[3830] ARRL 10 N2NL/MM SO CW LP

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                    ARRL 10-Meter Contest

Call: N2NL/MM
Operator(s): N2NL
Station: N2NL/MM

Class: SO CW LP
QTH: At sea
Operating Time (hrs): 4

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
   CW:  433    72
  SSB:   21      
-------------------
Total:  433    72  Total Score = 124,704

Club: Florida Contest Group

Comments:

FT1000MP, 10m hamstick

   I'm currently in the middle of a two month deployment at sea which will
include the holidays.  I was finally able to gain permission to operate from the
ship, using my equipment.  The ship's equipment is restricted due to USCG
security policies, so I couldn't load up the 50ft HF whips, and as a result I
bought a couple Hamsticks to bring along for the trip.
   I had high hopes to put several hours into this contest, since I'd be a
multiplier as "R2".  The weekends are usually breaks in the daily routine of
standing watches, running drills, and keeping up on maintenance. I was hoping to
operate whenever I had propagation and wasn't on watch.  
   Unfortunately, as usual, that was not to be.  As I was setting up my gear
Saturday morning, we came across a disabled boat full of people waving at us for
help.  It turned out that the boat was stolen, and the occupants were trying to
make a run from HI to KP4.  
   Finally, early in the afternoon, I was able to break away and set up the
station, field day style.  I was planning on setting up in the hanger, however
it was now being used to house the Dominicans and was unavailable to me.  I
ended up sitting in one of our small boats, with the FT1000MP and laptop on the
bench seat.  I attached the hamstick to a lifeline stantion with a U-clamp.  
   I was pleasantly suprised at the conditions.  From my location, I had good
propagation stateside and the first couple hours was a blast, with great runs. 
Later in the afternoon, conditions took a dip and the rate plummeted, and I
eventually shut down to prepare for my evening watch.  
   The band was open to Europe late, however there were few callers.  It seemed
almost like a stateside QSO party.  My multiplier total suffered as a result.
   I was hoping to get up early Sunday to try to catch a European opening,
however it wasn't to be as we had to turn our guests over to the local
authorites in the Dominican Republic.  The evolution took most of Sunday, and I
wasn't able to get on again as a result.
   Anyway, being a multiplier is cool, and I had fun.  I'm sorry I wasn't able
to be there for the rest of the world.  It was real cool to operate /MM for the
first time; there was absolutely no local QRN and the hamstick with it's 270ft
long 1800 ton ground plane sitting in salt water really worked.  Many of the
crewmembers including the Commanding Officer enjoyed listening to the dots and
dashes of morse code and were quite impressed.
   I'll probably set everything up again for the NAQP, however I'll just be QSO
fodder since I won't count for anything but points.  
   My location for most of my operating was near KP4.  In fact, much of the time
I could see Desecheo Island (KP5) from my operating position.  Don't ask - there
is a 0% possibility of my hopping over there for a few hours.  I already asked
and got laughed at.
   You can see photos of my current deployment at
http://www.n2nl.net/gallery/patrol2 - pictures of my setup start at the bottom
of page 6.

73, Dave N2NL/MM


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