[NLRS] QSO Party from EN37ed

[Bill Davis Jr]

Hello OM (and YLs)

  This was the fourth disappointing contest in a row from the lack of activity as observed from my QTH. This was my lowest Sept contest score since the weekend of 9/11/2001 when I had 3 less bands. That was 9 years ago!! This is a very disturbing trend. Activity is the "lure" of contest operations for me and without activity we ALL will be ........

  I can't comment much on conditions, due to the very limited "sample size", so I won't. 

  The "Northern crew" were out again. VERY Good activity in EN37 and north. The greater MSP metro stations were almost non-existent. All of WI was represented by three stations in EN44, K9MU, W0UC, N0AKC. Bob K2DRH was back and running after his lighting event. Bob was worked on 6,2,222 on SSB Saturday and on 432 after a QSY from 2m via random aircraft scatter on WSJT JT65 (Sunday).

Activity profile:

EN37 and north   Stations - 13    QSOs- 37
Greater Metro     Stations - 10    QSOs- 20
EN44/EN41         Stations -   4    QSOs- 16
Mel&Carol          Rovers   -   2    QSOs- 8
DX                     Stations -   6    QSOs- 9

  One QSO is "lost some were" in the counting, but this is representative of the data. Only 5 of the northern stations were less than 150miles distant, the balance are at distances greater than the metro stations. 

  I have no idea if there is any reason to try to guess at why the activity has diminished to this extent. If the "reasons" could be identified, would it make any difference? The lack of daily and contest activity makes it very hard to remain upbeat and consider station improvements or adding bands. The popularity in the metro of the 10Ghz and above contest may be having a negative effect both in the Aug UHF and Sept VHF contests, since the 10Ghz weekends are so close in proximity. Radio events that conflict with "nice WX family activities" face stiff competition. We had a very pretty weekend here (so I have been told) and my bride was less than thrilled that I spent the entire weekend in the basement ham shack. This was the best WX for some time locally. Even ignoring the "football window", the activity just wasn't there.

  2m activity was only on 144.200 it seemed. However monitoring 144.200 was difficult. Little chance for more than a couple stations being heard unless the activity was in a null to the south. I saw almost  NO ACTIVITY off of 144.200. When 144.200 can't be used for a calling freq for ALL it becomes very difficult for ALL. Shirt tailing QSOs to the south on 144.200 was pretty much impossible due the signal level difference due to no reason for the DX stations to peak on signals. Without 2m it leaves coordination to 6m. That takes a shift in typical "operational" methods. Many of us are better equipped for 2m liaison. 

  Final count::

   6m  23Qs  14 Grids
   2m  35Qs  17 Grids
  222   11Qs    8 Grids
  432   17Qs   10 Grids
  902     1 Q     1 Grid
1296     3Qs     3 Grids
10GHz   1 Q     1 Grid

Total: 91 QSOs   54 Grids   7,020 Points

  A GREAT BIG THANKS to those that "showed up for the show"! I couldn't be prouder of the "Northern crew". I HAVE BEEN very fortunate to be closer to the metro activity encouraging me to work hard at these contests. Most of these guys in the north are operating to provide  Qs and grids for others, knowing that they are so far removed from the activity to be in any way "competitive". It is a time to say "Hi" to old friends and a time to actually use the station for something other than monitoring white noise. With limited activity we have fewer chances to say "Hi" and that will make it only easier to take a pass on the next contest opportunity. 

  Respectively 

  73  Bill  K0AWU  EN37ed