[SECC] SS Summary

[Sherman Banks (W4ATL)]

SOLP
1208   QSOs
80  Sections
193280 Claimed Score
FT-920, A4S Tribander and dipoles for 80/40.

This was my first contest when I was a student at Georgia Tech (way back in
1982), and it is still my favorite (but NAQP is challenging to be my
favorite.)  I continued to participate occasionally from Georgia Tech when
they needed operators, but with the advent of the "S" category I have been
encouraging them to make a run to win that category.  That left me to do a
single op effort, which I have not done seriously before.

My goal was to break 1000 QSOs, and I exceeded my expectaions.  I got on 15M
to start, thinking I couldn't hold my own on 20M.  I made several contacts
before the contest and everyone said I was loud.  But when the contest
started the rate was lousy.  I never could get anything going on 10 or 15.

I bounced around 20 and made a small run.  Then I moved to 40 and things
picked up.  But after midnight it was as if someone flipped a switch.  I had
incredible runs on 40 and 80.  I was planning on getting some sleep around 1
or 2 AM when the rates eased, but people kept calling me.  So I kept working
'em.  Stopped for breakfast when the rates finally died down around 6 AM.

Then I decided to see what was happening on 20M.  A few people were making
QSOs, but the band was relatively clear.  I decided to get on 14207 and make
a run - for the next 4 hours.  Stations above and below finally caused me to
move, but I held the frequency for a long time!

At this point I needed YT, AK, NV, UT and SF.  I only had one radio, so I
decided to S&P every hour or so in the afternoon to try and pick up the
needed mults.  SF and UT finally called me in the afternoon.  I heard VY1JA
working someone early in the morning on 40M and he said he was moving down
in frequency but I never heard him. I had to get VY1MB who was running on
10M.  KL7G was also loud on 10M Sunday afternoon.  Then I finally heard NV
on late Sunday for the sweep.  It took me 15 minutes to break the pileup.

Tons of people kept telling me that they needed GA - even late in the
contest.  I heard lots of stations with 00-02 checks.  Hopefully they will
get hooked too!

Thanks to all the SECCers who gave me a QSO.  Some I couldn't remember the
names with the call - sorry! Blame it on a lack of sleep.  Worked K4BAI,
AE4Y, KU8E, K4WI, NQ4I (whining about only having an 80M vertical), K4JRB
(sorry I had a hard time hearing you!)  Maybe some others - sorry if I
missed you.  Heard W4NTI work someone else.