[3830] WPX CW WX0B(AD5Q) SOAB HP

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                    CQWW WPX Contest, CW

Call: WX0B
Operator(s): AD5Q
Station: WX0B

Class: SOAB HP
QTH: Dallas, Tx
Operating Time (hrs): 34.75
Radios: SO2R

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
  160:     
   80:   83
   40:  512
   20: 1101
   15:  412
   10:   26
------------
Total: 2134  Prefixes = 702  Total Score = 2,944,188

Club: North Texas Contest Club

Comments:

The K-Index was 3 to 4 going into this contest, so I wasn't expecting any big DX
runs. Since I felt conditions were more likely to improve than deteriorate, I
concentrated on stateside rate at first - to get the domestic calls in the log
early so they wouldn't drag down my point average during subsequent DX
openings. So I opened the contest with a 20 meter run of nearly 5 hours on the
same frequency, much of it with the low tri-banders which are usually much
louder than the stacks domestically. This was followed by another 3 hours on a
40M freq. There were plenty of 2nd radio Q's, and not much DX. I took a break
when the rate dropped off and returned for the JA run on 40. This went pretty
well, and 80 Meter conditions were also good.

After sunrise, I expected good (but brief) DX peaks on both 20 & 15. Wrong! 15
was awful, and the run on 20 put still more 1 pointers in the log. 15 started
running around 1400z, and it was also mostly stateside. The point average
stayed low until late afternoon, when the EU rate improved on 20. 10 was open
Saturday afternoon, but the rate wasn't good because the activity was still on
other bands. I used dueling CQ to work 10 while running EU's on 20, and never
found a JA run on 15. There was a nice 20M polar run beginning around 0300z for
about 90 minutes, then back to 40 & 80 for mostly stateside until the rate died
for the evening. At this point I am happy with my numbers, as conditions seemed
to be improving and I had the morning DX runs to look forward to (and improve my
point averages). 

At 0930z Sunday I rise for the JA's on 40, and the band is noisy with static
crashes. I check the radar, and there is a storm cell over Denton a line of
rain moving through Dallas toward WX0B. I try running JA, but almost nobody is
copyable. I pounced the loud JA's that weren't dupes, and checked 80 (worse).
This wasn't going to work. At the peak of the JA opening, with only 7 JA's
logged the 2nd night, I take an off time. It gets worse.

With the minimum off time at 1 hour, it was weird laying in bed as it got light
when the bands are all changing. At the end of the hour, it was raining, but no
lightning. The radar looked like an all-day rain for Dallas. I made 2 contacts
on 20, then KABOOOM. WX0B is not QRV during thunderstorms anymore. Unplug all
coax and rotor cables, and take another hour of off time beginning at 1201z. I
operate in the rain until 1430z, then KABOOOM (again). Yank the cables and take
a 45 minute break (which counts as op time). I feel I missed a lot of the better
DX openings on Sunday morning through static crashes and lightning QRT's. There
is also a rain static story here.

I took every minute of my remaining mandatory off-time in the afternoon, and
most of Sunday's operating was at a slow rate working stateside. I missed the
DX runs. The sun came out for a while on Sunday afternoon, and a 10 meter
opening then would have helped a lot - but I never found one. My only remaining
hope was to reach 3 million points, and this goal was easily in reach at 2330z
while working 6 pointers on 40, then KABOOOM! Another shutdown (30 minutes)
which counts as op time. Actual op time was closer to 34.75 hours, but is
officially 36.000. The off-time rules in this contest are burdensome, and I was
never sleepy.

I thank Jay and Sharon for their usual hospitality and use of the station, and
Sharon especially for the tip regarding chiggers: next time I powder myself
with sulphur before working on the beverages.

Roy -- AD5Q


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