[NLRS] W0UC January VHF Sweepstakes results

[Paul Husby]

This one started off as June in January...  I had 60 Q's the first hour 
and 50 the second, Florida up through GA, AL and SC.  7's also started 
popping in, and got some good grids from NM, AZ and NV.  In the evening 
Texas was in for a couple hours;  W3XO in south TX reported working 
everything from New England to California.  Long openings, but with only 
a small fraction of the activity found in June.

Sunday I caught several hours of aurora on 6 & 2, adding some 40 aurora 
Q's.  I called on 222 around the peaks but found nothing.  It was a long 
contest AU session, but not the best.  I didn't get much out of NY and 
PA;  I think the football games involving New England, NY and Baltimore 
certainly hurt afternoon and evening activity from the East.

Activity at the end was the worst ever!  I could not find any signals 
after the NFC game ended at 9:30.  Finally found Bruce for two final Q's 
just before 0400.  I guess with the long AU session everyone had had enough?

Local activity was fair, not as good as last year.  I hate to think what 
my results would be without the Es and AU.  Here is what I got:

	QSOs	Grids	
50	225	84	
144	88	36	
222	23	15	
432	30	16	
902	6	4	
1296	14	10	
10G	1	1	
	387	166	Total 82,834

This SEEMS good, but it is sad to see how it compares to the scores I 
put up in the 1990's - six scores much better than this, up to 211K. 
True my station isn't in quite as good shape overall, but activity has 
to be the major factor.  HOW ABOUT A DRIVE TO MOVE THIS CONTEST BACK TO 
THE 'OFF' WEEKEND BEFORE THE SUPER BOWL???  Activity has never been the 
same since it moved.

Thanks to Mel, Carol, Jon and Bruce for some rover contacts!  This time 
though, practically no unique multipliers from rovers.

73,
Paul W0UC