[3830] K1DG Poisson d'Avril

[Doug Grant]

        Poisson d'Avril Contest

Call: K1DG
Operator(s): K1DG
Station: K1DG

Class: First
QTH: NH
Operating Time (hrs): 1

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
  160:  a few
   80:   a few more
   40:    quite a few
   20:     lots
   15:     not a lot
   10:     hardly any
------------
Total: Enough     Total Score = Wow!

Club: Yankee Clipper Contest 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 operating experience in my favorite contest!

Wednesday 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!

**NEW US RECORD**

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.

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?"  :-)

**NEW US RECORD**

Kudos to long-time Pd'A entrant W7WHY with his usual great effort

Finally, operating the Pd'A is TOUGH! I was reminded once again why I
love real contests 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!

**NEW US RECORD**

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

73
Doug K1DG

**NEW US RECORD**