[Mldxcc] KB 500+

[Richard HIll]

SS SSB Score Summary Sheet
Call Sign Used :K6WW
Operator(s) : NU6T

Band : ALL
Power : LOW
Mode : SSB
Default Exchange : U 02 SV
ARRL Section : SV
Club/Team : Northern California Contest Club
Software: N1MM Logger V7.10.12

Band    QSOs    Pts  Sec
  3.5        7      14        3
  7         35      70      11
14         59     118      30
21         32       64      12
Total     133     266     56

Score : 14,896

Rig : IC-718
Antennas : Vertical, 88 ft dipole @ 50 ft, MA5B mini-beam @ 23'

Soapbox : I've had a goal of earning a KB 500 and fell short the last
several years, even using stations that are more than capable of achieving
that goal: K6DGW and W6SR. All I needed to do was make about 350 from the
"good" station and 150  from my station in a two day "HMO" two location
effort.

This year I managed to make 138 QSOs in SS CW.  I hoped that would be enough
to put me over the top--but log checking  may be brutal.

Good advice from Jim, WX6V, and Rick, W6SR, would give me a shot at 400 Qs
in SS SSB at W6SR's station, and both knew that was a short-sighted goal.
Jim regularly makes well over 600 Qs from there, so the station is capable.
I messed up the start, didn't get going until a half hour was lost, and
certainly could have made better choices in several band changes.
None-the-less, I managed about 495 Qs.  As I neared 400, I realized I just
might have a shot at a KB 750!  (No, NCCC does not award a KB750--but it
helped me set a stretch  goal).

Starting Sunday's effort, I just wanted to make 100 Qs.  That seems small,
but given recent results, that might be all I could manage.  The morning was
slow--I considered giving up once or twice.  I knew the afternoon and
evening would likely be better.  What's that comment N6RO keeps saying about
seat time?

As I finally approached 100 in the late afternoon, I did some quick math and
realized that a Sunday total of 117 Qs  might be enough for the KB 750.  I
needed 5 Qs when I moved to 80m.  Noise was so bad that I only made 2 Qs in
the first half hour and I wondered whether I could make 5 Qs on 80m in the 3
hours remaining  Seven Qs just put me over the top.  I switched to my
vertical (40m antenna) and suddenly realized I could hear many signals I
could not hear on my 80m antenna.  I need to work on that.  After too much
unproductive time, I moved back to 40m and picked up another 14 Qs on what I
though was a worked out band.

I'm ready for a beer.  I may not have enough Qs after log checking to make
the "KB-750," but I think I have enough cushion for the KB 500!  KB 1000,
here I come!

Thanks to all who helped get me here.  Rick W6SR, Jim WX6V, Fred K6DGW, Bill
K6KM for letting a novice use their stations or sage advice, and everyone in
NCCC and MLDXCC.  Special thanks to tower monkey Norm N6JV.  Thanks for the
SO2R clinic.  I may not have learned too much about SO2R, but I learned much
about what is possible.  Thanks.

KB

Rich
NU6T