[3830] N8XX SOAB Red Badge Day, Centennial QSO Party 12/31/14

[Hank Greeb]

Yes, I know, I know, I know, that the Centennial QSO party wasn't 
categorized as a contest, but, with the pileups I faced most any time I 
decided to get on and call CQ CENT (CW) or CQ Centennial (phone) one 
might, just might, with some stretch, believe that some folks made it 
into a contest. So, if a few "picky" contest types on this reflector 
wish to complain about this submission, I say, "OK, it's a free country, 
you have a right to complain."  Without further comment, my submission 
is as follows:

======================================

Put in a bit of time on the Red Badge Day, Centennial QSO Party yesterday

Centennial QSO Party Summary Sheet
Final Red Badge Day

        Start Date : 2014-12-31

     CallSign Used : N8XX
       Operator(s) : N8XX

Operator Category : SINGLE-OP-ASSISTED
              Band : ALL
             Power : LOW
  Default Exchange : PSM
        Gridsquare : EN73fd

              Name : HANK GREEB

      ARRL Section : OH
   Position: Past Section Manager
         Band  Mode
          3.5  CW      36
          3.5  LSB     57
            7  CW      61
            7  LSB     49
           10  CW      37
           14  CW      37
           14  USB     60
           18  CW      26
           18  USB     38
           21  CW      44
           21  USB      4
           24  CW       7
           24  USB     26
           28  CW      32
        Total  Both   514

Had some time, so got on the "Red Badge Day" to give out some points.  
Have been amazed what 30 to 70 watts to a wire antenna can stir up once 
I was spotted on the DX Clusters.  Pileups 6 or more deep, sometimes I 
went split, but not today, because of proximity of others doing the same 
thing.

Analysis of the log says average rate was 100+ Q's per hour, max was 149 
Q's/hr for 40 minute period.  (pileups usually subsided after 20 to 30 
minutes or less).  Amazing to me, an olde fogey with antiquated 
equipment and a wire antenna at 28' maximum height.  I sometimes wonder 
what I'd do on an island in the Carribean where I'd be the only 
contestant, and thus being sought after by the hordes.   Maybe I'd make 
a "reasonable" effort at the to 10%?

Only had 4.6 hours to devote, but managed to hit all bands between 3.5 
and 28 MHz.  Conditions were fair to middlin, except for 12 meters CW 
and 15 meters Phone.

Don't have a final tabulation of score, because some of the above were 
dupes from earlier sessions of Centennial operations (folks don't keep 
track of dupes, and it's easier to work dupes than to explain the rules 
of the game. :)

The centennial sure stirred up activity - I made some 5600+ Q's in this 
year's Centennial QP, most starting after the September "Red Badge 
Day."  With only 50 to 60% of the actual Q's counting toward my score 
(other contestants NOT members of ARRL, so they don't give the member 
any points), I probably made over 10,000 Q's this year.

None of us will be around for the bicentennial, so this was indeed a 
once in a lifetime event.