[3830] ARRL 160 W9RE M/S HP

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                    ARRL 160-Meter Contest

Call: W9RE
Operator(s): W9RE
Station: W9RE

Class: M/S HP
QTH: IN
Operating Time (hrs): 16

Summary:
Total:  QSOs = 1142  Sections = 82  Countries = 24  Total Score = 253,870

Club: Society of Midwest Contesters

Comments:

For the first (and maybe the last time) I used telnet and spots for a contest. 
My friend N9RV encouraged me to try it out since I was not serious this time.  
I was testing out TRLinux on a new computer that had that capability.  I have
used TRLog for the past 15 years or so (on a DOS machine) and have always liked
it best of the logging programs.  At the encouragement of K5TR I set up a new
system to try out the Linux version (W9CF).  I have been getting it set up off
line for the past month or so and used it on the air for the first time during
the Thursday night NS event and on Friday in this contest.  

I had setup with  2 radios (7800 and K3) with 2 transmitting antennas running
HP but did not do any HP testing before the start.  My 2nd antenna was an 80M
dipole fed with open wire line/tuner in the shack.  I soon discovered that too
much RF was coming back down the transmit line to the K3 (HI RFI Notice) and
the RF in the shack also scrambled the YCCC SO2R box so it would not function
until it was rebooted along with the computer so I lost the first 5 minutes
figuring this out.

>From the start I had a telnet setup (thanks to W9ZRX) to give me exactly what I
wanted spot wise but for the first 6 hours I just ran on 1821 with hours of 152,
144, 129, 120, 104 and 86 for 740 Q's and saw spots fly by.  Then I  started
chasing spots at 0400z and had a nice 91 hour and it was fun (remember this is
a first for me).  I never tuned, I just clicked on spots.  I quit at 0712z with
920 Q's.  I got on for an hour in the late morning and then again started around
2200z operating off and on until 0612z.  

I finally got a sequence going of sending the spots to the 2nd receiver on the
7800 and using the 'split' function to work the spot and then quickly returning
to my CQ'ing frequency with just several button pushes.

The second night was spent (with help from K5TR) trying to diagnose a problem
with the band map I was having.  

I know my cw was much too heavy initially and I did change it later on the
first evening (thanks NA8V).  I sort of enjoyed the spots but I found that I
stopped tuning myself, I just wanted the skimmers to do all the tuning for me. 
They were probably faster at ID'ing the stations but I missed tuning by myself
and could not find a balance (I guess I need more practice??).  I suppose I am
just old school and like to do it by myself. 

Thanks to the above mentioned individuals and all who participate in this one
to make it fun.


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