[3830] WPX SSB KQ2M SOSB20 HP

[webform at b41h.net]

                    CQWW WPX Contest, SSB

Call: KQ2M
Operator(s): KQ2M
Station: KQ2M

Class: SOSB20 HP
QTH: CT
Operating Time (hrs): 32

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
  160:     
   80:     
   40:     
   20: 2719
   15:     
   10:     
------------
Total: 2719  Prefixes = 1097  Total Score = 7,457,406

Club: Frankford Radio Club

Comments:

**NEW US RECORD**

This is not really a "write-up" but an ongoing attempt to post my score quickly
after the contest and do the write-up later.  :-)

Another truly amazing 20 meter operating experience in my favorite contest!
Primarily a daytime contest with brief openings to the Pacific and West Coast
around 01-02z.  Even South America disappeared shortly after dark!  A few brief
moments of JA run (but only 94 total!!) interspersed with the occasional BY, YB,
HS, VR2.  I actually worked VK7ZE SHORTH-path for the first time.  We both
laughed when I told him that.  Sunday late afternoon was really tough with the
oncoming vicious T-storm & Tornados that had caused a lot of damage earlier in
NC and then PA.  Static crashes built to S9+20 making most q's impossible,
especially those in Asia.  Very sorry for appearing to be an alligator! 

Fortunately the nasty lightning, marble-sized hail and high winds waited until
0030z (phew!)to come, giving me just enough time to finish the contest and
disconnect everything.

I made about 600 LESS EU q's this weekend than ARRLDXSSB even though cndx
seemed a touch better.  When the K index climbed to 3, the runs went away; such
is life at the bottom of the cycle.  Fortunately the amazing equinoctial
propagation blessed us with a lot of interesting dx.  I can't remember the last
time I worked a JT on 20 or an HS in the morning AND the evening!  Even worked 7
Chinese stations! Usually I only get one; if I am lucky. 

Only worked 640 US and I tried REAL HARD to work them.  Having only one
rotatable 20 certainly hurts when you need to keep it on EU or JA.  I am sure
that I missed a lot of US/CA/SA prefixes off the side/back of the antenna.
Maybe next year.  Sure glad I put up my "West" dipole on Wednesday.  The
"South" dipole had worked so well, that I wanted to try a 2nd directional
antenna. 35' isn't a great height, but the nulls actually helped at times.
Since these dipoles are on separate feedlines from my 20 meter stack, I
developed a thick callous on the fingers of my left hand with the thousand+ 
manual "switches" that I made on the MFJ 6 pos switch switching between the
antennas.  The setup is so "low-tech" that it is pretty laughable. I can just
imagine someone visiting my station and saying "You actually use THAT?"  :-)  


Kudos to my WRTC-partner and good friend Dan, W7WA, with his usual great
effort
Single Band on 20 from the EU-challenged West Coast, and to CN2R who was giving
out a high 4900+ number before the end.  WOW! 

Check out the VE8EV blog if you like reading interesting and insightful contest
stories.  I read John's blog after every contest and I finally had the pleasure
of a contest qso with him.  His efforts to get on and give us q's truly are
heroic! 

Finally, operating SSB is TOUGH! I was reminded once again why I love CW so
much.  Less bandwidth/splatter/intermod, easier to copy signals, more Eastern
EU/Russian activity and a lot less wear and tear on my ears!  

I look forward using the "new 40" in the future.  It used to be said that 40
SSB was the toughest, nastiest most unpleasant sub-band to operate contests on,
now that "honor" has moved to 20 SSB.

Thanks for all the q's and the mults and cu in WPXCW!  

73
Bob KQ2M

kq2m at earthlink.net


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