[3830] WPX CW 3D2NC(AC6DD) SOAB LP

[webform at b4h.net]

                    CQWW WPX Contest, CW

Call: 3D2NC
Operator(s): AC6DD
Station: 3D2NC

Class: SOAB LP
QTH: FIJI
Operating Time (hrs): 36

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
  160:    0
   80:   43
   40:  187
   20:  697
   15:  553
   10:  143
------------
Total: 1623  Prefixes = 552  Total Score = 3,019,992

Club: Slovenia Contest Club

Comments:

This operation was the last stop before going back to the US after six weeks
travel.  I  was on the air in New Zealand as  ZL/S52NC/P, as VK6CN/p on Rottnest
island in Australia,  VK6CN/4 on Great Keppel island and 3D2NC in Fiji.
All of the equipment other than the fiberglass antenna mast fit in one computer
bag. 
 
I precut two 1/4 wavelenghts of 24 gauge teflon insulated wire for each of the
80 - 20m  bands before leaving  home,  and  took about 100' of extra wire just
in case.  

Radio: Kenwood TS50 
Antenna  mast:  DK9SQ 10m fiberglass mast 
LDG RT11 remote  antenna tuner 
The antenna was set up as a vertical (close to vertical, about 60 degrees) with 
one  counterpoise radial for each band.  
 
I first set up the antenna in Fiji on Thursday morning, but had to take it down
in the evening as the locals alerted me that my mast and and antenna tuner will
probably vanish by next morning due to the local entrapreneurs operating at
night. 
 
By Friday afternoon I found a different and more secure location and set up the
support mast on a  balcony,  overlooking the ocean.  Set up the equipment and
checked things out.  Bad news.  The antenna tuner  would only get a good match
on 15 and 20m, RF problems on 40, no match on  80.  Too dark to work outside, so
I made some 300 QSO's on the bands that were working.
 
Saturday morning (Fiji time) about 5 hrs before the contest start I moved the
mast away from  the  building and strapped it to a small palm tree next to the
water.  I collected a bunch  of wooden sticks from the hotel maintenance shack,
found a 6' piece of 1/2' water pipe,  which I drove  into the ground and
strapped the antenna tuner to it.  I than raised the radials from the ground and
supported them by 2' sticks fanning out and away from the tuner.  For the 10m
vertical I cut a 2.5m  piece of the teflon wire and taped it to a bamboo stick
which fit on top of the water pipe, connected th wire to the tuner.
 
The 20m wire was taped to the 40m wire, which was taped to the mast near the
top.  The 80m  wire ran to near the top of the mast, than it was tied
horizontally to a palm tree with fishing  line.  By the time I was done, the
contest had already started by 15 minutes.  

I didn't even checked the other bands, just tuned on a clear frequency on 15
meters, called cq and hoped to be spotted soon.  Didn't take long and things
were cooking.  For the first few hours I mostly alternated between 15 and 10 m. 
Tried cq on 20 at about 0500 hours, but things slowed down fast as I had to keep
moving. My frequency kept being taken by instant cq-ers, no use sending qrl to
them, big power and antennas and no ears.  I won't mention any calls, but some
kept appearing wherever I went.   As sunset started approaching I tried 40 and
80m.  To my horror the wires won't tune up.  I go outside and check things out. 
I try to separate the antenna wires where they connect to the tuner with sticks
I cut from the palm tree roots, but no dfference.

I keep going in and out of the building, trying to move things around, but
nothing works.  Dissapointed I open one more Fiji bitter and get back on 15m.  I
try to S&P a few multipliers, but I am just wasting time.  I move to 20m at
about 1300z and things get hot.  My rate for the next four hours does not drop
below 60, peaks momentarily over 140.  By 1830z the Fiji bitter and the long day
had an effect on me, I decide to take a break.   

I am back at 2330, but things are quiet.  Now I wish I stayed up a couple of
hours longer.  
I go to work on the antenna and after lowering the mast I find the top of the
40m wire was touching the 80m wire.  I separate the two with a few wraps of good
old 33, raise the mast and the wires can be now be matched on 40 and 80. 
Finally everything seems to be working.

At 0500 I get back on 15m, tha JA stations are back, and things are going well.
Around 1000z I finally get on 40m, but now RF is getting into the computer
through the building wiring.   I am trying all kinds of coils and chokes, but
nothing is working.  I place a can of Fiji bitter on top of the coiled parallel
keying cable and the RFI on 40m stops! 

The QRN and QRM is very strong, attenuator and aip on.  I move the calling
stations up1 and things are a bit easier.  The rate for 1000z is 81, excellent!
I feel like I have a beam!  80m is much tougher, a lot of noise.  I have to
unplug the computer keying and use the paddle, as the computer is locking up
from the RF.  When I move back to 40m I have to do the same as the Fiji bitter
can is not working anymore.  I worked 47 stations on 40m between 1300 and 1400z,
than suddenly I can't work anyone anymore.  What is going on?  I keep switching
bands and in the next hour only work 20 stations between 40, 20 and 15m, only 2
on 40 and it is a struggle, no it is torture as Europe is very strong.  I find
plenty of multipliers to call, but no one hears me anymore.  Now I am only
making 14 QSO's per hour, than I make 3 the next hour.  Now I am calling anyone
who can hear me, not just multipliers and it is hard.  I am just under 3MIL,
time is ticking and no qso's, 2999770, what a lousy number.  I think the tuner
is gone, no RF is getting out!  I keep trying and trying and trying and a work a
few very patient people.  Wow! I am over 3mil, the contest is over for me, the
tuner can RIP.

Niko 

3D2NC / AC6DD / S52NC

Check a couple of pics: 
<a href="http://www.qsl.net/ac6dd/3d2nc1.jpg">antenna</a><br>
<a href="http://www.qsl.net/ac6dd/3d2nc3.jpg">operating</a><br>


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