[3830] WPX CW AA8IA SO(A)AB LP

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                    CQWW WPX Contest, CW

Call: AA8IA
Operator(s): AA8IA
Station: AA8IA

Class: SO(A)AB LP
QTH: OH
Operating Time (hrs): 19

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
  160:    0
   80:  138
   40:  172
   20:  164
   15:  128
   10:   25
------------
Total:  627  Prefixes = 302  Total Score = 389,882

Club: Mad River Radio Club

Comments:

With it being a holiday weekend and my birthday, along with the fact that the
rain had let up this weekend and there was yardwork to do, I couldn't put in as
much time as I would have liked.  On the other hand, I put in much more time
than I thought I would have.   I managed to spend more time in this contest
than any previous contest, and i managed more Qs than any previous contest.

One thing I didn't do was pay any attention to prefixes.  It wasn't until the
last two hours that I realized I might have a chance at reaching 600 Qs.   So I
switched from SOAB to SOAB(A).   It was nice to be able to switch bands and
instantly see who I had previously worked and what new calls (and prefixes)
were available.   Anyway, my prefix count isn't where I'd like it to be, but
I'm happy with the outcome.

Even after playing in contests for a few years, I still haven't learned my
lesson about the weak stations I hear.   Usually, if they aren't S3+ I don't
even bother throwing out my call.   Big mistake.   It was so fun in the last
few hours to throw out my call to S0 signals -- and then hear them actually
come back to me and make the contact.   I underestimate who can receive my
signal, and more importantly I understimate the ability of other stations to
pull out a weak signal and copy an exchange under mediocre conditions... as if
to suggest that I'm the only person capable of copying weak signals.   Shame on
me!

I should have spent more time on 20/40.   There definitely was 15m activity,
but propogation on the high bands just wasn't what I had hoped.

For next year I need to (a) spend more time operating, (b) attempt to answer
all CQs I hear, and (c) actually focus on increasing the prefix count.

Thanks to the many stations who participated, especially those that worked me. 
 I had a great time and hope you all did as well!


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