[3830] NAQP SSB W5WMU M/2 LP

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                    North American QSO Party, SSB

Call: W5WMU
Operator(s): W5WMU, KI5XP
Station: W5WMU

Class: M/2 LP
QTH: Lafayette, La.
Operating Time (hrs): 12

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
  160:   60    24
   80:  382    51
   40: 1127    59
   20:  860    61
   15:  194    27
   10:   26     7
-------------------
Total: 2649   229  Total Score = 606,621

Club: Cajun Contest Club

Team: 

Comments:

What a contest!  This was the 3rd time Pat has invited me to operate M/2 with
him in SSB, and its always fun.  We finally got things together this time
around.  I didnt park in the Extra band too long, didnt chat with everyone too
long, and all the other things that I've learned from Pat.  

We started on 10 and 20, figuring we'd have enough time to work 15 in between. 
My run on 20 meters started with Keith, W3KB and I figuring who was going to
keep the frequency.  Thanks to Keith, he yielded to me which began a run that
lasted until 5:30 local time, on one frequency.  5 and a half hours later, 20
began to die (early!!) and so I moved.  It was an excitement for me that I've
never experienced in RTTY contesting.  All I did was shout at the mike and type
in calls, THATS contesting!

Pat ran 10 until it was dead, switched to 15 and ran it for a while, and then
went to 40 early.  Who ever heard of 40 meters at 3:30 in the afternoon?! 
However, there were stations there, and he worked them one after another.  He
popped around bands until I finally gave up on 20 and decided it was time to
run 40.  For the most part, I never moved from 40 the remainder of the contest.
 When it was over, we'd cracked 1100 q's on 40, which was just what we figured
we'd need to compete.  With only 2 guys in the shack, we're always lacking in
the mult category.  We dont have a mult spotter, and so we're left with making
it up on rate.  We need a mult spotter!

For the most part, I ran both 20 and 40 with the antennas split NE and NW,
never switching from that config on 20 and only switching on 40 if the noise
was higher then the stations being worked.  Signals would be gone one second
and back the next, so sometimes antennas didnt help at all.  It was just a
matter of waiting a few seconds and the station was back.  Pat said the noise
on 80 and 160 was terrible, no beverages (that work) so it was hard fought the
whole way.

Things I noticed:  
Lots of dupes even early on.  

SSB lends to working stations out of order (I guess).  That was my first ever
pileup (like DX!!), so hopefully I handled it ok.  I ususally caught the
tailender, but as Pat and I talked today, I should have answered the tailender
with the exchange.  Instead I'd answer with the partial at which time they'd
come back with the call and exchange, and thus throw the rythmn of the q out. 
Next time, partial with exchange, his exchange and qrz, 3 instead of 5. 

20 died too early.

Its hard to type when its cold (for Louisiana!)

Worked several new upgrades!  Congratulations to all of the /AG's out there!  I
congratulated them each time I worked a /AG and welcomed them to contesting,
hopefully this means more contesters!

Thanks to Pat for the invite, and thanks to all of yall for the qso's!

73
Charlie
KI5XP


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