[3830] ARRL Jan VHF W9SZ Single Op Port QRP

[webform@b4h.net]

                    ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes

Call: W9SZ
Operator(s): W9SZ
Station: W9SZ

Class: Single Op Port QRP
QTH: EN50rl
Operating Time (hrs): 8

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
    6:           
    2:  21     11
  222:   8      7
  432:  12      8
  903:   5      5
  1.2:   5      5
  2.3:   2      2
  3.4:           
  5.7:   1      1
  10G:           
  24G:           
-------------------
Total:  54     39  Total Score = 4,875

Club: Society of Midwest Contesters

Comments:

This was an unique contesting experience for me.  I left home at 5:30 AM on
Sunday, got to my hilltop at 6:30 AM and was set up by 7:30 AM.  Temperature was
a little below freezing and everything was covered with frost.  The view was
breathtaking and spectacular. It probably got up to 35 later in the day.

I had all bands from 144 through 10368 MHz with me but found out when trying to
QSO with K2DRH and K3SIW on 3456 that my transverter for that band was dead (I
suspect the LO quit but haven't had time to troubleshoot yet). I did manage a
QSO with K3SIW on 5760. Also, K2DRH and K3SIW gave me QSO's on 2304.

All the rest of my equipment was in fine condition and I worked a few people
through 1296.

I had to leave for a while in the afternoon on Sunday but came back to the site
and was operating in the evening through to the end of the contest.  Things got
interesting after sunset when a very heavy fog rolled in.  The temperature
dropped below freezing and everything outside my car except for the Coleman
lantern I was using for light became coated with hoarfrost. I was using the
"Armstrong" rotor method and the antenna mast became quite slippery.  I was also
paid a visit by a skunk some time in the evening.  We didn't have a direct
confrontation but he left his odor in the vicinity.

Activity in this contest seemed way up this year compared to previous years, at
least in this area.  I never had a time when the bands went dead.  One thing
about QRP portable operation is that you can't expect to work everyone you hear.
 I spent a lot of time calling people who never heard me. For some reason I just
couldn't work too many grids to the south or southeast.  I heard several
stations as far south as EM65 but they didn't hear me.  My site is supposed to
be the highest hill in this part of Illinois, but there could be some
obstruction to my southern path. Northern, western and eastern paths seemed
quite good. I'll have to analyze the paths from this site with Radio Mobile
later.

By the end of the contest, I was getting pretty cold despite running the car for
heat. I had trouble sending CW because my fingers didn't work. I was using paper
logs and my pen didn't like to write on damp paper. (Everything, both inside and
outside the car, was either damp or frozen by the end of the contest.) When it
came time to tear down antennas, I had to take frequent breaks to warm up.  At
one point while taking down antennas my fingers went from feeling cold to
feeling warm.  That scared me.  I really didn't want frostbite.  The next day my
fingers seemed fine, so I guess I avoided it.

I drove home (a 45 mile trip) in extremely dense fog.  I had to slow down to
about 30 mph, so the trip took twice as long as expected.  But I made it home
safely, had some hot chocolate and went to sleep.

Maybe I can get a consolation prize for sticking it out to the end?  I have to
wonder if I'm crazy for trying QRP Portable operation in a January contest.  I
guess I'm not quite ready to go on a Peter I DXpedition!

Thanks to everyone who did work me and I'm looking forward to the June contest
when things will be warmer.

73, Zack W9SZ


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