[KCDXC] AA0MZ ARRL 160 SOLP

[Mike ZooLoo]

I had 411 QSOs, 69 Mults, and 57,339 points

Same number of mults as last year.  More QSOs.

Didn't hear OR, SFL, KH6, KL7, VE6, or VE4.  Didn't
work RI or VE7 but heard them answer someone else's
CQ.

DX was ZF2NT, PJ2T and TI5A.  TI5A was a new one and I
appreciate the op taking the struggle to ensure a
contact.

Now the kicker.  I heard T32WW calling CQ faint.  No
one else was hearing him.  So I send "AA0MZ" and he
replies "0?".  I send again and he replies "AA0?" 
Someone listening to the struggle keyed in on the
frequency and jumped all over us.  He eventually
worked the guy over me because he wouldn't stop
sending and propagation was gone when it was all done.
 Don't know if he copied the "MZ" but know he didn't
get KS for a contest QSO.  Best I can do is hope I am
in the log.  FRUSTRATING!  100W on a low wire, this
would have made my farthest 160 QSO.

Same thing happened when I was calling CQ and a
Montana station answered me.  Before we could complete
the exchange some spaz jumped on us and tried to work
him.  The MT station stuck with me and we got it done.

All this on a hand key.  New key and it was making
some strange connection and sending poorly.  I kept
checking the wires and eventually remember to scrape
the new finish off the contacts and it worked fine. 
All other strange sounds came from an op with a worn
out fist.

Not too bad for 100W to a crappy horizontal dipole and
a straight key.  Daughter's birthday party today and
needless to say I was ready for bed not kids party. 
Then stayed up for the Chiefs nightmare.

73,
Jim (AA0MZ)

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