[3830] SS SSB K7QA SO Unlimited QRP

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                    ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB - 2021

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

Class: SO Unlimited QRP
QTH: Montana
Operating Time (hrs): 

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
  160:     
   80:   38
   40:   33
   20:   91
   15:   50
   10:     
------------
Total:  212  Sections = 73  Total Score = 30,952

Club: 

Comments:

QRP in an SSB contest:  The epitome of pain and suffering. But the experience
does provide a profound appreciation for the perennial QRP contest specialists
who slog through all the unanswered calls and mults that get away. 
Lessons learned:

1. Don't bother calling any stn in a pileup. Wait until you hear few others or
nobody else calling. Your chances of a Q rise dramatically. Find others to work
first. Pileups usually thin out eventually.

2. If a stn doesn't answer your call while nobody else answers his CQs after
three or four attempts, move on. He doesn't hear you. If the CQing runner is
loud, he's more likely to hear you than a weaker runner.

3. Slip in your call right after another QSO ends and before the runner has a
chance to QRZ or call CQ again. And try waiting to call after the first 3 or 4
seconds pass if a few other weak stations are calling. You'll likely be in the
open as the others stop calling.

4. Use the Bandmap and cluster spots in Unlimited. You'll find a lot more Qs and
mults than just spinning the dial.

5. Monitor and follow propagation shifts closely. Don't try the low bands too
early in the evening except to catch nearby mults. Or the high bands too early
in the morning before they fully open. Track the MUF reports for your area. It's
a lot easier working distant stns with QRP on 15 and 20 when those bands are
open. Even easier on 10 when it fully wakes up.

6. Maximize your QTH's antenna capabilities with directional gain antennas. It's
amazing how an effective skyhook can make 5 watts sound as good or better than
100 on a wire.

7. Be Patient and don't get frustrated with low rate. I reread the Book of Job
before this contest and it helped.

73, Tom


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