[3830] CQWW CW KL8DX SOSB/20 HP

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                    CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW

Call: KL8DX
Operator(s): KL8DX
Station: KL8DX

Class: SOSB/20 HP
QTH: Alaska
Operating Time (hrs): 26

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Zones  Countries
------------------------------
  160:                    
   80:                    
   40:                    
   20: 1646    27       70
   15:                    
   10:                    
------------------------------
Total: 1646    27       70  Total Score = 355,990

Club: North Coast Contesters

Comments:

This contest has it all, from excitement to frustration. My original
goal was to work an all band entry but that changed on Friday. Seems
our constant weather pattern as of late has been low pressure after
low pressure from the Gulf of Alaska. As it works its way into the
Interior, along comes the strong winds that accompany it. That kept
me off the low bands on Friday and I opted to start then as a 20 meter
single band. As the weekend progressed, the winds died down but I 
decided to keep my pace on 20 and only QSY'ing for those that requested.
And as I write this, we are just now feeling the effects of yet another
storm forecasted to bring 75+ mph wind gusts over the next 48 hours.

Many great highlights and lots of on air friends encountered. I'm 
still a greenhorn at pile-up management but had fun so I appreciate
the patience of everyone. Add in northern latitude conditions, some
interesting echo effects from signals, it can make for some really
tough times picking out a callsign, or even parts of a callsign. 

Band conditions were pretty good into Europe this first night but even
with high power, it took some calling. The second night, the path over
the North Pole was far from good and it seemed like the only good
propagation from Alaska was into Zone 33. I was excited to snag 35
though which was surprising! Nothing heard toward Europe on 15 meters
from my station. As for anything toward Asia, I normally work them 
off the back of my beam so a few more repeats are sent their way. 

I kept checking 10 meters and I did not hear a peep on that band all 
weekend. Tried one QSY to 10 but that yielded nothing. I also tried a
few QSY attempts on 15 but I got skunked there as well. On Sunday, I 
kept getting several dupes so I confirmed my suspicions after the
contest and found a station posted me as KL7DX and not by my actual
callsign. It happens frequently. 

I will update my blog with more contest details but in summary, this 
turned out to be my best effort ever in a contest. Not much by contesting
station standards but from my small station, I'm excited to once again
reach another goal and milestone in my casual contesting career. I have
received lots of great information from the Alaska DX - Contest group 
for which I am deeply appreciative. 

Thanks again for the QSO's and may the holiday season bring you joy, good
health, happiness, and of course, plenty of DX. 

73,
Phil KL8DX
Denali National Park, Alaska
Radio: Icom 756PRO
Antenna: Mosley TA-34-XL @ 43 feet
Amp: Ameritron AL-1500
http://kl8dx.blogspot.com/
http://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm


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