[3830] WPX CW K7QA SO(A)AB TB-Wires HP

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                    CQWW WPX Contest, CW

Call: K7QA
Operator(s): K7QA
Station: K7QA

Class: SO(A)AB HP
Class Overlay: TB-Wires 
QTH: MT
Operating Time (hrs): 30+

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
  160:     
   80:   24
   40:  172
   20:  763
   15:   68
   10:     
------------
Total: 1027  Prefixes = 546  Total Score = 1,248,702

Club: Big Sky Contesters

Comments:

With a long honeydo list hanging over my head, I figured the best I could do in
WPX was to steal some H&P hours (Hunt and Peck, i.e. S&P) hours looking
for new countries. But then the XYL decided to postpone the list so I got more
serious. 

With 20 meters wide open to most of the world at the starting gun, and lasting
all night thru Sunday, the BIC time got a bit out of hand. Like last year, EU
was strong into the evening. But this year had no CME crashing into Sunday which
made condx even more impressive at this stage of the cycle. Even 15 meters
opened to EU Sunday midday. As others have noted, the polar path for HF from our
area was incredible.

Looking at the solar indexes for the weekend, it seemed curious as to why condx
were so amazing. With SFI around 75, A at 5 and K at 1 for both days, how could
this happen? I think we've become too accustomed to writing off the prop to poor
condx when we hear little to no activity on the bands at this low cycle stage.
All it takes is a major world-wide contest like WPX to stock the ionosphere with
something to work with :-).

Old habits die hard and new tricks need to be learned. I took quite a few 30
minute breaks thinking they would reduce operating time in the log. Dummy me. CQ
WW & WPX allow only 60+ minute breaks. Read the Rules and pay attention to
the N1MM Off Time window!

Nice to work many CWO brothers in this event. CU in IARU in July.

73, Tom


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