[3830] WPX SSB NN3U(@N1LN) M/2 HP

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                    CQWW WPX Contest, SSB

Call: NN3U
Operator(s): N4GU K4OV W4KAZ KK4UNZ KG4NEL N1LN
Station: N1LN

Class: M/2 HP
QTH: NC
Operating Time (hrs): 48

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
  160:    0
   80:  283
   40: 1128
   20: 1286
   15: 1080
   10:  896
------------
Total: 4673  Prefixes = 1333  Total Score = 15,140,214

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

Comments:

This was a weekend of OPPORTUNITIES.   

The first opportunity presented itself about 30 minutes before the 0000 UTC
starting time. The station was checked out, all antennas tested, software
configured, even the amplifier pre-tuning was redone on the Acom 2000s. We were
ready and waiting well ahead of time.  Then someone suggested that everyone
pre-record their CQ WAV messages to complete the log software setup. The
recording on the left station went quickly and well. However, when the first
person tried to right station the log software screen went translucent and then
CRASHED.  We restarted the log software a few times but the crashing continued
and we did not have additional time for troubleshooting. Fortunately I recorded
mine earlier in the week so we decided to not change Ops and started the
contest…... about 20 minutes late. The software crash opportunity presented
itself about 20 more times throughout the next 48 hrs.  

The next opportunity was also log software related. When a QSY frequency was
entered in the call window the K3 would not change frequency and the bandmap
would jump to some RED frequencies way out of any ham band. The quick fix for
this was to open Configure Menu and reset the rig. This also happened when
clicking on spots. Again, due to time constraint concerns this has not yet been
investigated for root cause.  

The third and final station related opportunity happened on Sunday afternoon
with about 5 hours before the end of the contest. The right station ACOM 2000
shut down due to over temp. We turned it back on and cut the drive and watched
the tube air temps. The front tube seems to be running about 12 deg C higher
than the rear tube. No investigation done here yet either but current thoughts
are a soft tube.  

The final opportunity is one that was probably shared by many. Who turned off
the bands on Sunday morning?  80, 40 and 20 were open all Saturday night and we
even made a few Qs on 15. Then there was NOTHING. We could hear Europe direct
but better on LP, but EU could not here us at any compass heading. That lasted
from 4 - 5 hours until late Sunday morning. Finally by about 1430 UTC they
started to come back and were back to stay. 

OK, done complaining, on to the operating. This was another fun time at CAMP
LN. This is the second time this same team has come together for a M2 activity
and another fun time was had by all. The fun was helped along by mostly good
band conditions, good food and great teamwork. It was fantastic to have 10
meters open up on Saturday morning and stay open all day. Based on the level of
activity I think everyone enjoyed the conditions. That made finding a run
frequency ranged from hard to impossible. That was especially true on 40 meters
Friday night. We may have moved too early to 40 on Saturday, but we got a
frequency and it seems to have paid off.  

Everything was going well and our Q and Mults were building well until the
Saturday morning “shut the bands off” event. During the null hours we
worked mostly US stations which helped add to the Q count, but brought our
points per QSO totals down. When the bands came back our rates and fun both
increased in sync.  We never had any spectacular rates but what we lacked in
burst rates we made up for in consistency.  

Thanks to everyone for the Qs, the repeats and the patience. Thanks to those
that actually asked if the frequency was in use before starting to call CQ. 
Thanks to Mike for letting us use his call. And, again, thanks to the rest of
the team for a fun weekend.

73 from the NN3U team.

Mike N4GU
Kaz W4KAZ
Rob K4OV
Tucker KK4UNZ
Jim KG4NEL
Bruce N1LN


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