[3830] ARRL 160 VO1HE M/S LP

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                    ARRL 160-Meter Contest

Call: VO1HE
Operator(s): VO1HE
Station: VO1HE

Class: M/S LP
QTH: St. John's, NL
Operating Time (hrs): 7

Summary:
Total:  QSOs = 117  Sections = 40  Countries = 13  Total Score = 12,936

Club: East Coast Canada Contest Club

Comments:

First time in a top band contest. Using the KI6O linear loaded half sloper I
found in the ARRL Antenna Book that works just great, given my limited
familiarity with the band. I needed something that fit on my property and it
seemed like the easiest thing to put up. I have a lot of noise though due to the
antenna being located under the main power lines for the neighbourhood. I am
also using a coaxial loop for receive but I don't have a pre-amp yet. It's on
the way.

Anyway, enough about the kit. The contest started pretty tame for me. Was nice
to hear so many stations on the band. I worked what I could the first night and
got some sleep. Up the next morning a 5AM to start in and worked a few more
until the band closed at around 7AM. Ended up putting in about 7 hours overall
as we were invited to a party on Saturday night. Can't pass up that HI.

Got back on for a little while at sunset. I heard VY2ZM CQing well before sunset
and working stations although very few and far between. Managed to get 40
sections so not to bad for my limited set up. Never heard that many DX stations.
Perhaps a better receiving set up would have improved my chances.

Got as far west as Wyoming and North Texas. Never heard any 6s and only a few
7s. Interestingly, I never worked or heard any Florida stations. Did manage to
get PR and VI though. Only got a few VE stations as well. The big thing I found
with this 1 band/1 mode contest was that, once I worked all I heard, I was
pretty well out of stations for a while. Many trips up and down the band to find
only dupes.

I think my call got busted a few times again. Now that Canada is going to allow
2x1 calls for special occasions, I think there's one in my future for next
fall's contest season. I'll have to look at the benefits of it.

Anyway, not bad for my first attempt in this one. Loads of fun.

Thanks to all who heard me and hope to work you all in the 10M contest next
weekend. Let's hope the band opens up.

73 -- Paul VO1HE


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