[SCCC] VP9/W6PH ARRL DX CW SOAB LP

[Alan Zack]

Thank you for being my constant VP9 Mult in so many contests since 2003.
Happy now to give you a NV mult.

73
Alan Zack
K7ACZ


-----Original Message-----
From: SCCC [mailto:sccc-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of W6PH via SCCC
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2017 5:22 AM
To: sccc at contesting.com
Subject: [SCCC] VP9/W6PH ARRL DX CW SOAB LP
 
ARRL DX Contest, CW

Call: VP9/W6PH
Operator(s):  W6PH
Station: VP9GE

Class: SOAB LP
QTH: Bermuda
Operating Time  (hrs): 39.1

Summary:
Band  QSOs   Mults
-------------------
160:  337     47
80:  584    56
40:  1030    58
20: 1341     60
15:  406    51
10:    0      0
-------------------
Total: 3698   272  Total Score =  3,017,568

Comments:

IC7000  Win-Test 4.23 (CT on  steroids)
160  Dipole at 30 feet
80   Dipole at 25  feet
40   Dipole at 28 feet
20-15 Cushcraft A4S at 30  feet

I did this much more casually than in previous years. This was my  18th
consecutive year for the ARRL's in Bermuda.  At age 75 I'm starting  to lose
the energy and motivation that I once had.

It is evident that  we are near the bottom of the solar cycle.  This is the
first year that  I can remember where I didn't work a single station on 10
meters even though  I checked the band often.  I never heard a single
station other than a  couple weak back scatter stations who couldn't hear
me.

Fifteen meters  acted like 10 meters with spotty propagation to different
areas of the  US.  It was only open to the northeast in the morning but
everyone was busy working Europeans and couldn't hear me.  I missed several
northeast states and provinces.  Because of the small foot print, my  rate
on 15 was dismal but I had to be there.  It was tough getting into  W6 as
well.

Twenty and forty were the money bands.  Even though the  40m dipole is low
it really kicks butt.  Both bands had great  rates.

I have a severe S9 noise problem on 80 meters.  We have not  been able to
solve it and I have to manually move the antenna switch to 160  for receive
to bring the noise level down to S4.  I could use a third  hand to do this.
 
As usual K6NA was the loudest Calif station on 80 meters.  K6XX was  the
only Calif station on 160m.

The most difficult state continues to be  Nebraska with North Dakota close
behind.  I never heard VY1 even though  I was told that they called me on
20m. 
I was called by VO2AC on two bands  but didn't have the presence of mind to
make a schedule later in the  evening.  I had to ask for QSY's to fill in
some of the blanks on 15  meters and these were completed successfully by
going to 21088.

I tried  to sign my call often, at least no more than three contacts without
signing.  It seemed to work all right.  Late Sunday a pile  up formed on my
CQ's who were all dupes.  Either there was a bad spot or  a good mult on my
frequency.
I sent my call three times slowly and the pileup  disappeared.  Cluster
clickers need to confirm the call of the station  they are calling.

I have to thank my host, Ed, VP9GE.  He is a  fantastic guy and bends over
backward to make sure everything is okay.   I also need to compliment my 
IC7000
which I have used continuously since 2006  without a single hiccup.  It is
the ultimate expedition radio  considering size and performance.  I bring it
as carry-on.  TSA  seems to be more concerned with my Vibroplex paddle than
the radio.

I  will be back for the ARRL Phone.

73, Kurt  W6PH