[SCCC] W6PH SS CW SO HP

[W6ph at aol.com]

 ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, CW



Call: W6PH

Operator(s): W6PH

Station: W6PH



Class: Single Op HP

QTH: Lone Pine CA (ORG Section)

Operating Time (hrs): 24



Summary:

 Band  QSOs Mults

-----------------

  160:     

   80:  190   2

   40:  292   9

   20:  434  13

   15:  255  59

   10:     

------------------

Total: 1171  Sections = 83  Total Score = 194,386



Club: Bishop ARC



Comments:



K3 + Expert 1.3-FA  (SO 1.5R listening on FTdx3000)  

Win-Test (works just like CT)

Antennas:

80m: 1/4 wave sloper below 3L-20

40m: 40-2CD at 60 feet

20m: 3L-20 at 60 feet

15m: 5L-15 at 60 feet



Temporary antennas on three AB-577 masts



I'm still trying to reach that 1200 contact threshold but it eluded me 
again. 



The upper bands were very mediocre and 15m shut down earlier than last 
year. 

Likewise 20m died at sundown and I went to 40m which was long.  When I 
finally

went to 80m to work my friend W6SX, I found I had been missing a very quiet

band that was open both long and short.  It had a great foot print and there

was no QRN.



I finished the first day only needing ND and NT and had 726 contacts.  Early

Sunday morning KE0A called in for ND.  I subsequently worked three more.  I 
was

running on 20m and listening on 15m for any new stations and heard VY1AAA

calling CQ without any answers.  I turned my 15m yagi north and his signal 
came

up to S7.  I pounced on him which was easy as no other stations were calling

him.  He asked how his signal was and I gave him 579.  He remarked that he

couldn't get any answers.   



Finding a spot to CQ was fairly easy all weekend as activity seemed a little

down.  There were quite a few clicky signals on the air but easy to stay 
away

from.



I'm still trying to find a way to ask for a repeat on PREC.  About half the

time the station repeats everything except the PREC.  Many times when asking

for a specific piece to repeat, the station would resend the whole 
exchange.  I

wonder if stations no longer use a paddle or the big knob on the radio.



Many QRP stations had reasonable signals.  But many didn't and it took 
several

tries to get their complete exchanges.  On a couple occasions I got their 
call

sign but their signal vanished into the noise before I could get their 
exchange

and no contact was made.  I just sent "NO QSO" and went on.



I spent Monday morning chatting with friends about the SS.  That is as much 
fun

as the contest itself as we all have highlights and lowlights.



I took a single off time from 11:30 pm until 4:30 am and quit at 6 pm.  In

prior SS contests, the last hour had been very unproductive.  So stopping 
one

hour before the end didn't really hurt my score.



Besides Cal QSO Party, this is my second favorite contest.  I remember when 
it

was two weekends and you sent your birth date in the exchange with paper 
logs

and paper dupe sheets.  I am glad those days are over!  K1EA changed all 
that

with CT in the late 80's.



I'm still trying to figure a way to explain to normal people why I do this.



73, Kurt W6PH  (CK 55 ORG)





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