[SECC] Holy Land Contest

David L. Thompson thompson at mindspring.com
Sun Apr 18 03:26:02 EDT 2004


I did Ok last year in the Holy Land Contest last year despite missing the
whole first day. I decided the secret was 40 meters.  I worked the two
stations I found on 20 and found 40 filled with 4X stations.  Running S/O
SSB I tried for 3.5 hours to get the stations to listen up.  This despite
the fact that I had several e-mail exchanges with Mark (the 4X director)
about listening up.

In the 3.5 hours (the band finally went out at 1 hour past their sunrise) I
managed to work only 6 stations one of which was Rafi 4X4FR who worked me
mobile from two of their squares.  He told me I was louder than all but one
or two of the Europeans.  Only one station actually was listening up at
times and another listened up after I called him on CW then SSB (listen up
for stateside) on his frequency.   I noted 14 additional 4X stations that I
could hear on SSB including the two I worked on 20.   I called on CW
numerous times and finally made several calls on SSB (just saying a
frequency that was clear).  I did get 4X1GY to listen up but for some reason
he went to the frequency requested so it took a couple of transmissions to
get him back below 7100 and for me to transmit on the selected frequency.
He told me I was loud.   The strangest was 4X4ARC.  He listened (so he said
on the selected frequency) and he too started transmitting on the USA
frequency.  After a couple of minutes it became apparent the op had no idea
how to work split
and I heard him back calling CQ simplex.  The rest ignored my CW ...one made
a comment the loud CW was interfereing with the DL he was trying to work.

I finally found a clear frequency and starting calling CQ Holy Land Contest.
Not a single 4X answered but I did talk with UY2VM, YU1, PA9DD, LX1HM, and a
very loud SV9CVY who also said I was 20 to 30 over at his QTH.  Malik, 4X4JU
put me on their packet cluster but still no QSOs.  I went down on CW and
quickly worked three stations but all said sorry CW only even one I had
copied several times on SSB around 7052.

I sent a second e-mail to poor Mark and ceased my Holy Land effort.  The 40
meter QSOs count as two contacts as does those on 80/75 (none copied this
year even up East according to K3ZO). I suspected 20 would carry the bulk of
activity with maybe, maybe 15 for a short opening.  With SF=93 10 meters was
NIL on the forecast program ( 3 QSOs last year).

I have the same problem with both the H-22 and PACC contests each year so
guess the HolyLand contest will join those as make a few contacts for grins.
Where are the ops who work the CQ WW et al and listen up???   Can't wait
until 2009 HI.

73 Dave K4JRB




More information about the SECC mailing list