[3830] ARRL June VHF W9RM Single Op HP

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ARRL June VHF Contest

Call: W9RM
Operator(s): W9RM
Station: W9RM

Class: Single Op HP
QTH: DM58
Operating Time (hrs): 28
Radios: SO2R

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
    6:  774   211
    2:   50    34
  222:   20    14
  432:   20    12
  903:           
  1.2:           
  2.3:           
  3.4:           
  5.7:           
  10G:           
  24G:           
-------------------
Total:  864   271  Total Score = 244,984

Club: Grand Mesa Contesters of Colorado

Comments:

Saturday was a total washout with only bits and pieces of 6M prop,  That evening
I was thinking, 'So, it's THAT kind of contest - where the east runs rate on 6
for 30 hours and we get nothing'.  Since we in the west live and die by 6M, I
figured it was going to be a blowout by the eastern and Gulf coast stations. 
When my 6M amplifier coughed up it's T/R relay right at the start of WSJT
meteor scatter operation, I had a fleeting thought of just throwing in the
towel.  Well, I went ahead and replaced the relay and moved on, not really
loosing any time or QSOs.  Sunday made up for it, with better then average 6M
prop.  It wasn't GREAT prop - we had only a sparse and weak opening into the
QSO rich area of Northern IL and not a peep out of SoCal, which, between them,
are worth hundreds of 6M QSOs.

The other bands were, well, they were the other bands.  Meteor conditions were
excellent and several long-haul QSOs were made on 222 M/S.  More people need to
try that band with WSJT.  Big thanks to KK6MC/R for activating the outback of
Utah and giving me many extra grids.  Activity to the east on 2M and above was
it's usual dismal self, even though the few guys I worked were very loud, even
on 432.  Too bad no VHF capable hams live in the greater Denver area, 'eh ?
(sarcasm)

Controversy time follows - you've been warned.

At this time (two days after with plenty of heavy hitters left to report), it
looks like I'm #1 high power in the "it's not a EME contest"
category.  Someday, there needs to be a re-think on this EME thing.  People
always wants to "level the playing field", but how level can it be
when someone with a EME array can make almost 100 mults on 2M ?  EME ops have
several of their own contests and allowing non-terrestrial ops in a traditional
VHF/UHF test really skews the results.  I'm not picking on the 100 2M mult
single op - lots of people know I've had a problem with it for a long time and
it's perfectly acceptable by the rules, but do we really want a EME arms race
in these contests ?

Anyway, I'm pleased with the score and know it could be a lot bigger with
proper 6M openings.  Overall, not bad for a 'portable' station in the wilds of
western CO, with a tower guyed with rope and jammed into the corner of a
cricket and spider infested barn.  See everybody in CQWW-VHF next month !


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