[NLRS] Jan Contest from EN37ed

[Bill K0AWU]

 A very good morning guys. Lots of fun working the contest again. Activity was 
somewhat better after all was not said and not done than what I expected given the 
low volume of precontest chatter. No rover contacts at all in the contest and none
heard.

 As others commented bands above 222 were very poor Saturday. Worked Gary 
W0GHZ no problem and a FEW others, but signals were not good. It looked like it 
was somewhat better Sunday.  I was NOT unhappy with 21 Qs on 432 since my 
best prior Jan contest high for 432 had been 22 Qs. That is half the number worked
in the Sept contest, but NO rovers at all this time.

 This was my second best Jan contest and two best of those involved some AU and 
or 6m Es. So without "real" AU and Es this had to be considered a success.

  I was AGAIN very pleased with the activity in the "North", stations worked on one or 
more bands included.  W0ANH  EN47, VE3KRP  EN58, K0MVJ-KI0LE-KB0LBS 
EN36, W0PHD-N0UY EN18, NT0V EN08, KC0KVD-KC0CIM-KB0SMG EN37. So 
VERY nice to see and hear W0ANH Connie again ... those "Ham Lake" days were a 
long time ago. Bryce, KI0LE picked up a rig, scratch built a 25elem loop yagi, got it 
high on the tower and activated 1296 from EN36 between Thur night and contest 
time. My first attempt with Bryce on Saturday was a not successful, but Sunday it 
was "no problem", Bryce also worked W0GHZ and N0KP on 1296. He runs 6watts 
out of the radio into about 45ft of 9913 to the antenna ... better things will follow from 
him you can be sure.

  High Points:
    * W0GHZ  10Ghz tropo contact :>))) Solid signal just above the noise on CW
    * KI0LE on 1296
    * W0LER 1296 ragchew on SSB, John was 2 to 3 S units above the noise 
    * K2DRH 6m, 2m, 222, 432 "sweep" at 409miles
    * N0URW  2m and 222 Qs at 406 miles
    * W0VB   222 Q with his SoftwareDefinedRadio
    *K0JO  222, 432 contacts after he discovered BAD "fast install type N connectors"
    * All the activity north!!
    *All the EN44 activity --- great work guys!!
    * Working "Rover Guys" at home .... I kept wanting to add "Rover"

   Low Points:
     * Not getting K0JQA  EN31's call right on 2m
     * No Winnipeg stations heard/worked
     * No more 1296 Qs than what we had.
     * KB0ZKX being down to only 6m

Results of continuous operation for the entire contest period except for 12:30pm-
2:30pm and two 15min naps (one at the desk when I was to be in a sked) ARGH  


     Band   QSO's  Grids
      50       49        24 
     144      52        21
     222      17          7  
     432       21       10
   1296        5          4
10,368        1          1

Total        145       65    Score = 13,735 

   THANK YOU all for the activity .... This is my 50th year as a ham, and I love it as much
as I did the first day.... That is because of each of you for being on the other end! It doesn't
get any better than the NRLS.

   See ya on the radio!!!  Bill  K0AWU EN37ed



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