Topband: Top Band WAS

[doktorij at bellsouth.net]

I think timing is everything to work WAS and DXCC. Certainly you dramatically increase your odds by playing in the three major 160 contests. Conditions in my limited experience seem better to do so during ARRL160...

That beings said, I feel extremely lucky to have worked WAS in 2005 and 2006 during ARRL160. I do not consider my antennas to be top notch and I only run 100 watts. So would argue it's Elecraft mojo, and I wouldn't dispute that point ;o) Neither time did I use a special Rx antenna, but I suspect my QTH may be quieter than many.

It's doable, and even possible in a weekend. I'm not sure how easy it would be to accomplish strictly S&P, think you have to try calling CQ a bit, some state participants do seem to be more inclined to operating S&P. Finding a clear calling frequency on a contest weekend... Well that's another story entirely!

73 and thanks for all the QSO,

Julius
n2wn