[3830] SS SSB KK7AC Single Op LP

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                    ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB

Call: KK7AC
Operator(s): KK7AC
Station: KK7AC

Class: Single Op LP
QTH: AZ
Operating Time (hrs): 22

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
  160:     
   80:   36
   40:   78
   20:  283
   15:  337
   10:  216
------------
Total:  950  Sections = 83  Total Score = 157,700

Club: Arizona Outlaws Contest Club

Comments:

High from the ACACC representing the AOCC, this is my favorite contest to
operate in. WPX is probably a close 2nd. Anyway, 3rd sweep in the past 4 SS, so
I was happy to achive the true mark of success in this one; a sweep. This is
good as I was out for redemption from last year's 82 section skunk. I believe I
worked all sections at least twice except VI and NL. Good to see the noramally
rare guys out this year like NY-LI, PR, VI, DE, NT.

Sunday morning I noticed that the auto tuner was tuning at somewhat small
frequency changes on both my zepp's, not as much on the big 600ohm ladder line
antenna, but more so on the smaller 10 meter 450ohm window ladder line.
Normally a flat SWR (no tuner needed) on the small 10 meter antenna was now was
reporting a 2.0:1! 

Now, I have read in all the books and listened for years to all the ole' timers
back east speak of the sensitivity and reaction of ladder line to rain, snow and
ice, and this year I experienced it. It's true; snow and ice can negatively
effect the performance of the antenna circuit and I saw it in a first hand,
real world example -I learned this lesson once I looked out the window to see
we received about 2 inches of snow and mild ice on late Saturday night or early
Sunday. 

I put on my coat, boots, gloves and hat and headed to a frigid outside to shake
out the feed lines in a waving motion as my antennas are supported by massive
Ponderosa Pine that allow the lines to drop strait down, so simply grabing the
line and waving them is easy. Particles of little ice chunks and snow began to
fall off the lines as I aggressively shook them out. Once back inside, the SWR
was back to normal as if it were June. Amazing.

Anyway, it was a neat lesson and one that is now in my toolbox and I can now
say, "Yes, water, ice and snow DOES effect twin-feed! Also, yes, the
"true" 600ohm ladder line is not nearly as effected by these barriers
as the 450 or 300ohm "window" line is.  

High band conditions were great, but I was a bit disappointed in 40 and 75, so
those band Q's were somewhat depressed. No big deal as the real juicy multi's
were high band anyway (36 on 10 meters alone), so I did not get too concerned.
So bad I guess this must be the reason I only worked two Arizona stations. One
was fellow Outlaw (NY7N) and one other AZ station on Sunday. With a combined
114 Q's on 75 and 40 alone, this was a disapointment and should have got a few
more AZ.


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