[3830] NA Sprint RTTY NN7SS(K6UFO) QRP

[webform at b4h.net]

                    NA Sprint RTTY Contest - March

Call: NN7SS
Operator(s): K6UFO
Station: NN7SS

Class: Single Op QRP
QTH: WA
Operating Time (hrs): 3

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Op Time
---------------------
   80:  19         
   40:  23         
   20:  12         
---------------------
Total:  54     Mults = 17  Total Score = 918

Club: Northern California Contest Club

Team: NCCC Diddlers

Comments:

After my troubles with audio settings in NAQP RTTY, a friend of 
Homer gave me some suggestions to simplify the setup. Sure enough, 
they worked good.  My struggles with Windows audio were cut in half, 
but my struggles with propagation were immense. I could only work 
West Coast on 20m!?! Finally, in disgust, I went to the kitchen for a 
snack and looked out at the tower to see if the antenna was even 
still there. It was, but it was pointing the wrong direction! Aargh!
Homer's friend Murphy had visited the rotator.  

I proceeded carefully because I didn't want to snap any cables, but 
the mast hadn't slipped, just the control box (Green Heron) was way 
out of agreement with the antennas. I finally found the control box 
manual and started the calibration process. I got a couple steps in, 
when I read there was software to do it auto-magically. I found, 
downloaded, installed and ran the software and sure enough it 
worked real good. Everybody agreed on directions again. OK, now 
back to the "Sprint" with only the first hour wasted!  

The only things left on 20m were Californians, JA's, and SO2R CQ'ers 
who aren't even listening. So I took my 5 watts to 40m. I tuned, I called, 
I dodged and weaved, but the High Power operators put extra stomp 
on me... Eventually they left and people desparate for anyone to call them 
were willing to listen and work me. Even with the antennas pointing right, 
my signal was not strong, and I called 10 for every 1 who would answer. 
I could call CQ endlessly without an answer, and I never won a jump 
ball.  Finally it was last hour and the quiet, calm conditions of 80m. 
I punched in the Attenuator, and only called people over S9, so I had a 
reasonable ratio of calling 20 for every 1 who would answer... 

Luckily time ran out, I had survived another sprint, and I had even found 
and fixed a rotator problem - well done Old Man!

NN7SS Burt WA (K6UFO)

20m: Force12 C31XR at 72 ft pointing left.
40m: Force12 2 Element Yagi at 78 ft pointing right.
80m: 4-square array pointing SE.
SAL-30 Receive Antenna, not needed.
Elecraft K3 turned down to 5 watts
K3/0-Mini control head, RHR App, SignaLink USB.
Writelog, MMTTY and 2Tone


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