[ILQSO] K9LY report

[Joe LeKostaj]

Operated from home for the first time in many years. Being in a 
condo, antennas are not welcome around here so I had to use stealth! 
Used an Icom AH-4 automatic antenna tuner to match a 25-foot length 
of wire tossed out to some nearby bushes. The antenna height was only 
about 12 ft. Connected a random length of wire to the tuner's ground 
terminal for a counterpoise. I'm sure efficiency was low, especially 
on 80m, but still managed to make more than 50 "actual" QSOs - even 
with the IC-706 turned down to half power.

20m was a bust. Heard no out-of-state ILQP activity at all during the 
time I was there. Spent my time alternating between 40 and 80, even 
during the daylight hours. Heard lots of strong downstate signals 
(like KI9A and W9WI/m) on 40 CW during the afternoon. The band didn't 
sound particularly "long" to me; maybe because my antenna was 
essentially a cloud-warmer.

80 CW brought a good number of contacts even with the meager antenna. 
I even tried a little SSB (rare for me) but it was tough going. The 
gold medal for patience goes to K2PEY who worked *really* hard to 
pull me out of the noise on 80 SSB, but ultimately had to give up. 
Thanks for the good effort! Later on 80 CW, I was pleased to work 
VE1RGB in Nova Scotia, quite a long haul for my little wire -- and a 
new mult.

Had a lot of fun! Thanks to WIARC for another well-organized ILQP.

73,
Joe K9LY