Topband: Post Stew comments, thanks for a great test !

[Sam Morgan]

Mike & Coreen Smith wrote:
> 128Q's, 760½pts, 5 hours. VE9AA SO LP
> 
> Wow, a lot tougher than I thought using only 100w and short SF tower! I 
> think it helped having a homebrew mock-Xmas tree made of 100's of L.E.D. 
> lights hanging off the side of my tower @ the 24' level(hi).  My hat is off 
> to anyone doing this 'test QRP !  
 >
Not a good year for this years QRPp entry:
K2 Hi-Q 5/160 @ 20 feet w/16 radials ea 13 feet long
5w (w/1.3% efficiency = 65mw ERP)
35 Q's   85 QSO points   Total score 340

Started out ok, but a few hours into the contest the bands sounded like I had 
thrown an attenuator inline. Signals went down even on the stronger signals. I 
was still able to copy 95% of who I heard, but was able to work only about 50% 
of those stations. Last year with the same rig/antenna/power setup, I worked 60 
contacts and about 95% of the stations heard.

Last year longest Q was 3942km with 2 dx Q's, this years longest Q was only 
1912km and no dx at all.

But it was a fun time, handing out the qrp Q's for those that were able to dig 
me out of the noise floor, hi hi.

Maybe next year....

-- 
GB & 73
K5OAI
Sam Morgan