[RTTY] W!ZT ARRL RTTY Roundup SOABHP

[George Johnson]

2002 ARRL RTTY Roundup

W1ZT  State: MA
Single Op High Power   All Band

Band QSO States  Prov DX
80m    92                               Inv Vee @ 60 ft
40m   258                              Rotary Dipole (Force 12 C4) @ 65
ft
20m   352                              2 element Yagi (Force 12 C4)
15m   359                                     "
10m   391                                     "
___________________________
Total 1452       47    9      62           Score: 171,336

Icom 756PRO + SB220  (400w)
WriteLog + RITTY

Thanks to all for the contacts on all bands.  Several 5 Band contacts
were logged showing lots of activity and station effectiveness.  80m was
very noisy here and, without a multiplier incentive, that band had to be
second choice for operating time.  10m conditions were excellent and I
was pleasantly surprised at a late (2200z) opening to JA at the end of
the contest.  I saw someone work K0UD and knew he was in ND but I never
found him.  It was a treat to work all the other states though.  I don't
have a state activity total but I think MO has to be right near the top
!!  I recall Joe, K0BX, doing some RTTY goodwill and training in St
Louis and can't help but think he has harvested a bumper crop!!

Highlights:
1. YB5QZ called through a European run on 10m and totally rejuvenated my
aching neck.  It made my day!
2. WriteLog and RITTY performed extremely well.  I networked a second
(and third) computer to back up the logs.  I was going to put on a
second demodulator but did not get it configured in time.  It was not
really needed.
3. The Non US/VE participation was absolutely wonderful.  A full 33% of
all my contacts were outside the North America.

Lowlights:
1.  20m seemed to be open all night here.  It was difficult to pull the
plug for the "off time" requirements.  It seemed a shame to waste all
that good propagation time.  We will wish to have it back in a few
years. :)
2. As much as I like Auto Tune AFSK, it is still a problem in S&P when I
call a station and get a response.  And then have my Tx freq jerked at
the last minute before I send my exchange.  I have to wait until that
intended station transmits again (very sorry about that) to re-lock on
the correct frequency.  This is especially a problem on a noisy band
where exact tuning is critical but the opportunity to be pulled off is
great.  I will be working on this problem this year and I know there is
a "delay" function in RITTY I will explore further.  I also noticed this
with other stations calling me but my Auto Tune on Rx will recapture
them.  But I sense what happened to them also.

Overall, it was a fun operating event.  Thanks again for the QSOs and I
look forward to continued RTTY operations in the coming year.

73, George .. W1ZT