[3830] ARRL Jan VHF N3UM Single Op LP

[webform at b41h.net]

                    ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes

Call: N3UM
Operator(s): N3UM
Station: N3UM

Class: Single Op LP
QTH: MD
Operating Time (hrs): 10

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
    6:  102    27
    2:   52    15
  222:           
  432:           
  903:           
  1.2:    2     1
  2.3:           
  3.4:           
  5.7:           
  10G:           
  24G:           
-------------------
Total:  156    43  Total Score = 6,966

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

Comments:

Lots of surprises in this Jan. VHF SS.  There was freezing 
drizzle and fog: many ops complained that the resulting 
ice on antennas made SWR numbers look like gasoline 
prices.  The high SWRs were much worse on and above 
2 m.  My numbers were 3:1 on 6 m. and 5:1 on 2 m., but my 
100-W transistor PAs did not trip out.  So, I and many other 
stations spent much more time than usual on 6 m. for the 
first few hours, a trend reinforced by good E skip to EM:
I found 13 QSOs and 9 grids in EM in the first 2.5 hr. Then, 
Sat. evening (after 01Z) activity died.  I spent Sun. AM 
setting up 1296 MHz gear, but then made only 2 QSOs 
on 1296 Sun. afternoon vs 7 in Jan. 2011: stations with 
1296 still had ice problems or simply stayed QRT Sun. 
afternoon.  I found 4 skip grids in EL just after 19 Z Sun. 
Despite all the adversities, I was surprised to claim 
my second-best final score in the Jan. VHF SS in the 
past 10 years!  In 2003 I found 4 fewer Es grids on 6 m. but
48 more QSOs on 2 m. for a 6% higher score. Even withOUT any  
Es QSOs, this year's score would have my the second-best in 
the 8 years since 2001 in which I made no Es QSOs in Jan.


Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/