[3830] 7QP KS5A/M MobileCW LP

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                    7th Call Area QSO Party

Call: KS5A/M
Operator(s): KS5A
Station: KS5A

Class: MobileCW LP
QTH: AZ
Operating Time (hrs): 8.5

Summary:
 Band  CW Qs  Ph Qs  Dig Qs
----------------------------
  160:                   
   80:    7              
   40:   76              
   20:  365              
   15:  103              
   10:    2              
    6:                   
    2:                   
----------------------------
Total:  553     0       0  Mults = 60  Total Score = 99,540

Club: Arizona Outlaws Contest Club

Comments:

7QP Category:  M/S Mobile LO CW (XYL, W7LLT, did some driving)

The 2013 7QP is history.  As an Arizona mobile, challenges abound, but it is
always a great time with a chance to travel through many varied and scenic
landscapes plus hear from old friends and make some new ones.  Contesting
always brings out the best of operators, and this was definitely true this
year.  You guys and gals were great.

Goal for KS5A/m ops this year:  Run those AZ counties that have little or no 
planned ops posted on the 7QP web site in the prior week.  Thanks to those that
do list their county planned ops.  More use of this feature in any party will
save mobiles significant time and expense.  When possible, please help them out
and list your planned county operations!

If one intends to run a lot of 7QP counties, Arizona is not your state.  This
year, as in previous parties, those lite or no coverage counties are always at
opposite ends of the state.  Mountainous terrain creates another obstacle for
continuous operations.  RF just does not seep very well through those steep
rock walls or in the deep canyons.  There are no straight roads in Arizona 
other than in the deserts.  Driving safety is always a main priority as half
the route was in the mountains.

The actual run counties (9) and number of contacts:   Apache(64), Navajo(122),

Coconino(49), Gila(51), Yavapai(66), La Paz(57), Maricopa(77), Pinal(18),
Pima(0), Santa Cruz(49).  Apache was added at the start and Pima was not run
for time constraints.

Other numbers:

7QP Route Mileage:  665
7QP Driving Time:  15:40
N1MM Time On:  8:31
Total Trip Mileage:  880
Total Trip Days:  2

DX: DL G JA KH6 KL LY OE OH S5 UA UA9 UR

Missed US multipliers: KY ND NM OK SD RI 
Missed VE multipliers: AB NT NU PE QC YT
 
Station QSO's:
10 - K7ZX
9 - W4UT
8 - K5WAF, N6MU
7 - N4CD, N4DW, W0GXQ
6 - AA5TL/7, K1TN, KK7S, N5NA, NE7D

Murphy's:  Although the hustler radiators remained tuned from their last use, a

check of the IC-706 rig output indicated power had dropped to 50w.  Deciding
not to take a chance the rig would make it through the entire contest, I
elected to swap it out with a backup IC-7000.  Unfortunately, but probably by
design, none of the separation or battery cables are interchangeable.  This
delayed the pre-contest positioning.

Prior use of the IC-7000 consisted of a few initial tests a few years ago. 
Once the rig was fired up and memories set, there were no rig or antenna
problems during the party.  Just in case, I took the operating manual.

The daytime part of the route went as planned and as expected.  After sunset,
my concern was making it to the last county, Santa Cruz.  When leaving on the
trip no one had signaled an operation from that county.  Thus, little run 
time was spent in Pinal county and none in the populated Pima county.

Arriving in Santa Cruz a few hours before contest end, the last Murphy hit. 
After running on 20m, low and behold, the truck developed RFI problems on 40m
and 80m.  RF was getting into the engine computer or the fuel injector relays
and causing misfires.  I made a few contacts on those bands and elected to call
it quits before being stranded at midnight, and 180 miles from home.

Overall, it was a long day but fun.  Sorry the ops time was cut short.  Thanks
to all for the contacts and hope we did not miss too many calls.  Special 
cudo's to the sponsor, CODXC.  You guys did it again - great party!  

More special thanks to the N1MM guys.  The ROVERQTH, COUNTYLINE entries worked
great as well as logging multiple counties from other stations.

Mobile equip:
F-350 diesel
IC-7000
Hustler resonators, horizontally mounted on hub, 13' AGL
N1MM Logger

73/Guff
KS5A/m


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