[3830] TBDC N9ADG Single Op HP

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                    Stew Perry Topband Challenge

Call: N9ADG
Operator(s): N9ADG
Station: N9ADG

Class: Single Op HP
QTH: 
Operating Time (hrs): 12

Summary:
Total:  QSOs = 379  Total Score = 1,956

Club: Western Washington DX Club

Comments:

In the Pacific timezone, we have the benefit of a brief 'teaser' period of about
1.5 hours at the beginning of this contest, then a whole day of 'thinking about'
when and how to attack the rest of the TBDC as the grey line marches across the
continent.  The morning contest start brought a lot of familiar calls, and some
nice DX from UA0, JA, KH6, and AK.  Thoughts of "wasn't that nice?" and "hmm,
maybe should have a listening antenna for JA after all" persisted at the edge
of all other normal Saturday activities, along with furtive glances at the
clock, calculations of how much of the 14 hours have been used, and how to
split remaining time against the surplus of 'clock' hours.  Splitting wood was
a good afternoon activity to encourage the mind not think about the contest,
and the body to expend calories and get a little exercise; aren't these rounds
from that tree that took out a beverage last winter? Then my wife appeared
posing the question of "Shouldn't you be on the radio now? It's getting dark"
...
- - - 
Conditions from here around 0030 until after 0800 were challenging with a lot
of static (wind?), atmospheric noise from snow squalls, and something (branch?
raccoon?) hitting the ENE beverage at frequent but non-uniform intervals. The
wind was gusty most of the night. Signals on the N/S line were better, it's a
shorter antenna. Sorry for the request for repeats -- QRN and QSB were
seemingly more challenging than normal.  The N/S antenna didn't seem to be
working until about 0300, which was weird. 

Pre-test, It's usually rewarding to try to improve matters with antenna work --
the 160m TX antenna was changed pre-TBDC to a ground-feed point with 8 buried
radials, about 20 on-the-surface radials. It's a definite improvement over the
previous slightly elevated feedpoint with a dozen radials. There's plenty of
room on the ground for even more radials as the grass starts growing in the
spring.

Last spring I rebuilt an amp that's capable of 1.5KW on 160m; tried that too
this year. Details are on my web page of the AL1200 converted to use a GS35b. 

Thanks to all who worked me, sticking it out as I asked for (lots of) repeats,
and who survived my ham-handed manual sending for fills. W8VSK was perhaps the
most difficult completed (hopefully !) contact -- teasing bits and pieces out
of the ether seemed to take a while.

Worked DX* included JA, UA0, V63(!definitely a surprise, thanks!), ZL3 (thanks
for not turning in early!), USVI, HR, CE, KH6 and KL7. Other DX**: VY1 (and
because it's just great to hear from NT and that should be encouraged).

DX* - "Traditional" in the 'far away' sense (maybe just the KL7's north of Icy
Bay, AK :-)). 

DX** - "Uncommon or rare" DX - not necessarily far away, but notable
nonetheless. VE9 would fit in the 'distance' category from Seattle on most
days, except that VE9DX is really on the ball and has things covered really
well-- so well in fact causing New Brunswick to be "closer" to Seattle, or New
York City, than say somewhere in 'NNY' like Potsdam, at least in the last 160m
section-oriented contest or two. 

TODO for the future: More Radials. Work on rate; try multi; be DX; 

Happy New Year to all, 'see' you in the usual places on the air / chat /
reflectors! If you're in Seattle, do tell!


-Brian


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