[ILQSO] NE0P Contest Report

[John Geiger]

Finally getting time to sit down and write up my
contest report for 2003.  I did not do as good as last
year's score, but did better than I though I would, as
my parents were here for a visit for several days, and
were not sure when they were leaving.  They decided to
leave on Sunday morning-without any prompting from me,
or even a mention of the Illinois QSO party.  I also
learned that a 10 month old daughter doesn't find
contesting as thrilling as I do, so I lost some time
at the start and end of the contest with Daddy duty.

Anyway, I wored 156 CW QSOs and 37 SSB QSOs for a
total of 349 QSO points.  I had 78 counties worked,
and 3 8 County QSOs (Bureau/Henry/Whiteside) for a
multiplier total of 81.  That should give me a final
score of 28,269.

I thought that activity was down compared to last
year, but I did not find out until after the contest
about the solar flare.  Conditions were still pretty
good on 20, but never heard anyone on 15 or 10.  I
heard people working IL on 15 so the stations were
there, but I couldn't hear the IL stations.  40 was
noisy like usual here (power line noise) and activity
seemed kind of light on 80.  Made no 80 SSB QSOs, and
thanks to KF9TL for QSYing to 40 SSB for my only 3
QSOs there.  I was looking too high in the band
(7.290) it seems, as I have seen mention of people
making QSOs around 7.260.

As always, great job by the mobiles!  Really nice to
work Kevin, K9IUA, from his mobile QRP station.  Now
that takes dedication-to run mobile QRP.  Here are the
mobiles I worked, and the counties I got them in:

NN9K-WARR-MCDN-SCOT-SANG-LOGN-MCLN-TAZW-PEOR-KNOX-STAR-BURO-HENR-WTSD

K9IUA-OGLE-CARR-STEP-JODA

KF9D-WASH/RAND/SCLA-UNIO-ALEX-PULA-MSSC-JOHN-WMSN-FRKN-MARI-FAYE-SHEL-MNTG-CHRS

N9JF-LAWR/RICH/WABA-WAYN-WHIT-HAML-SALI-GALL-HARD-JOHN-WMSN-FRKN-WASH-CLNT-BOND-MNTG

KJ9C-CRAW/LAWR/RICH-CLAY/FAYE/MARI-COLE-CLRK/EDGR

NY4N-MSSC-POPE-HARD-WHIT-WAYN-JEFF-JACK-JOHN-ALEX

W3DYA-MAKC/PERR-RAND-WASH/SCLA-MNRO-MADN

WK9O-JODA-CARR/WTSD-OGLE/LEE

K9LY-WILL/COOK-GRUN/KEND

Many of those were the only time I worked that county,
so thanks a bunch for going out and activating them. 
NN9K, N9JF, and KF9D were sure loud here.  There also
seemed to be alot of county line portables this year,
and I worked K9WA/P on SSB! I understand that working
Jim on SSB is about as rare as working a VU4 or BS7H.

I can't believe I missed DuPage county?  Never even
heard it on.  Also missed Kane, although I heard it on
once, but someone else had the frequency.  All in all
alot of fun, and can't wait until next year (like Cubs
fans).  

Setup here is Yaesu FT100D barefoot to a 2 element
mini quad on 20 and a G5RV on 40 and 80.  See everyone
next year!  Thanks again for a great contest!  This is
one of the 3 contests I really get up for every year,
along with the 10 meter and IARU contests.

73s John  NE0P from Oklahoma

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