[3830] TBDC K1LT Single Op HP

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                    Stew Perry Topband Challenge - Warmup

Call: K1LT
Operator(s): K1LT
Station: K1LT

Class: Single Op HP
QTH: EM89 - Ohio
Operating Time (hrs): 11.25

Summary:
Total:  QSOs = 322  Total Score = 976

Club: Mad River Radio Club

Comments:

Does this event portend the return to "classic" propagation?  In the
old days (80s and 90s), it was often difficult to work Europe on 160
and working Japan was extremely rare.  On the other hand, one usually
managed a QSO with either VK or ZL or both.  Propagation this weekend
was very reminiscent of those bad old days.  Obviously equipment has
gotten better and stations are more numerous, but I wonder if I've
been spoiled by several seasons of better than average 160 meter
propagation.  Its probably more likely that we will just have more
frequent poor propagation days now that a few sunspots have returned.

Worked only 3 Europeans, G4AMT, EI2CN, and F5IN.  For a while PY1NB
has my best DX until VK6HD and VK6GX called one after the other very
near the end of the test.  Also worked FM5BH and FM5CD, KV4FZ, and
HI3TEJ, although he didn't offer a grid square.  Where did all the PJs
go?  Worked 2 KH6 and 1 KL7 and briefly heard a JA beneath an
incessantly CQing N2 station.

This was my first 160 contest with the new K3.  I was able at the last
minute to modify the SDR software to inter-operate with the K3.  Now I
can listen to any 2 of 3 receivers in diversity mode.  It might be
time to put together a panadapter for the K3 because I might be able
to visually scan for signals on the various antennas faster than
listening for them.  That would be an interesting experiment.  I did a
little of that: listening to the 2 K3 receivers on separate Beverages
while watching the SDR receiver on the phased array.

Worked more stations (322 versus 289) than last year but far fewer
distance points (976 versus 1461).  Like everyone else, I agree that
the static was really bad.  I quit about 0515Z and came back around
0915Z hoping that the static would be less.  I don't think I missed
anything.

Equipment: K3, ETO 91B (thanks PJ2/K8ND), 65 foot Tee antenna with 80
radials, 12 Beverages, 8 short verticals in a broadside/end-fire array
and beam steering SDR receiver array (see k1lt.com/QEX Beam Steering
on 160.pdf).


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