[RTTY] RTTY WPX AA5AU SOAB HP

[Don Hill AA5AU]

                   CQ/RJ WW RTTY WPX Contest

Call: AA5AU
Operator(s): AA5AU
Station: AA5AU

Class: SOAB HP
QTH: LA
Operating Time (hrs): 30
Radios: SO2R

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Pts
-----------------
   80:  136   312
   40:  252   874
   20:  349   570
   15:  595  1281
   10:  486  1253
-----------------
Total: 1818  4290  Prefixes = 524  Total Score = 2,247,960

Club: 

Comments:

Congrats to Mike, K4GMH, on a great effort and what should be a new USA record. 
I had hoped to beat him but despite nearly 300 more Q's, I was not able to
overcome his excellent low band totals. The low bands were a disaster for me. 
Everything was fluttery on 40 meters and only could hear the regular strong
Europeans.  80 was pretty much a washout for DX despite low noise.  I know the
importance of a good low band performance in this contest, so it didn't surprise me
to see it was my Achilles Heel.  Wonder what the SO2R foes are thinking now?  An
East Coast SO1R QTH is far more advantageous than two radios!

I didn't get the 0700Z EU/JA opening on 20 meters the first night and it really
killed me.  I stayed up waiting for it but it never came in.  So 20 meters was a
pretty poor band for me.  I think I only worked two JA's on 20.  Luckily 10 and
15 were very good on Saturday.  However, Sunday was a different story especially
when the K index jumped to 4 at EU sunset.  I took my last two hours of rest and
was happy to see the K back at 2 when I got back.  But it was too late.  The
damage was done.  The better condx late Sunday helped create a nice opening to
JA on 10 in the last couple of hours where I finally got much needed multiplier help.

Speaking of rest periods, I absolutely hate them.  18 hours of good contesting
gone to waste doing something useless, like sleeping!  I'd like to see it
changed to at least 36 hours of operating, giving us two good nights of 6 hours sleep. 
But I wish I had a million dollars too.

All in all, I'm very pleased with my effort.  Everything ran to perfection.  I
used WriteLog beta 10.40A with MMTTY 1.62 and there were absolutely no problems
at all.  Two Kenwood 870's driving two Ameritron AL-80B's at 500 watts on all
bands.  Even used a Belkin USB-to-serial adapter to generate FSK on the B radio
and it worked great.  It's now a permanent part of my set-up.

Biggest surprise of the contest was being called by N1RCT.  I almost fell out of
my chair.  I hope this is a sign that Dick will be back.  Second surprise was
being called by A52B on 20 meters.  Lowlight was not be able to hear VR2BG the
many times he was spotted.  Also, no YB or 9M2.

Congrats to P43P on what should be new World Low Power record breaking my 2001
score.  And to Wil, HP1/DJ7AA, who will no doubt have the new NA Single Op High
Power record, if not the world record.  No records for me this year, just a smile on
my face knowing I did my very best and got to meet a lot of old friends once again.

Thanks to everyone for all the QSO's.  I'd go to bed now but I'm not tired.  Heck,
I had more rest this weekend with a contest than I normally do without one.  That
ain't right!

CU in NAQP next I guess.  Getting to be so many of these things now.

73, Don AA5AU
http://www.aa5au.com
http://www.geocities.com/writelog