[3830] CQWW CW YS/K9GY(@YS1RR/4) SOAB LP

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                    CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW

Call: YS/K9GY
Operator(s): K9GY
Station: YS1RR/4

Class: SOAB LP
QTH: EK53JL
Operating Time (hrs): 39

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Zones  Countries
------------------------------
  160:  121    10       24
   80:  498    21       52
   40:  801    22       63
   20:  550    19       48
   15:  485    17       37
   10:   51    11       17
------------------------------
Total: 2506   100      241  Total Score = 1,863,565

Club: Society of Midwest Contesters

Comments:

Thank you to Bonnie (my XYL), Francisco YS1FAF, Raymundo YS1RR, Christina (XYL
YS1RR), and the staff at the YS1RR/4 beach QTH. Ham radio is really a great
hobby with friends all around the world! 

This was my first time ever being DX in the WW CW contest (previously two C6AYM
outings for WPX CW). Goal was to find a close in NA DXCC country where I would
be the only one providing the mult and have fun with it. El Salvador is an IARP
country so licensing was a breeze ($10 ARRL: IARP license, $10 CRAS: YS
permit).

Please consider a visit to El Salvador as the country has a lot to offer! The
war with the FMLN was over 15 years ago...There's hiking, surfing, history, and
tons of other stuff to do...Plus it's mid-80s to low 90s F temp! 

Started out on Weds pm/Thur am in the Colonia Escalon area of San Salvador.
Unfortunately there was very high noise on the low bands due to electric fences
etc. A call to Raymundo to inquire on the availability of his beach QTH was
successful. His property is approx 8km (5 miles) S/SE along the beach from La
Libertad. Got there on Thurs afternoon (Happy Thanksgiving!)...Put up an 80m
dipole at approx 50 feet which worked great on Thurs night. So I was encouraged
for the low bands from this QTH. I used the existing 100 foot tower to support
the 160 and 80m dipoles but did not use the two beams on the tower as the plan
was to be an "all dipole expedition" and the beams weren't connected to any
coax. 

Friday morning put up the remaining dipoles (160, 40, 20). Even took a nap in
the afternoon. Many thanks to K5ZD for the sleep article! After reading that
and doing the contest I feel like I stepped up my game a level. 

Before the start there was very high noise levels on 160 and 80m which was
confusing since Thurs on 80m was so good. So the decision on what band to start
on was dictated by Mother Nature otherwise I would of started on 80m. The A was
12 and K 1 at 23z...so it wasn't solar indexes. Around 05z I found out why
160/80m was so noisy! A huge thunderstorm rolled in from the Pacific...at 0515z
it was raining buckets outside! 

Two power failures (0653z and 1020z). The first one lasted less than 10 mins.
Since the second one was so early in the morning I figured the local ComEd
equivalent wasn't going to be too quick about it so ended up taking a quick 35
min nap with the room light waking me up when the power came back on. Not sure
if Raymundo had an aux generator there or not but power seemed pretty decent
for being semi-rural location. 

I enjoyed the LARGE pileups. I could certainly tell when I had been spotted on
packet, hah! I'm happy with the results even though there is always room for
improvement. Congrats to fellow zone seven competition H7/K9NW...U da man!

Ended up being inducted into the Miami customs and baggage re-check shuffle on
the way back. My arrival and departure gates were NEXT to each other but I had
to re-claim my luggage and re-check them in...causing me to get bumped to the
next MIA-ORD flight which ended up being delayed. What a pain! 

I had so much fun I'm considering going back real soon :-) 
My "Zone 7 in 2007" expedition was a success! 

Best of health to all, 
Eric 

FT-857D 
Dipoles: 
160m balun at approx 100 feet 
 80m balun at approx  50 feet 
 40m balun at approx  18 feet 
 20m balun at approx  18 feet 
(both 40m & 20m between two palm trees, hah!) 
MFJ tuner for 15/10m (160 dipole worked well on 15/10m).


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