[CVCC] CQ160 CW VP9I(WA4PGM) Single Op LP

[Kyle Chavis]

                    CQ 160-Meter Contest, CW

Call: VP9I
Operator(s): WA4PGM
Station: VP9GE

Class: Single Op LP
QTH: Bermuda
Operating Time (hrs): 11

Summary:
Total:  QSOs = 539  State/Prov = 51  Countries = 16  Total Score = 185,389

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

Comments: http://www.wa4pgm.us/2007_CQ160_VP9I.htm

Thursday 25th - Arriving Bermuda 1PM local time the weather was rain and
winds gusting 30+ knots. Short taxi ride to Ed's (VP9GE) and the FT-920 were
awaiting my arrival. The weather didn't permit installing the K9AY RX
antenna so I started hooking up the station and making sure everything
worked. With a short trip to the Market Place I was well stocked with
groceries and ready for the contest hoping the antenna would stay up.

Friday 26th - Weather hasn't improved gales now gusting to 35 knots and
forecast to increase to hurricane force by evening. Luckily the strongest
winds recorded at Ed's were around 47 knots which by no means is ideal or
safe for antenna projects. Ed called and asked if I wanted to go into
Hamilton so I took him up. After making several stops, one of which was for
a birthday celebration of Ed's youngest son Ken at day care. Upon arrival
back at the apartment I quickly noticed that the Inverted L had fallen to
the ground and no commercial power. Oh no! It's only a few hours before the
contest and with bad weather forecast there wasn't a chance of getting it
back up. Luckily there was a Monster G5RV up about 25 feet I could use. Not
the best antenna but I could at least get on the air; however the 920's
tuner took a long time to tune. At contest time I would soon find out that
the G5RV had its own problems on topband. After making a few contacts the
SWR would jump to infinity so I'd had to retune taking valuable time away
from the contest. Again after several contact SWR problems, this went on for
about an hour and I knew I had better stop before damaging the rig. With 88
contacts the first hour and I had to call it a night and good to bed with
dreams the weather would improve so we could fix the inverted L or G5RV.

Saturday 27th - Awake to find that weather isn't good but was able to repair
the broke wire and feed line on the G5RV. It had gotten tangled in a tree
that was pulling on the balun as the winds gusts. Second night I made around
400 contacts before taking a short nap before the sunrise in Europe. Nice
signals from CN2R, UR4LRG +++,  RK6........K6FD/KH6 :) After the sunrise I
called CQ for 20 minutes with no takers so I went to bed.

Sunday 28th - Wow what a difference a day makes weather is sunny with winds
calming down. Ed and I install a make shift Inverted L made out of telephone
wire. The wire from the original L had several bad spots and broke while
trying to retrieve it from the trees and bushes. The smaller wire wasn't the
best but signal were 2-3 S units better than the G5RV. But by now the
contest was over with many stations already posting their scores on 3830. I
put another 60 or so contacts in the log before the end with a final score
of 539 QSOs 51 Sections 16 Countries. Not the winning score I had last year
but I provided a multiplier for many stations so all in all I'd do it again
and the trip wasn't a total lost. With about 11 hours of operating I felt I
had done my best due to the problems. Thanks to K7BG for my 50th state of
Montana on Topband as VP9I.

Monday 29th - Typing this at 38,000 feet headed back to the USA at about
600mph. The battery is getting low so I'll make this one short and say
THANKS to everyone that participated in the 2007 CQ160 you make it one of
the best!.
Finally thanks to my host and friend VP9GE I always look forward to the
visit, until next time best wishes everyone!
73,
Kyle

PS: See from PJ2T for ARRL DX CW.