[UK-CONTEST] CQWW CW GM0F SOAB HP

[Cooper, Stewart]

CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW

Call: GM0F
Operator(s): GM4AFF
Station: GM4AFF

Class: SOAB HP
QTH:
Operating Time (hrs): 29
Radios: SO2R

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Zones  Countries
------------------------------
  160:   64     8       47
   80:  607    16       61
   40:  478    25       85
   20:  548    26       74
   15:  245    23       66
   10:   58    16       38
------------------------------
Total: 2000   114      371  Total Score = 1,644,635

Club: Chiltern DX Club

Comments:

Seems like I wasn't the only one with terminal tiredness. I had spent some time the last few months getting the station ready. I recabled the two P60s for 15m and 40m and 'rebuilt' the Trident 15m Yagi. I also had to re-tune everything to the CW end of the band. I was actually ready to run a week before the event, with only one tower left to raise.
However, the 29 hours 'on' total says it all. I really couldn't hack it this year. Must be old age setting in. Lets hope that's all it is! I was very disappointed not to be able to keep going for at least 40hrs. I felt as if the equipment was finally all working well, antennas worked well, and again, it was I who failed. Last year was nearly as bad at GZ7V.
New beverage to NA worked like a dream on 80m. Also I tried a Ewe antenna on 040deg (JA/UA0) and that helped a lot more than I had hoped for, even on 160m. Other improvements included the FT1000MP Noise Reduction mod, new Inrad filters, new Heil BM10 lightweight phones (thanks W0GJ), stubs and an ICE419a on the 2nd radio, all of which made a huge difference to operating comfort and mult hunting.
I was pleased to see 10m open quite early on Saturday, but it never really took off, and couldn't support a run. None of the bands were leaping. 20m was dead here before 1800, and never really provided any great runs. Nice to work VK
on 160m though, but no JA or NA, although I heard a VE1 call someone, and he was
loud. Even one NA Q would have been nice. Also pleased to work zone 32 on a few
bands for once.
Maybe I need to look at doing a single band entry, but I'd much rather enter
a 24 hour SOAB section! I can think of a reason not to do ANY single band from
my QTH!
Maybe next year I won't work Friday and I WILL get some sleep before the
event!
But as usual, in spite of my 'doing a Radcliffe', I really had a great time.

FT1000MP + ETO91b
FT847 + Collins 30S1
160m - dipole at 50ft
80m - 1/4 wave vertical with 48 radials
40m - 402CD at 50ft
20m - Force12 4 ele 32ft boom at 50ft
15m - Trident 4ele at 50ft
10m - Create 5 ele at 25ft
520ft bev to NW
Ewe to 040 deg.

(Sent from work Web Mail system, which seems to be playing up)



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