[SCCC] Fwd: SS CW AA6FD(NF1R) Single Op Limited-Ant QRP

[Clayton Nall]

                    ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, CW - 2024

Call: AA6FD
Operator(s): NF1R
Station: AA6FD

Class: Single Op QRP
Class Overlay: Limited-Ant
QTH: SB
Operating Time (hrs): 3

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
  160:   0
   80:   0
   40:  13
   20:  37
   15:  15
   10:   6
------------
Total:  71  Sections = 38  Total Score = 5,396

Club: Southern California Contest Club

Comments:

Rig: Kenwood TS590SG
Ant: G5RV inverted vee @ 30ft on a Spiderbeam pole, Icom remote tuner.

Because of poor planning on my part in 2013, this contest almost always
falls on
my anniversary weekend.  Steve (AC6T) and I decided that neither of us had
the
energy to pursue a multi-single or school club entry from W6RFU/N6RA this
weekend.  So I used my limited operating time this weekend to finally set up
computer logging control and CW keying on my TS590SG and test it out.

I started Saturday afternoon as NF1R with 100W on 15M.  Almost immediately,
my
wife yelled that the GFCI circuit on her hair crimper was literally
sparking in
rhythm with my CW.  Either there is something wrong with stray RF in my
shack,
or cheapo Amazon consumer products have become especially vulnerable to RF
interference.  I've had a similar problem with touch-activated lamps
flickering
on and off.

I switched to our Field Day group's club callsign, AA6FD, and dialed the
power
back to 5W.  I also decided to do most of my operating as "fresh meat"
on Sunday afternoon to get the most enjoyment out of my operating time.

Sadly, ham radio's demographic cliff seems to be hitting this contest
especially
hard.  Activity seemed way down.  (N6RO had only 500 more QSOs than the top
QRP
entry on 3830??). There are now very few checks from the 1950s, nor are
there
many checks from the 2000s or later among the top stations.  This doesn't
bode
well.  It may be time for contest organizers to think seriously about how to
revise longstanding marathon contests to keep them exciting, even if that
means
starting new record books.  Perhaps allowing one QSO per band?  In my view,
NAQP
has become a more attractive contest because it's not as limited by activity
levels and I don't have to ignore my wife and kids for an entire weekend to
be competitive.

Thanks to all the masochists who worked hard to pull out my weak signal!

73,
NF1R


Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/


-- 
Clayton Nall
http://www.nallresearch.com
Cell: (617) 850-2062

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