TopBand: Stew Perry: K8SM SO/QRP

[Scott A Long]

Call:	K8SM
QTH:	Newark, OH
Grid:	EN80

Equip:	Yaesu FT890AT, MFJ-1026, Timewave DSP-9.
Ant:	Inverted-L (80 ft vert., 50 ft horz., 10 radials)
Pwr:	5 watts (thru 70 ft of RG-213)

QSOs:	67
DX hrd/wrkd:	0
Points:	67 + 94 x 2 = 322 total points
Hours:	Approx. 2
Packet:  No!

First of all, THANKS to everyone for hearing my QRP signal!  I was not
planning on putting any effort this year into this contest.  With the
noise problem that I've been having I didn't think that I would have a
chance.  Wasn't too sure about running 5 watts either, what a challenge! 
I figured that discouragement would set in after about the first dozen
q's.  I must have had somekind of pipeline Sat night.  Didn't get started
until 0200z, had family commitments.  Was just planning on getting on and
handing out some points.  Glad that I tried for the 2 hours that I did,
hand ALOT of fun!  Tried CQing a couple of times, nil response, S&P is
the way to go.  The 1026 (not advertising, just convinced!) helped with
the noise in some cases, didn't always need it.  My longest qso was with
N2IC, thanks for hanging in there with me!  I heard plenty of 7's (W7ZRC,
N7JW and others), also heard N6RO and N6FF (nice signals!), but 5 watts
wouldn't stretch out far enough.  I quit Sat night at 0452z with N8EA. 
Got up at 1145z Sunday morning hoping to catch those 6's and 7's at my
s/r, nil.  First qso was with KJ5WX, last one with N5LZ, by the way I
called him Sat night several times but he could dig my call out.  All I
can say is if you have never tried running QRP on topband you havn't met
the real challenge yet.  The only other QRP qso that I have ever made on
topband was with C56DX, W8CAR even worked them with 10 watts.  (Remember
that one Dan?)

THANKS to everyone who organized this contest and I hope to be back next
year with less than 5 watts!  I would like to know who I worked that was
also running QRP, please email me direct.

Just one comment to the committee, maybe the QRPers should be in a class
to themselves.

Happy New Year and CU next year!

Scott K8SM
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