[ILQSO] MISC N9JF/R observations and LOG INFO!

[Jim Funk]

This will be brief.  After driving 1800 miles last week, 410 miles yesterday and until 11:30 tonight, I am about "drove out".  I still have 2/3 of my log to type into Excel and am trying to corral the numerous logs that have come in so far.

Several observations regarding activity being down.  That is almost certainly the case due to the mobile "situation". I think this was just a combination of things "beyond our control"....not lack of interest or poor propagation.  I contacted many mobiles ahead of time, and most of them were derailed by one or more of the following:  1) simply too far to come to Illinois this year due to other obligations 2) not far from Illinois on Sunday, but other obligations 3) health issues, either personally or family.

I think we can see just how much a big mobile turnout helps the party, and how the lack of it makes things tougher.  We'll hope the fortunes turn around next year!

I haven't looked at ANY incoming logs yesterday and haven't analyzed my own, nor have I looked at the W6RK spots.  I know I went to 40 meters in every county except Morgan, and W9RNY and W9OES were on from there.  I was also on 20 in every county until the very end....check that...every county, including the last one.  I tried 15 a few times out of curiosity and heard some signals but never raised anyone.  Didn't even go to 10 as I easily had my 5 DXCC mults in the first county on 20.  Eighty didn't produce much; I worked NN9K/P there several times but didn't get much action CQing.

DX on 20 was great, and I really appreciate the rest of you standing by when I asked you to!  I think I worked LY5A in every county and SP5SA, HA8IB, YV5OIE, G3WPF and PA3ARM in most of them, plus LA8OM, SM6Z, DL6KVA and DL3IAC in several.  I know there were some others but I'm too bleary to check the log right now.

As for logs: keep sending them to n9jf at arrl.net.  That address forwards to jfunk at adams.net (home e-mail).  Melba retrieves them and forwards to my work e-mail.  I know that sounds weird, but I think I am less likely to have the work spam filter trap and destroy logs that way.  The home spam filter has already caught EIGHT...and I have no idea why.

Last year, the ARRL filter apparently stopped some and they didn't even get as far as the home e-mail....

There is no "robot" to let you know your log has been received.  Melba is my "robot" (she will kill me for saying that...but afterwards, she'll forgive me....).  If your log shows up, you should get a return e-mail.  We will also be posting a list of logs received in a few days.

IF YOU DO NOT GET A RETURN E-MAIL WITHIN 48 HOURS, OR IF THE LOGS RECEIVED LIST DOES NOT INCLUDE YOUR CALL AFTER A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, PLEASE RESEND YOUR LOG.  AS AN ALTERNATIVE ADDRESS, USE JFUNK at FOSSNA.COM.  

More later.

Jim N9JF