[SCCC] CQWW CW W6PH SOAB(A) HP

[W6ph--- via SCCC]

2014 CQWW CW DX Contest
 
Call: W6PH
Operator(s): W6PH 
Station: W6PH 
 
Class: SOAB(A) HP
QTH: Lone Pine CA
Operating  Time (hrs): 39+15 
Location: CA
 
     
Summary:     
(http://www.3830scores.com/comparescores.php?arg=ROcfyhzEfqgcH&call=W6PH) 
Band QSOs Zones Countries  160: 18 9 12  80: 80 21 45  40: 449 85 114  20: 
370 38 111  15: 669 36 121  10: 485 31 108  Total: 2071 170 511 Total Score 
4,020,624
 
Comments:       
Equipment: K3 AL1200 Win-Test 
 
Antennas: (All temporary FD style) 
160 - Loaded 1/4 wave sloper below 3L 20m yagi  
80 - 1/4 wave sloper below 40-2CD 
40 - 40-2CD at 60 feet (AB-577 nr 1) 
20 - 3L yagi at 60 feet (AB-577 nr 2) 
15 - 5L yagi at 60 feet (AB-577 nr 3) 
10 - 5L yagi at 50 feet (AB-577 nr 4) 
 
I spent the week before raising and testing all the  antennas. I have been 
doing this for a number of years so it is very  routine. They all came down 
today (Monday). I decided to try assisted for  the first time in at least 20 
years. I believe it provided about a 10 to  15 per cent increase in 
multipliers. No pointing and clicking, just  information that was on the band and 
giving me call signs of stations that  weren't signing frequently. 
 
The conditions were absolutely outstanding. But 80m  sounded more like 160 
meters with weaker signals than I remember. I only  worked a handful of 
Europeans there. I think that 10 meters was not as  good on Sunday as it was on 
Saturday. My strategy was to take as much  advantage of 10 meters early 
which I did on Saturday. That turned out to  be worthwhile. Fifteen meters was 
just wonderful. Lots of good runs. Forty  meters was awesome and I could work 
anything I heard. Reflecting on the  numbers on 40 meters shows that there 
are about 13 hours of darkness which  is good for the low bands. Typically 
much more time is spent on 40m that  on 80 or 160. On the other hand, 11 
hours of daylight is spent among three  bands. I suspect that there is more time 
spent on 40m than any other band  because of this. 
 
It is always tough to decide whether to run or S&P.  When tons of stations 
are calling you but none are new mults, you wonder  if you are missing some 
good mults. I guess that is the DXing within us.  

There were a few goofs but nothing debilitating.  Basically everything 
worked well. My AL-1200 is serial number 15 and still  chugs along well with the 
original tube.
 
This contest is the big one for the year. I spend a lot  of time preparing 
for it. It never lets me down. This year is a new record  for my station at 
this location and I think that a lot people are saying  the same thing. It 
was a fantastic run.
 
Lots of JA's answered my CQ's.  I wonder if any of  them will send QSL's. 
 
I'll see everyone again from VP9/W6PH for the ARRL DX  Contests. It will be 
my fifteenth consecutive year of doing it.  

73, Kurt  W6PH