[K6BW] Autumn contest season (so far) at K6BW

[David Mueller]

Hi Guys,
   Here's an update of the fall contest season at
K6BW.

   In early November, I participated in the November
Sweepstakes CW contest, using K6BW.  I finished with
just over 1000 QSOs on 80-10M, in all 80 VEC/ARRL
sections.  It looks like I won the Pacific Division
and finished 11th in the country.

   Two weeks later, I made about 400 QSOs in the SSB
side of the November Sweepstakes contest.  I think I
ended up with 74 or 75 of the 80 sections.

   In late November, I travelled to NW Pennsylvania
and participated in the CQWW DX CW contest from K3LR. 
We were competing in the multi-multi category, with 12
stations running full time (two stations per band). 
We finished 3rd in the world, but my teammate N6MJ and
I destroyed the competition on our band, 20 meters. 
We ended up with 2460 QSOs in 154 different countries,
all on 20M.  This is with a stack of 4 (four) long
boom 5-element 20M yagis on a 180ft high tower.  The
2nd station had a 6el yagi on a 60ft long boom at
100ft.  Pictures can be found here:
http://k3lr.com/2005/CQ05CW/

   The 1st weekend of December was the ARRL 160M
contest.  I operated from K6BW and made about 300 QSOs
in 4 hours of operation.  The half-wave sloper at the
station works very well, and I found that I had no
difficulty working anywhere in North America.  I ended
up with most of the 50 states worked, along with 6Y,
VP5, KP2, KP4, P4, and ZF.

   This weekend is the ARRL 10M contest.  I operated
for exactly *one* hour, with the goal of making just a
few QSOs on (what I thought) was a dead band.  I found
10M solidly open across the country, with all call
areas LOUD except W7.  Many guys were 20-40Db over 9. 
I made over 170 QSOs in the single hour on - I had a
pileup the entire time.  Just about all stated were
represented along with VP5, XE, LU, CX, PY, and 8P.

   Next weekend is the Stew Perry DX challenge, a 160M
contest that gives points for the distance of every
QSO (by grid square).  I will be participating this
one full time (all night Saturday night).  I hope to
get at least two receive antennas installed this
coming week, including beverage antennas pointed east
(USA) and to the northeast (EU).

   I have yet to hear or work EU on 160 this season,
however it is a goal of mine.  I hope I'll be able to
hear better with the directional receive antenna. 
I've worked EU a couple times on 80 without difficulty
so it's time to do it on top band.

73, Dave N2NL
PS - Nice job by Bill in getting the star lit in time
for the holidays!


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