[3830] NAQP SSB KE1FO Single Op LP

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                    North American QSO Party, SSB

Call: KE1FO
Operator(s): KE1FO
Station: KE1FO

Class: Single Op LP
QTH: VT
Operating Time (hrs): 5
Radios: SO2R

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
  160:    0     0
   80:    2     2
   40:  107    32
   20:   77    27
   15:    1     1
   10:    0     0
-------------------
Total:  187    62  Total Score = 11,594

Club: Yankee Clipper Contest Club

Team: 

Comments:

Started out feeling fairly serious about this one, but knowing that I was at a
large disadvantage on Phone due to my low antennas.  Things started out fairly
well on 20 - found a spot up high at 14320 and was able to get a little run
going, with several 40M 2nd radio q's interspersed.  Worked 23 in the first 40
minutes (I know, not much for rate, but from my station, it was pretty good). 


At 1841Z I worked somebody on 40 who needed a fill - can't remember who.  I
found that my DVK was working, but when I tried to use the mic on the 2nd rig,
all that would be transmitted is a raspy hum.  Decided it was time to install
one of those audio isolation transformers that have been in the junk box for
almost a year waiting to be installed.  Out came the tools and I had the
problem rectified by 1915Z.

>From 1915z-2015z I had 65 q's.  Very good on phone with my station.  Mostly on
40M at 7244, and as that slowed I did some dueling cq's on 20 as well, way up
at 14345 that yielded a few q's.  At 1953Z that ended when KP2M moved in and
started a run.  Found a spot on 40 at 7184 (had been S&P on 40 while running on
20) and started calling CQ as I S&P'd 20.  At 2004z I worked my only 15M q when
W6NL asked me to move down from 20M.  It was an easy Q, but didn't hear any
others on the band, so stayed on 20.  

2015z-2115z was another good hour with 50 q's in the log, mostly S&P on 20 and
found a spot at 7208 on 40 and had a slow run as I continued to search on 20. 


2115z-2215z was slower, only 30 q's.  2142z started a final sweep of 20.  Found
a few new ones as I searched.  Took a break for dinner at 2203z.  

At 2334z I came back to the rigs and decided to check 80.  Worked N3AD, who
barely could hear me.  Decided to stick with 40.  Duked it out on 40 S&P until
0055z, with only 21 more q's in the log in that 1.5 hours.  Couldn't get a run
going, and it took many calls and repeats to be heard.  Worked my other 80M q
at 0019z with W8DA.  

Started another project and checked back every now and then.  W5MX heard me on
40M, KP2M was easy on 40, as was HQ9R.  Finished by working K5ER at 0336z on
40M.

Checked the bands again at 0430z to see if the propagation had changed and I
could work some 40 or 80.  Swept both bands for about 20 minutes and only heard
four stations calling, all dupes.  Put the rig on 160 and heard 2 more stations,
but with no 160 antenna, loading the 80M vertical on 160 resulted in no
responses.  

Turned off the rig and went to bed.  Total of 187 valid q's and 62 mults.

Station setup:

2x TS-940
WriteLog

10M: Force 12 C3S at 30 feet
15M: Force 12 C3S at 30 feet
     40M dipole on 3rd harmonic at 25 feet
20M: Force 12 C3S at 30 feet
     20M Inv-V at 25 feet
40M: Dipole at 25 feet
     HF2V Vertical with 4 raised radials
80M: HF2V Vertical with 4 raised radials
160M:No antenna

Lessons learned:

Check the DVK AND Mic before the contest.  I had rearranged the station this
week and obviously introduced a new problem with a ground loop.  I had tested
the DVK, but not the mic before the contest started.  I lost 1/2 hour of prime
time due to this problem.  

I need a better 2nd antenna for 20 or 15.  When I was on 20 and wanted to check
15, I had no good options.  The 20M dipole just would not sustain the run, but
the 15M dipole didn't hear things that the beam did.  I could barely hear N6ML
on the 15M dipole, but he was an easy mult with the beam.  Maybe a fixed wire
beam for 15 that I can put up when I want to.

Figure out what the heck happened on 40 after dark.  My 40M dipole is up 25
feet, so it is hard to believe that it was easier to work the DX stations
(KP2M, HQ9R) than anything stateside (although from here, those might be closer
than w6?).  It definitely worked well before sunset - even to the west coast
working 1 W7, but after it was a disaster.  

80M was a total wash.  Don't know why.  I could hear folks loud and clear, but
they were not hearing me.  Heard mostly east coast and midwest on 80, so maybe
the takeoff angle on the vertical is too low.  Maybe adding an 80M element to
my fan dipole would help (even though the takeoff angle would be very high). 
The Vertical is tuned for the low end of 80 and I need to get my tuner for 80M
setup in the shack.  It is currently out by the antenna switches near where the
feedlines come into the house.  Running back and forth to make tuner adjustments
is no fun.  

Except for the after sunset disaster, had a fun time.  The format for NAQP is
great for me.  Mults count on all bands, which makes things fun moving mults or
being able to run on a 2nd band and have everything be new.  Also a 12 hour
contest makes it easier to split time between family and radio.  Perfect!

See you down the log.

73 de Al, KE1FO


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