Topband: CQ 160M SSB CONTEST

[Bryan Buck]

I enjoyed my first 160M contest.   I was a slow grind but I had some
interesting results.

 

For those trying to work Hawaii.   It looks like our propagation out was
pretty difficult.   It was for me and a few of the big operators.   It looks
like only KH7X and myself stuck around for both nights.   I felt small
compared to KH7X, but had fun bouncing around working the same calls when I
was able to.   I'm not use to not being able to work calls that are so
strong.   

 

My RX was way better than I imagined it would be.   I could hear all the way
into the east coast most of the time and barely needed the beverage.  My TX
was difficult though, but I did have 3 countries and about 6 east coast
states.   My Canadian contact was probably the furthest - PEI.   I could
hear Europe at times but not well enough to make them out.  Perhaps 1
German.

 

I was hearing calls struggling to work each other and they were 5-7 out in
the pacific, and all I could do was listen.  Calling CQ was very slow and
not really worth the effort..  I was just too weak to get any attention.
Earlier in the year would have worked better for us in Hawaii I'm told -
this particular contest is always weak compared to other times.  

 

I was surprised I only heard one Russian and no VK, ZL, JA, and it wasn't
just me.   Hardly any spotted if at all.  I was counting on those.

 

Had a lot of fun regardless.  Hearing is better than nothing!   

 

73,

 

WH7DX