[3830] ARRL Jan VHF K1TOL Single Op HP

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                    ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes

Call: K1TOL
Operator(s): K1TOL
Station: K1TOL

Class: Single Op HP
QTH: FN44
Operating Time (hrs): 25

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
    6:  283    64
    2:           
  222:           
  432:           
  903:           
  1.2:           
  2.3:           
  3.4:           
  5.7:           
  10G:           
  24G:           
-------------------
Total:  283    64  Total Score = 18,112

Club: 

Comments:

Geez, NO power line noises for 2 solid months then Contest Weekend erupts with
constant s-5/7 noise levels from South to SW and s-2/3 from SW to NW! ....and
to the NE/EAST, well, that was "unmentionable." The minus -zero temps,
super-low humidity, sunny skies, and constant wind surges wreaked havoc on a
normally pretty quiet noise level (S 0/1 almost 95% of time here). Entire
period on Saturday, I had my antennas pointed to the West as the QRN made the
"normal" W1s in New England and the W2s along the East Coast impossible to hear
anyone less than s-5 signals (probably "lost" 50-60 qsos on Saturday and maybe
another 20 or more on Sunday---my stock phrase was: "I can hear you in my
noise, but can't get the call"....very, very frustrating!). Only time QRN was
around s-2/3 was late evening SAT. night and very early SUN. morning for some
early scatter qsos. My "normal" s-0 meter never dipped below s2 all weekend and
roared to s5-7, from South to West, late Sunday morning until almost the end of
contest. Needless to say, my high hopes of reaching 300 qsos and 70+ grids were
quickly dashed at the start of the Contest(Murphy's Law of 6M expectations!!).
There were some great scatter bursts at start of Contest (NW0W & W9RM) but only
the high-power stations made it into the log....and, oh, there was a 2-3 minute
"Es" opening late Sunday AM into W4-land and one lonely W5. 
Moral of the weekend: "Prepare for the Best, but Expect the Worst!"


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