[3830] SS CW NX4N(@N4TP) Single Op HP

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ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, CW

Call: NX4N
Operator(s): NX4N
Station: N4TP

Class: Single Op HP
QTH: WCF
Operating Time (hrs): 24
Radios: SO2R

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
  160:     
   80:   56
   40:  652
   20:  461
   15:   41
   10:     
------------
Total: 1210  Sections = 83  Total Score = 200,860

Club: Florida Contest Group

Comments:

Hi Friends,
This years SS CW contest was another great one and was both challenging and
rewarding.  I again operated from the terrific Tampa ARC clubhouse; each year I
use the club's antenna farm as a foundation to build a complete SO2R station the
Friday before SS.  Many thanks to the TARC Board and members for allowing me to
use the facility for my favorite contest.  

First, here's my numbers:
 Band     QSOs     Pts  Sec  Pt/Q
   3.5      56     112    1   2.0
     7     652    1304   14   2.0
    14     461     922   64   2.0
    21      41      82    4   2.0
 Total    1210    2420   83   2.0
Score: 200,860
1 Mult = 14.6 Q's

The station built out went smoothly, especially because my friend Lu W4LT
dropped by Friday morning to help - thanks buddy! We broke for lunch about 1pm,
said our goodbyes and then I continued the station assembly and checkout.  The
S&P station's tribander C19XR was replaced earlier in the year with a 3 el.
SteppIR.  The SteppIR worked ok but I didn't feel it was as loud and of course
instant QSY is impacted. But I was heard and that's what counts...

Saturday I arrived at the clubhouse about 3 hours before tee-off and scurried
around inflating an air mattress, making coffee (can't do without that!),
having a light meal and double-checking the stations and the bands.  DING! Off
to the races - but it seemed that my horse slow to leave the gate.  Things
started out a bit rough compare to last year - the QRM was out in force and my
rate took a hit.  Just like last year the higher bands were going long early so
down to 40m I went.  That turned out to be a wise move with the club's 2el.
Force 12 creating a RF-cloud raining down 7MHz pixie dust far and wide. Rates
improved and unlike last year the band was quiet. 
Even though I hadn't touched SO2R since last SS, I picked it up again pretty
quickly and saw my skills continue to improve.  This gave me the confidence to
be more aggressive in S&P even during higher run rates - practice does make
perfect!

As the night progressed I gained back some, but not all, of the ground I missed
at the start.  I decided to change my off-times a bit; it was another good move.
 Between that, the nice 40m runs and my stepped-up S&P efforts I clawed my
way back to edge last year's total by 2 QSO's.  Very pleased with my
situational awareness (usually not a strong point for this op).

Some other Notes:
* Got the Sweep!  Had zero expectations for one.  Last section was West Texas;
N5NA is now this week's hero for me :-)
* The TARC station antennas rock!
* Quieter conditions that last year
* Declining participation each year; perhaps ARRL could try adding portable and
mobile categories to get more casual FD-type ops
* The run station antenna rotator developed some binding so when ESP level NP2X
called me I had to copy him off the side of the beam - thanks Fred for your
persistence!

Thanks to all the Rare Mult Ops - you did a terrific job handling the pileups
and giving us the sweep! 

As always it was great to work so many of my contesting friends, both OT's and
newbies.  Big score or small it's all about friendship.

See you in 2018 SS CW!

vy 73,
Chris, NX4N


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