2018 ARRL 160-Meter Contest Call: W1AN Operator(s): W1AN Station: W1AN Class: Single Op HP QTH: CT Operating Time (hrs): 11 Summary: Total: QSOs = 588 Sections = 69 Countries = 25 Total Score = 115,830 Club: CT RI Contest Group
Played a little in this one after hours Thursday and Friday in the swamp splicing multiple animal chews on the beverage feedlines. Only spending half the time in the chair I did not come anywhere close to my highest score of 245,000 in this contest back in 2015. Conditions were quiet Friday evening but noisier with the rain later Saturday.
73, John W1AN
Looks pretty good from here. I am guessing you at least resolved that bad QRN problem. Any idea what was causing it? Best of luck on the ARRL 160 later on.
Jim KS1J
Call/Op/Station: W1XX
Class: Single Op Unassisted HP
QTH: RI
Op Time (hrs): 22
Summary:
Total Qs = 938 Sections = 78 Countries = 42
Total Score = 260,040
Club: CTRI Contest Group
Comments:
Compared to my last year’s score: 90 fewer QSOs, 2 more sections, 7 more countries, 25 more DX 5-pointers for a total score slightly better. First night EU DX called in at a steady but not great rate; second night was a bit more of a struggle with static crashes. Sections missed: ND, PR, PAC, AK, NT. Disappointed again not hearing/working KH6, VK, ZL.
WR5O in West Texas gave me fits. Called his CQ loop over and over for at least 20 minutes. Parked him on the B VFO, coming back from time to time. Finally he heard me. NNY continues to be a tuff one…KC1XX missed it. K2MK called me near the end of the contest. Had him repeat SEC to be surer it was not NNJ. My response: “TU TU TU.”
CTRI stations worked: W1AN, K3IU, K1DM, K1MD, W1CTN, AB1BX. I heard Andy AB1BX adopting my “way up in the band technique” calling CQ with no other signals any higher in frequency.
Staying right thru the first night with just a couple of short breaks really wiped me out. A second night nap from 7 to 10 PM kept me fresh enough for the more productive later hours.
73!
Decent score John!
Jim, QRN problem here persists but is tolerable. Never did find the S9 source, but it’s gone for now. The nearby horse farm electric fences are in such disarray that my investigation resulted in finding that most are non-functional with wires laying on the ground, not active. All on the ready to burst forth in noise with new vigor at any time.
When I see a neighbors old appliance out at the curb or an empty large appliance box out with the trash I wonder what new noise may appear. These days you never know. A neighbor in the EU direction 400 feet away just had solar panels installed last week. Might be time to buy an island somewhere. Crowdfunding project anyone?
73, John W1AN
Nice scores… ran it QRP. Getting back into the game and antennas are now up and running from new QTH in Waterbury. 16 Qs at 320. Ran it for about an hour. Will be running the 10 Meter Contest CW and Phone at 5 Watts with the FT-817…. 73 Bob W1IG