ARRL 160-Meter Contest - 2019
Call: W3HKK
Operator(s): W3HKK
Station: W3HKK
Class: SO Unlimited HP
QTH: OH
Operating Time (hrs): 16
Summary:
Total: QSOs = 826 Sections = 84 Countries = 36 Total Score = 192,610
Club: Mad River Radio Club
Comments:
Station: IC7610 - ACOM 1000 amp - N1MM+ software
Antennas:
Transmit Antenna is a 130 ft Inverted L with 52 ft vertical
leg sloping down to 15 ft above ground, with 26 radials of 30-130
ft long.
Receive Ant: SAL-30
Propagation: K=1 with noise levels around S 1-3 to start with but quieted
down as the contest went on. Cndx were average at best for DX sigs but many
NVIS sigs were loud and clear, plus good coverage of most of the US. The West
Coast wasnt as well represented here in central OH Fri night but that
improved on Sat night/Sun morning. EU had fair to good signals from the usual
suspects but the sheer number of countries seemed to be "down".
Africa was almost non-existant, the Carib was below average, and a few S.A
stations made the log ( YV-LU8) but not much else was heard. Sunday morning at
sunrise showed a handful of JA's at the noise, one of whom made it into the
log, along with Asiatic Russia( a new one on Top Band, #167.)
Spent about 75% of my time Running due to the nice steady stream of replies. In
fact on Fri night spent the first two hours near the low end and averaged 103
Q's/hr. Took a 90 minute break and then resumed by S&P'ing for DX for 30
minutes before Running for an hour. That was the "plan" for much of
the contest.
By 2 am Sat morning I had run out of gas and hit the sack with 503 Q's in the
log, a very nice start for me. The last 30 minutes or so of Running produced
DUPES at a 65% rate which was mind-blowing.
Family obligations kept me busy Sat afternoon, but I returned to the house
looking to get a fast start at around 5pm, but didnt have the gas so took a 30
minute nap that turned into 4 hours. Sat night at 9pm I was still dragging
but got back in the groove until 1am. Slept til 5 then finished up Sun at 8am.
with one of my better efforts and certainly one of my best rates: 52/hr for the
entire contest.
After 503 the first night, things dropped off to 323 the second night or about
a 34% reduction in Q's. Still, I was happy with 66% of a very good Night 1 and
give credit to an unusually high amount of NVIS-type sigs that came in regular
bursts to spice up the rate. Worked two Alaskans, NO Hawaiians, two Asians,
decent Caribbean/C.A. numbers, no VK/ZLs, and a decent mix of Euros.
All in all it was one of the most enjoyable ARRL 160 contests despite what i
saw as a lack of DX.
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/