[3830] CQWW CW P40W(W2GD) SO(A)AB LP

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                    CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW

Call: P40W
Operator(s): W2GD
Station: P40W

Class: SO(A)AB LP
QTH: Aruba
Operating Time (hrs): 42

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Zones  Countries
------------------------------
  160:  267    18       58
   80:  612    23       85
   40: 1028    31      114
   20: 1530    31      117
   15:  847    24       84
   10:   16     9       14
------------------------------
Total: 4300   136      472  Total Score = 7,668,704

Club: 

Comments:

Station:  K3S, Win-Test Logging Software
Antennas:  160M - Vertical Dipole (55') + Inverted V @ 58', 80M 3 ele wire beam
EU @ 55' + Inverted V @ 58', 40M F12 2 el Delta 240 @ 70' + 4 ele wire beam EU @
55', 20M  F12 C31XR @ 62' + C3 @ 62', Beverage RX antennas NE, NW, N/S, E/W

This station is in the town of Santa Cruz, roughly in the center of Aruba, and
2.2 miles from the ocean.

I believe this may have been my 30th CQWW CW operation from Aruba (exceptions
being 1988 - PJ1B M/M and 1999 - A61AJ M/M).  Over three decades the preparation
challenges and contest events themselves have always been unique - and the 2018
CQWW CW was no exception.

Arrived Monday with a plan to upgrade several long RG8X feedlines to RG213
material and to perform some tower painting.  As it turned out the re-cabling
never got started.  Reason - upon inspection of one of the two 60 foot Rohn 25G
towers (a tower that has seen 30 years of service at two locations on Aruba) I
found serious structural problems caused by salt corrosion.  In particular many
new holes in the tower legs had appeared and most importantly one of the upper
EHS guy cable jumpers was down to just two strands of steel where it is attached
to the tower. YIKES! The immediate need to stabilize the guying system was
accomplished by installing Phillystran around the deteriorated steel pieces on
the upper guys (which significantly lowered the pucker factor while climbing). 
After scraping off the rust and applying two coats of fresh paint, the holes in
the tower legs were sealed with industrial cork insulation tape to keep out the
water, and then four splints were installed to somewhat strengthen the most
damaged leg sections.  Hoping to get a few more years of service out of this
tower since it also holds up the 160 vertical dipole and an end support of the
wire beam catanary besides the F12 C3.  

So having the original work plan blown away with essential tower repairs I
decided to do some maintenance work on the beverage antennas.  To facilitate
access to the wires, feed points and terminations, it is periodically necessary
to cut back the cactus growth.  Aruba is emerging from a multiple year drought
and after all of the rainfall the last two months - every dormant seed on the
island has germinated and the nasty cactus and thorn bushes are exploding with
new growth. The island has not been this green in a decade.  Clearing away the
relentless growth along the paths of the four beverages consumed nearly a whole
day.  P40W is not plug and play but offers opportunities for free acupuncture
treatments.

Before most contests I listen more than transmit.  The three Wednesday CWOPS CWT
events provide a perfect opportunity to seriously test antennas.  I try to
monitor the bands at various times of day and evenings to get a sense of
propagation and to do some casual DXing.  Ten meters was particularly dismal
leading up to contest, having heard just two SA and AF stations all week. 
Unfortunately this trend was solidly confirmed during the big event.  

The contest went pretty much as predicted.  During the day 20 was the dominant
band.  Openings to EU on 15 were short and week.  The Saturday afternoon runs on
15 and 20 to the US was better than Sunday.  The low bands were virtually QRN
free which made them pure pleasure.  My favorite band 160 was particularly
plentiful with multipliers.  80 and 40 were spectacular in their own ways. 
Always a rush to break a pileup of louder HP stations with just 100 watts.   

Thanks to the organizers for making this contesting party possible.  Thanks so
all those who enjoy CW by participating.  Thanks to my wonderful hosts for their
continued tolerance of my obsession.  

Expect to be active from Aruba in 2019 during ARRLDX CW, WPX CW, perhaps IARU
and for for sure during CQWW PH and CW.  

73,

John, W2GD


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