[3830] ARRLDX SSB K1IR M/S HP

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                    ARRL DX Contest, SSB

Call: K1IR
Operator(s): K1IR K1VR KE1J N1IW W1VE
Station: K1IR

Class: M/S HP
QTH: MA
Operating Time (hrs): 48

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
  160:   45    34
   80:  338    81
   40:  383    92
   20: 1097   118
   15:  592   113
   10:   80    35
-------------------
Total: 2535   473  Total Score = 3,588,651

Club: Yankee Clipper Contest Club

Comments:

While scores were somewhat depressed due to erratic conditions, this was still a
very  enjoyable contest. Uncertainty about minute-to-minute conditions on every
HF band made us think hard about each band-change decision. This is the great
challenge of the ARRL multi-single competition.

We tried some new things in this contest. We added a newcomer to the operator
roster; N1IW sat down to handle 80m split operation on the first night, doing an
admirable job under difficult conditions. High static levels and weak signal
levels made many QSOs difficult to complete. Thank goodness for the occasional
loud station stopping by for an easy QSO.

We also added our own real-time contest analysis software, developed by W1VE,
but we had to reconfigure the WriteLog network to make it work. We had
tremendous difficulty keeping the machines connected to each other with
WriteLog's new TCP/IP networking option enabled. This caused at least 50 network
crashes through the first 12 hours. In the end we worked around the problem by
reverting to NetBIOS, but not without breaking our stride on quite a few
occasions.

It was tough going on 20m with everyone crowding into such a small band segment.
Rates were down as a result. While low antennas with wide patterns are great in
higher sunspot periods, it sure would have been helpful to have narrower and
higher antennas with fewer high-angle lobes in their patterns. This would have
helped to reduce received QRM and the amount that we contributed on the bands.

Congratulations this time go to everyone who put in a lot of hours in this
contest - it was not easy to be on the air during a great deal of the contest
period.

Thanks to the team:
Gerry W1VE
Lars KE1J
Mike N1IW
Fred K1VR

. . . for being in the chair to do whatever was necessary to keep the score
meter rising all weekend and for contributing in so many non-operating ways, as
well.

Additional thanks to my wife, Sue, and the kids for their support and interest
in this strange pursuit we enjoy so much.

73,

Jim K1IR et al


Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/