[3830] SS SSB W1SJ SO Unlimited HP

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ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB

Call: W1SJ
Operator(s): W1SJ
Station: W1SJ

Class: SO Unlimited HP
QTH: VT
Operating Time (hrs): 24

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
  160:     
   80:  728
   40:  374
   20:  395
   15:    1
   10:     
------------
Total: 1498  Sections = 83  Total Score = 248,668

Club: Radio Amateurs of Northern Vermont

Comments:

Certainly the suckiest conditions I’ve seen in 45 years of doing this and the
lowest score I’ve racked up since 2003.

While I started in my usual spot on 20 meters, I was ready for a quick retreat
to 40 meters if it became necessary. After 30 minutes it was obvious that 20
meters wasn’t working out. Even on a clear frequency I was simply not getting
very many answers to my CQ’s. I felt like I was running low power! I tried 40
meters for a while and it was better, but not by much. So, I made a quick
escape to 80 meters, the money band for me. The rates were consistent but lower
than expected. Heck, I never broke 100 per hour, which is usually a given
between 0000-0300. Sunday wasn’t much better �" it was the usual slog
to find new people to work. It seemed like a lead blanket was thrown over the
ionosphere. All but the big guns were in the noise and tough to copy.

And with the poor propagation, the level of operating was suspect. It seems
like less folks bother to check for dupes and keep calling multiple times. And
then, folks don’t have confidence in their copy and repeat back my exchange
for me to confirm. Yikes, if you cannot hear me running a KW, how well do you
think I’m gonna hear you at low power? Just ask for the specific things you
need repeated. 

Then there was the nut case who was holding some sort of grudge against me from
some perceived slight 25 years ago and proceeded to curse and swear at me
whenever he heard me on 40 or 80 meters. It seems like the whole planet is
going mental!

This round of the SS was a ton of hard work and I’m not so sure it was all
that much fun. I’m not waxing nostalgic about it �" yet. And conditions
will be getting worse next year. Ugh!


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