[3830] CQ160 CW N1LN Multi-Op HP

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                    CQ 160-Meter Contest, CW

Call: N1LN
Operator(s): W0UCE, N4CW, KF7ADB, N1LN
Station: N1LN

Class: Multi-Op HP
QTH: NC
Operating Time (hrs): 40

Summary:
Total:  QSOs = 1564  State/Prov = 59  Countries = 69  Total Score = 698,752

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

Comments:

As with every contest outing from our QTH, we start off with two sets of goals. 
One is always overall performance and the other is to have fun with friends,
food and conversation while we chip away at the first goal. Once again we
easily accomplished our fun goal. A big thanks to Jack, W0UCE and Bert, N4CW
for making this goal so easy to accomplish. Additionally, I must not leave out
Chef Archie (aka: W0UCE) for helping again with the FOOD portion of the fun
goal.    

>From the performance perspective our goal was simple, beat last year’s score
and, if possible, place in the top ten. This year I thought that we would have
a shot at both categories of the performance goal. Why, well because the once
single inverted-V transmit antenna has been replaced by two phased T top wire
verticals. They are still not quite done, but they work fairly well, so the key
to making our performance goal was simply to increase in 10 point Qs and
hopefully our mults would also go up along the way.    

NOTE: Before I put this overview together a PVRC reflector email landed in my
inbox that was written by Bill â€" W4ZV.  I found it quite interesting so, I
hope he doesn’t mind me borrowing his multi-year analysis viewpoint. Below
are the stats from the past three years of operations.   

Year	2point	5point	10point		Mults		Claimed Score

2011	1212	97	255		59 	69	698,752
2010	1198	95	240		58	70	679,936
2009	1299	116	332		58	74	857,736

After each year some type of improvement was made to the station. The phased
vertical XMIT antenna mod was by far the biggest improvement, so we were
optimistic.  However, based on other comments on 3830, the conditions were not
equal to either of the previous two years. In one write-up 2009 was even
referred to as the MAGIC YEAR. We agree. Friday night was noisy to Europe and
we had a problem with the west beverage. The noise was down on Saturday and the
west beverage was fixed.  (bad terminating resistor)  Other than these two
observations and the one beverage issue,  everything played well.  By the end
of hour 6 we were over 100 Qs and 11 mults ahead of 2010. The rest of the
contest it was a struggle to stay ahead and, as you can see, we managed to beat
last year, but by a slim margin. But, we did beat it. Now it is time to see if
we improved our overall position and, hopefully, finished in the top 10.     

I have read a couple postings with 60 US/VE mults. Wonder what we missed that
was on. We missed NWT, NU, YT, NF.  As for DX mults, we worked everything we
could hear except for 3V.  I was the op at that time and was able to copy the
3V part of the call, but that was it. Never heard a VK or ZL and only have 1 JA
in the log. We did well into EU, but never had a good run. I think the message
is quite clear for where to look for station improvements now……  There is
one change that my wife (N1YXU) has taken off the table.  We are not moving. So
perhaps the best area to focus on for station mods is the RX antenna situation.
If we can’t hear them â€" we certainly can’t work them.

Thanks to everyone that worked us, even for the 75 dupes and a few triples. 
Thanks for those that were patient with repeat requests. Thanks to those that
spotted us â€" the increased rate was much appreciated. Thanks to the contest
sponsors.

One more comment.  I would like to thank Mike, KF7ADB, for joining us.  He is
both new to CW and to Contesting.  In a short couple of weeks his code speed
has increased from around 15 wpm to around 35 wpm. He did an outstanding job
and will hopefully be a regular at N1LN for future CW contests.  Jack, keep
working with him.  His progress is nothing less than OUTSTANDING.

Station:
Elecraft K3,  Ameritron AL 1500, phased wire verticals for XMIT,   five single
wire beverages (NE, N, NW, W, S),   K9AY used for Diversity RX, N1MM

73, 
Bruce â€" N1LN
(aka: NC4KW)


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