[NCC] CQ WW 160 CW

[Rod via NCC]

Greetings from Garrettsville
For my first ever NCC points contribution I sure was glad that this was a CW test and not SSB. Slowed but not stopped by a severe cold and sore throat, I silently (except for sneezes and sniffles) kept my "BIC" for 29:27! Perseverance paid big, relentlessly calling CQ during dry spells and snagging three more sections, SD, SK and PEI, after sunrise on Sunday morning! Added 30 Qs on Sunday afternoon from 3 to 5 pm local. I had had planned to blast that 160 meter 1,000 QSO barrier for the first time, but didn't, perhaps due to lack of conditions, operators, or chicken soup. Many low rate hours are just the way it is on single-band and VHF/UHF contests. 
I still had a blast using two different antennas in each ear with the Flex5000 RX2. I use a DX Engineering Receive Four Square on one receiver and a new DX loop in the other. Special tools really do help pull out many extra Qs from the noise and fading with dual diversity, like Dan, W8CAR, described with his dual-receiver K3. 
Now, I'll take what I learned... AAHH-CHOO!!! and two cold pills... and do even better next time! 
LOCATION: OHCALLSIGN: WN8RCLUB: North Coast ContestersCONTEST: CQ-160-CW SINGLE-OP NON-ASSISTED 160M CW HIGH POWER 
QSOs: 958SEC/PROV: 58DX Countries: 38CLAIMED-SCORE: 257664
73,
Rod Ehrhart   WN8R