Topband contesters can post their claimed scores for this year’s event here. Conditions domestically were quite good (very quiet conditions here each night – low background noise and lack of storm QRN – but particularly Friday eve). DX certainly seemed harder to come by and less numerous than in past number of years due to poor long range signal strengths and few non-US/VE participants (ie. not really a DX ‘test)…this event appears to remain the ‘Sweepstakes of Topband!
9 comments on “2012 ARRL 160m Contest *Post scores here*”
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Initial results, with more to follow…W1WBB Multi-Op Single TX Low Power (just me and the spotting cluster – *NO* SOLP Category but ‘M.O.S.T. LP’ is new op. cat. as of 2011):
64,313 pts 430 QSOs 73 mults (66 US/VE & 7 DX) ~14 hrs total B.I.C. Had fun with band SO quiet!
73, Bill W1WBB
Call: W1XX
Op: W1XX
Class: Single Op HP
Time (Hrs): 9.5
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QSOs = 523
Sections = 64
Countries = 10
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Score = 79,846
Club: CTRI Contest Group
Comments:
Hirricane Sandy did a number on the 160 verticsal…but with about 52 feet still standing, was able to add somer linear loading and coil at the base to make it work. It wasn’t great, but it did work. Really frustrating calling M5O repeatedly on a perfectly clear frequency and he not hearing me…but working every WA3 that called him. And E77DX, usually an easy mark, got XX several times but that was all. But KH6LC called me at SR on Sunday…that was nice. If the wx holds may try to get the antenna back to normal by Jan-FEB CQ 160 contests time….otherwise will wait til spring. Adios!
Hi Guys, I wasn’t able to put much time in. Only maybe three hours. I did lay out several more radials in preparation but an early plane flight Saturday had me packing and in bed early. I worked a few Qs over a hundred. I found the DX difficult to work, and wasn’t up late enough to catch many 7s, and no 6s were heard. I’ll have a more detailed report when I return home. Caught W1XX early and saw W1WBB spotted but couldn’t find him.
73, John W1AN
I too struggled to work the DX…from CE1/K7CA (who I’ve worked on 160m a few times B4) only got a ‘B?’ a few times then ‘QRZ?’ – and no QSO. Picked times when DX sig peaked and few if any NA callers were also trying. Same result for me with M5O though he was hearing others. Even missed FM5CD who CQ’d in the face of many callers but was fairly strong – the dreaded TopBand ‘alligator’…loud but deaf!
So didn’t spend much time on DX QSOs – worked only C6, F (only Eu!), KP2, PJ2 VP2V, VP5 and ZF. Concentrated on running, then working needed Midwest to Western mults later on. Surprised to be called by W0 in CO quite early, then VE6 and N7 in OR late Fri night. The band was very quiet on night #1 but a bit noisier Sat eve but overall quite decent…distant sigs unfortunately remained weak. No real surprise at this point in the solar cycle.
Met my minimum goal of 50k pts while well exceeding the expected # of mults to be worked…all on a mostly QRN-free (for me) 160m, so all good.
Next stop 10 meters!
ARRL 160-Meter Contest
Call: W1WBB
Operator(s): W1WBB (+ SPOTTING NETWORK)
Station: W1WBB
Class: M/S LP
QTH: RI
Operating Time (hrs): 14
Summary:
Total: QSOs = 430 Sections = 66 Countries = 7 Total Score = 64,313
Club: CT RI Contest Group
Comments:
While the band was very quiet, especially Friday night, the longer haul stuff
just wasn’t there for me — weak sigs and less activity from DX.
Ran with the spotting network so classified as M/S LP. With the expected lack
of non-US/VE activity here near solar maxima I figured I’d maximize my ability
to hear the domestic mults and have the most fun. Only worked 7 five-point
QSOs this year and had just 7 DX mults (back in 2011: 10 5-pt Q’s/ 8 DX mults;
2010: 23 5-pt Q’s/ 19 DX mults; 2009: 22 5-pt Q’s/ 19 DX mults).
Most DX Q’s were a struggle…spent little time calling them. I *did* observe
the DX window per the rules and avoided any US/VE CQers there…no QSO and
they’ll move. We do want to encourage the few DX stns that do show up in the
contest!
Worked 13 more SECs (66 total – incl 3 new ON mults for 2012) than last year with similar op time so spotting network certainly helped (2011 – 53 SECs; 2010 – 69; 2009 – 66). Missed all
but one CA section (good ears N6KI before my Sun. S/R) but heard most…just no
joy with my 100 watts. Also missed/never heard MB, BC, NT, PR, AK, PAC and WY
— heard but no QSO w/ ND and WWA. New SECs WCF, SDG and NV worked Sunday AM
within 50 mins of my S/R, and almost back-to-back-to-back!
With little DX workable off each coast for the LP guys, best scores Low Power
may be from the central USA this year.
Thanks for the Q’s…the ‘Sweepstakes’ of TopBand was still good fun.
Stn equipt: Icom 737 @ 100W; low 3/8 wv Inv. L on TX/RX with compromise radial
field; N1MM logger.
73, Bill W1WBB
Worked John W1XX for one of few RI mults…W1OP (Prov.) was also active and WA1BXY of Tiverton was worked Sat. afternoon.
John – Kudos to you to be active with the “Sandy-modified” vertical. I shared your frustration with the DX at times in this one! A quick read of W2GD’s 3830 ARRL 160m post regarding the devastation by storm “Sandy” to their SNj 160m stn salt marsh QTH is worthwhile, and puts things in perspective. Maybe some Rohn-25 is in the future for the corner of your drive! Thanks for the Q. 73, Bill W1WBB
To all:
Radio Ansonia’s little ARRL 160 score.
ARRL160 Score Summary Sheet
Start Date : 2012-12-01
CallSign Used : W1CTN
Operator(s) : W1CTN
Operator Category : SINGLE-OP
Band : 160M
Power : QRP
Mode : CW
Default Exchange : CT
Gridsquare : FN31
Name : DAVE ARRUZZA
Address : 32 BENZ ST
City/State/Zip : ANSONIA CT 06401
Country : USA
ARRL Section : CT
Club/Team : Connecticut Rhode Island Contest Group
Software : N1MM Logger V12.11.2
Band QSOs Pts Sec
1.8 103 206 31
Total 103 206 31
Score : 6,386
Rig : FT 2000 @ 5 Watts output
Antennas : 1/4 wave inverted L x 32 100′ radials
Soapbox : Just a couple of hours of operation after a week plus in
North Carolina looking for land to establish Radio Ansonia South.
Best DX was Arkansas. After playing the 160 contest game
for so many years I might just do all my 160 contesting QRP,
at least the 2 160 CW contests. Presently working on a 300′
reversible beverage, my winter project.
I have observed all competition rules as well as all regulations
established for amateur radio in my country. My report is
correct and true to the best of my knowledge. I agree to be
bound by the decisions of the Contest Committee.
Date : 2012-12-07 Signature :
I guess I need to post my 160-m effort here so the Contest Manager can keep track. This was certainly not one of my better efforts on this band. On Friday night, I did not transmit, since I had ZERO ground radials for the tower. On Saturday, I strung out a dozen radials, but I did not get a chance to adjust the coupler, so the SWR was not very friendly. Thus, I was limited to 100 watts from the K3 and it’s internal antenna tuner, which, by the way, did a wonderful job. I worked 6 five-point stations including France and Czeck Republic and the Caribean. My Pennant receiving antenna is definitely working! I had a total of 255 QSOs 53 sections and 6 countries (59 mults) for a claimed score of 31,152 points. I was in the assisted category for this year’s contest.
I will be fully prepared for the Stew Perry Distance weekend, AND will attempt to defend my CQWW 160 LP title. Although I have the amplifier, and I know the antenna will play nicely, I plan to get some more wire pointed at EU and WEST, so I can get some additional countries. It should be fun.
73, Mike, K1DM
OK guys, I’m back. Here’s the results for my participation:
That is all…
73,
John W1AN
Welcome back John. Curious if the Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge may present a possible opportunity for a Multi-Op get-together at the fine W1DX 160m operating position?? No idea what conditions may bring that last Sat. Nite of 2012 but could be fun to have a few lowband cw ops gather there for that single night event.
The CQWW 160m CW contest is 4 weeks later at end of Jan. and folks may prefer to operate from home for that one.
73, Bill W1WBB