[3830] CQWW CW VE3JM SOAB HP

[webform at b4h.net]

                    CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW

Call: VE3JM
Operator(s): VE3JM
Station: VE3JM

Class: SOAB HP
QTH: nr. Vankleek Hill
Operating Time (hrs): 42
Radios: SO2R

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Zones  Countries
------------------------------
  160:  100     9       23
   80:  926    22       70
   40: 1082    28       88
   20: 1006    28       86
   15: 1019    30       91
   10: 1001    27       93
------------------------------
Total: 5134   144      451  Total Score = 8,179,465

Club: Contest Club Ontario

Comments:

In the last few years I haven't had major technical issues. That was not the
case this time.

My 160 vertical became intermittent right when I tried making the first QSO,
even though it was working fine four weeks ago and I tested all the antennas
right before the contest. Applying high RF was not making things better. I was
lucky to make some QSOs the first night and there was only one Q made the
second night.

It can be very windy here. The past week strong winds made the mast on the
Trylon tower loose. When I arrived at the location Friday afternoon, I noticed
that the antennas were off by about 90 degrees - but couldn't see that the
antennas were moving in the wind. There was no time to fix it and I was hoping
the rotator would be holding the mast sufficiently to prevent it from spinning
further. Sure I was wrong. The mast holds XM240 and Skyhawk tribander, which I
use as the main 10 meter antenna and for chasing mults on 20 and 15.

I can see the antennas from the shack in the basement if I bend in the chair
really low. By Saturday morning the antennas were spinning freely and I had no
idea where the 40 meter antenna was pointing during the dark hours. During the
day I was bending in my chair to see where the tribander is headed.

I was getting frustrated with this and with the fact that I lost the 160
antenna. But just thinking of the effort made in the summer on building
4-square for 80 and all other sacrifices to get here had kept me in the chair.

Overall, it was a good experience. My guess is that the score would be around 9
million have I not had these technical issues. My mult count still sucks, even
though I made ~400 second radio QSOs. I just don't want to give up on running.

Thank you for a great weekend.

R1: K3, AL-1200
R2: FT 1K M5 Field, SB-220

Tower 1:
15: 5/5/5 @ 168/125/82'
20: 4/4/4 @ 160/110/60'
160: 130' wire vertical hanging from the tower (works well when fed properly)

Tower 2:
10: 4-el home made yagi @ 40', fixed on EU
Skyhawk tribander @ 72'
XM240 @ 80'

80: 4-square made from irrigation pipes - 65' high, 4" wide
Beverage 600' NE/SW


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