Here is the result of my minimal effort this weekend.I heard W1DX once on 15, but didn’t hear anyone else.
Call: K3IU Operator(s): K3IU Station: K3IU Class: SOAB HP QTH: USA - RI Operating Time (hrs): 8.1 Summary: Band QSOs Zones Countries ------------------------------ 160: 0 0 0 80: 21 8 17 40: 64 13 33 20: 181 14 51 15: 50 12 35 10: 0 0 0 ------------------------------ Total: 316 47 136 Total Score = 163,602
Part time operation. Conditions were pretty good. 40M and 20M especially. For 160 and 80M my main beverage antennas remain unusable with open connections somewhere. The cable feeds are still frozen under the leaves from Thursday 17 degree cold. 160M had many spots available that would normally have been fully readable with the beverages.
At the start I worked maybe 25 JAs and a DS all in a row. Seemed like there was a pipeline to zone 25 with Only JAs appearing on the RBN. Nothing else at the time.
Heard KS1J briefly, no other CTRIers. Great contest. Just need more ops!
73, John W1AN
Call/Op/Station: W1XX
QTH: RI
Summary
—————————————————–
Band Qs Z C
1.8 19 12 15
3.5 37 9 24
7 126 16 50
14 22 6 14
—————————————————-
Total 204 43 103 Score = 84,388
Club: CTRI Contest Group
Comments:
Spent the last few days of daylight repairing wires in the
woods. One leg of the 80 meter 4SQ was completely down.
So the contest took a back seat.
Best zone exchange I received was “AE” from an EU station
(couda been an I).
Should be all set for ARRL 160 this weekend now that the
receive antennas are now back up and running.
K1SX
SOSB(A) 40 QRP
28,638 139-17-57
10.5 hours
Genesis G11 SDR, 66′ open wire fed doublet at 50′, N1MM+
HI on cut numbers. When I got back into contestng a few years ago, after 30 years off, pretty soon somebody sent me “ENNAA”. Whaaaat? Had to stop and think. But the unnecessary exchange is part of the fun in WW. D41CV was using “ENNVE” wasn’t he? At about 50wpm too.
You have to understand that I am just as competitive as anybody in spite of operating 5w to a wire. CQWW is generous with qrp categories. I picked 40 because of time conflicts, and because on 20 my wire would be up against towers and yagis. I thoiught this would be a big year for 40. In 2015 I scored 209-17-64 and I thought this would easily top that, having more experience and, I thought, a somewhat better antenna. I put in time at 06-08z. But no, it turned out to be a slog. Conditions to Europe seemed great. ( Pacific, not so good.) So my theory is, increased activity is not really helpful to QRP’ers, bcz I just seemed to get beat to the ball over and over. I worked many weak stations, so the signal was getting there. Just, the magic never really got working in this one.
Anyone want to answer this question for me: Are 40m scores higher during the sunspot minimum because propagation is actually better, or is it just that everyone puts in more time on 40 because 20 and 15 aren’t so hot?
I got LN8W an hour after our sunrise, MW5R at sunrise, and VK2GR, but no ZL’s…ZM4T was weak Sat. morning and did not re-appear for Sunday sunrise. Europeans could be heard 24 hours a day.
I missed several easy mults. I see from 3830 that many mults were active that I never even heard. I guess I could have dug more into the cluster, but some mults I did look up were not really workable. VP5M was loud but just too busy in his visits to 40. Same for HC5M.
I had P33W send my full call several times throughout the contest with ?, and he never stuck with me, until 2330 Sunday.
Many calls were spent on loud UA’s and RM9A, with no result. The qrp’er has evil thoughts about how much power they are running.
The last qso was SV2DSJ at 2357 for a mult.
I heard W1DX in the last 15 minutes, beating me to somebody, SN2B I think. I did get him :). I heard KI1G a few times.
Note for next time: need a macro >>>>>SX SX SX. But from the viewpoint of the big guns who busted my call, I guess they can make up for the penalty and more, in the time it would take to get my call right.
Well that’s another big one. Slow rates or fast, it’s really great just to be out there playing radio in worldwide chaos.
GL in 160, I’m going to miss it.
Dave K1SX: I always find your comments interesting and entertaining. We could use some more entertaining in contesting. I’ll offer a few “in my opinion” responses to your comments.
Your choice of 40 seems like a good choice. Your antenna is competitive. I’ve done a number of unassisted single band 40s in recent years and to be sure HP and a big antenna make a huge difference. It is my best band thanks primarily to the antenna/location. This time around I was preoccupied. I did a couple of S & P scans from one end of the band (low to high) that took over an hour each…there were so many stations. I finally got to 7098.5 and ran for a while. I suspect there were stations above 7100 as I have discovered in previous years. No doubt you have discovered the value of “way up in the band” to get away from the big signals and multi-callers that would otherwise make you stand in line for long periods for them to hear your QRP. Even call CQ in the nosebleed seats. This is even true running HP in the 160 contest. My best runs last year in the CQ 160 were above 1900! Even for attracting EU callers. I digress.
Your question re 40: propagation or poorer 20/15? Obviously both. But I suspect that it’s mostly lack of 10 and decreased 15 capability that has a greater affect. During peak sunspots the 100 watter DX can make hay on 10 which means they are probably less inclined to do more on 40. Just saying.
Re VK/ZL: I don’t know why but it seems that VKs and ZLs by and large hate contests. I will work them in season daily on 160/80/40 often but come contest time they go into hiding,. Go figger.
Glad you are having fun, Dave. Your activity is a credit to the group so keep on sharing your thoughts. GL!!