[NCC] Fwd: PaQP W3USA Multi-Op Mobile LP

[Jimk8mr at aol.com]

From:  webform at b41h.net
Reply-to: jimk8mr at aol.com
To: 3830 at contesting.com,  jimk8mr at aol.com
Sent: 10/14/2011 6:55:32 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj:  PaQP W3USA Multi-Op Mobile  LP


Pennsylvania QSO Party

Call: W3USA
Operator(s): K8BL, K8MR
Station:  W3USA

Class: Multi-Op Mobile LP
QTH: 23 Counties
Operating Time  (hrs): 13

Summary:
Band  CW Qs  Ph Qs  RTTY Qs   PSK31 Qs
---------------------------------------
160:                              
80:  126      23                  
40:  411      76                  
20:  192       8                  
15:    6       3                  
10:                              
6:                              
2:                              
---------------------------------------
Total:   735    110       0         0  Mults = 105   Total Score = 176,900

Club: North Coast  Contesters

Comments:

By county, in order of  appearance:

CTY    CW     SSB

LAW     6       2
BUT    29      2  
ARM    36      5  
INN    45       3
CMB    41      4  
SOM    29      3  
BED    38     17
FUL     48     10
HUN     23      0
FRA     28      4
PER     53      0
JUN     38     12
MIF     21      2 
SNY     43      9        
NUM    34       0
UNI    25      2  
CLI    24       4
CEN    38      9    
CLE    34       9
JEF    19       4
CLA    25       6
VEN    26       0      
MER     32      3

55 ARRL Sections   1  DX   49 Counties    11000 mobile bonus points

My  regular driver of recent years, AC8E, was not able to make the trip  
(though
he did make 100+ qsos from back home in Ohio). I had put out a  message to 
the
Mad River Radio Club and the North Coast Contesters looking  for a PaQP
driver/operator.  Nothing heard from for over a week, and  then last Sunday 
I
got two responses within half an hour. I decided to accept  both, so headed 
out
on Saturday with Bob, K8BL, as W3USA/M,  returned to  spend the night in
Hermitage in Mercer county, and then went back out for  Sunday with Gary, 
AF8A,
as K8MR/M.

This was BL's first mobile  contesting trip, and he had a FB time, even 
though
he deferred much of the  operating to me. (He also enjoys driving, and with 
the
beautiful weather and  changing fall leaves, he seemed pretty happy with the
driving  duty).

We got behind the intended schedule before the contest started, as  US422 
in New
Castle was closed down for construction, with no seen detour  posted. We 
followed
the Delorme Road Atlas maps around the town, getting back  to 422 after 20+
minutes. 

It was great having in state propagation on  40 meters after all the low 
sunspot
years. I was also surprised at a number  of QSOs on 20 with people close in
people, but not local. AA3B in particular  had a number of such contacts. 
Not
sure if it was backscatter, tropo, or  what, but it was cool. Good rates 
during
the day, but after dark they dropped  noticably.

The interesting driving event was having a horse drawn trailer  almost pull 
out
in front of us, I believe in Perry county. But the Amish  driver applied 
full
reverse thrusters, and got the animal back with plenty of  space to spare.

As always, it was an enjoyable trip around my home state.  The K8MR mobile
contest station has been packed away for the winter, next  appearance 
likely the
Michigan QSO Party in April.


73   -  Jim   K8MR