they are hooked.  The W7MCO station got tested pretty good and performed well.  
The transceivers were a TS-940 and an FT-1000MP feeding an Alpha 91b.

For those that are interested, we have posted some photos of the station 
antennas and the operating positions and equipment at the following URL.

 http://www.eaars.com/~n7gp

Thanks for all the Qs and we'll look for everyone in the SSB contest in 2.5 
weeks.

73 de Milt, N5IA


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