[3830] Commonwealth VE2FUA(VE3FU) Open HP

[webform at b4h.net]

                    RSGB Commonwealth Contest, CW

Call: VE2FUA
Operator(s): VE3FU
Station: VE2ZV

Class: Open HP
QTH: Cantley, Quebec
Operating Time (hrs): 24
Radios: SO2R

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
   80:  185
   40:  195
   20:  273
   15:   14
   10:    3
------------
Total:  670  Total Score = 6,770

Club: 

Comments:

Many thanks to Fern VE2ZV for hosting me this year!

I stepped across the border to VE2 to try and increase the VE Team score by
having access to all the VE3's that I wouldn't normally be able to work.  While
I did increase my score (I've always operated in the 12-hour Restricted Category
in the past), I didn't work as many VE3's as I hoped.

Like most everyone, this was really a 3 band contest this year.  I wasted a lot
of time switching between 15m and 20m to make sure I didn't miss an opening.  It
looks there never was a solid opening on 15m in this area. VE3KI and VE3QAA
(both local) also only worked 14 stations on 15m.  I worked 5 VE3 stations they
couldn't work, so they obviously found 5 other stations that I didn't.  The only
VE3 that wasn't local that I worked on 15m was VE3EJ.  I moved for VE3DZ but I
couldn't hear him.

It would be interesting to see where the cut-off point was on 15m between VO1
and VE3 / western VE2.  VO1AU worked close 180 stations on 15m while VE3EJ
worked 61 and VE3DZ worked 30.  It would be interesting to hear from a VE1 /
VE9 / VY2 to see what they worked 15m.

It looks like the Team competition really brought out the VK's and ZL's this
year.  I actually worked more VK's on 40m than VE3's :=).  I hope they are all
back again next year.

I worked about 30 non-Commonwealth stations which I logged separately on a
sheet of paper.  I didn't give them serial numbers, just a signal report.  One
EA8 was so persistent that when I ignored him for a couple of minutes he
obviously thought the frequency was free and started to call CQ on top of me. 
I gave him a signal report and he went away.

I managed to work all 4 of the 5 HQ stations on 3 bands.  I only worked and
heard GB5CC on 20m.

I never heard the 7Q7 at all.  Other than the BERU regulars (VE, VK, ZL, ZS,
ZB2EO, 9J2BO) and P3J, ZC4LI, 9H1XT, J88DR, V25XF and E51PJT, the only other
Commonwealth stations I worked were 2x VP9, 2x VP8 and an 8P.  VE3KI reported
that he worked a VO2, V3, and J7.

The 07Z and 08Z hours were slow and really noisy with static crashes.  I worked
nothing on 80m in the 08 hour.  I scanned 80m several times and couldn't hear
anybody - not even any  VE3's calling CQ.  I kept myself awake by reading the
latest issue of TCA or switching directions on the 4-square after every CQ :=)

I recorded most of the contest except for the first 20 minutes (forgot to press
“Record”) and 3 QSOs were lost due to computer crashes.  The computer
crashes also cost me about 30 minutes of operating time.  Send me an e-mail
(see QRZ.com) if you'd like to hear how you sounded here.

Here's a breakdown of some of my log:

	QSOs	Raw	Dupes	Bonus	HQ
80m	185	188	3	45	4
40m	195	200	5	56	4
20m	273	286	13	41	5
15m	14	14	0	12	0
10m	3	3	0	3	0
	670	691	21	157	13 

VE3:	74 QSOs (including HQ) with 30 unique stations
G:	426 QSOs (including HQ and dupes) with 228 unique stations
VK:	41 QSOs with 25 unique stations
ZL:	28 QSOs (including HQ) with 15 unique stations

80m
VE3:	23
G:	112
VK:	7
ZL:	8

40m
VE3:	20
G:	100
VK:	25
ZL:	15

20m
VE3:	23
G:	211
VK:	9
ZL:	5

15m
VE3:	5
G:	3
VK:	0
ZL:	0

10m
VE3:	3
G:	0
VK:	0
ZL:	0

Station:

80m: 4-Square (3-el wire beam fixed on EU not resonant in the CW part of the
band)
40m: 2-el (on same tower as 15m)
20m: 4-el (on same tower as 10m.  Fixed on EU - stuck brake)
15m: 12m/17m dipole (on same tower as 40m)
10m: 5-el (on same tower as 20m.  Fixed on EU - stuck brake)

R7 (for second radio)

TS-950SDX and TS-950SD
Amp Supply LK-800

The station played really well.  The F/B on the 80m 4-square was amazing,
although VE2ZV says it's better in the SSB part of the band.

Thanks to VE3KI for the loan of the R7 and to VO1AU / VE3AAQ for the loan of
bandpass filters.  I tried using SO2R but it just didn't work out this time.

Thanks for all the QSO's!

73,

Chris VE3FU / VE2FUA


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