[RTTY] NAQP WX4TM SOABLP

[Tom Moore]

NAQP 2002

OP: WX4TM TOM AL
CLASS: SINGLE OP
OP TIME: 10 HRS

80M     35     19
40M     84     37
20M    109     37
15M     91     35
10M     40     20

TOTAL  359    148

CLAIMED SCORE 53,280

RADIO: YAESU FT990 (65 WATTS)
ANTS: HYGAIN TH5 BEAM, 40/80 DIPOLES AND 40/80 VERT.

SOAPBOX:  WELL, AS EVERYONE EXPERIENCED, WE HAD
A HECK OF A PROP EVENT. HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE
'FAUCET' (QUICKLY OFF, LATER ON) EFFECT SINCE
MY YEARS IN ALASKA. I DID, HOWEVER, MANAGE TO
BARELY BETTER MY LAST YEAR'S SCORE (W4/KL7Q) BY A 
FEW POINTS GETTING MORE MULTI'S BUT FEWER Q'S. JUST
AS I WAS FINISHING UP ON 20M, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING
TERRIBLE RF FEEDBACK FROM THE BEAM. IT GOT WORSE
TILL THE BEAM WOULD WORK ONLY WHEN IT WAS POINTED
JUST WEST OF NORTH AND EVEN THEN THERE WAS STILL
SOME MINOR FEEDBACK. IT WAS NOT PRESENT ON MY WIRES
OR VERT. THIS MORNING, I THINK I HAVE DETERMINED 
THAT MY 25 YEAR OLD COAX NEEDS REPLACING! TO HELP
OVERCOME THE NOISE ON 40/80M, I USED THE VERTICAL
FOR RECEIVE WHILE TRANSMITTING ON THE DIPOLE. THANKS
TO ALL FOR WORKING ME AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO NCJ
 FOR PUTTING ON, WHAT I THINK, IS  REALLY ONE OF THE 
MOST FUN CONTESTS OF THE YEAR.  

73, TOM, WX4TM