[UK-CONTEST] ARRL DX PH @ G5W. Welcome back 10m!

[Marios Nicolaou]

Hi all,

Just a quick report (before I forget) about the  ARRL DX PH at G5W last
weekend!


Contest         : ARRL International DX Contest
Callsign        : G5W (Op G0WWW/5B4WN)
Mode            : PHONE
Category        : Single Operator (SO) Unassisted
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : High Power (HP)
Operating time  : 38h59

 BAND   QSO  S/P DUP  POINTS  AVG
----------------------------------
  160   132   34   2     396 3.00
   80   325   44   2     975 3.00
   40   375   48   0    1122 2.99
   20  1108   60  11    3324 3.00
   15  1041   57   8    3120 3.00
   10   244   37   0     732 3.00
----------------------------------
TOTAL  3225  280  23    9669 3.00
==================================
     TOTAL SCORE : 2 707 320

Rig:
FTDX5000x2
ACOM 2000
Quadra Amp
Force 12 C4XLD at 80 ft (40-10)
SteppIR 3 el yagi (10-20)
Titanex vertical: 80/160
Wires for 80/160
EZmaster SO2R box
G3BJ antenna switching box


Random comments:

Firstly, I would like to thank Don G3BJ and Hilary G4JKS for hosting me once
again. Their hosting was simply fantastic and I really mean this!


It was interesting to use the FTDX5000 for the first time. My first
impression of the radio is that it has far too many knobs at the expense of
simplicity but has a superb receiver (k3 like)! It does take some getting
used to. The panadapter is certainly not as useful as the one in the  756
pro. I didnt really play much with the DSP but it looks impressive.


Highpoints:
-10m opening up and allowing me to work 37 states and provinces on Sunday
afternoon. No massive rates but with no stations heard on Saturday... it
made the contest 100x more interesting.
-Good runs on 15m and 20m on both days but generally short lived [best hour
was  ~210]
-Lots of 6 band qsos
-Got some sleep at quiet points.

Low points:.
-40m especially on Saturday am. Even W3LPL and K3LR couldnt hear me calling
them
-Some minor RF issues with the SO2R controller


Overall a great fun weekend with the sense of optimism for the next few
??years. Welcome back the sunspots!


73s

Marios
G0WWW/5B4WN