[PaQSO] W3USA/M Prelim Results

[Hal Offutt]

                    Pennsylvania QSO Party

Call: W3USA/M
Operator(s): W1NN
Station: W3USA/M

Class: Mobile LP
QTH: 13 Counties
Operating Time (hrs): 22

Summary:
 Band  CW Qs  Ph Qs
--------------------
  160:                2
   80:   222       2
   40:   332   140
   20:   375    88
   15:     42    27
   10:               2
    6:            =

    2:            =

--------------------
Total:  1004   248     Mults =3D 125  Total Score =3D 240,625.0

Club: =


Comments:

The above figures are preliminary and could change a little after I have =
a
chance to check over the logs.  The above totals don't quite add up so I'=
ll
have
to recalculate my breakdowns.  Looks like I missed JUN for the county
sweep,
which is the best I've ever done.  59 sections may also be a new record f=
or
me. =

The above score includes 6,500 points for operating from 13 counties and
1,000
points for 5 contacts with W3FRC. =


1,252 QSOs is a new QSO record for my single-op efforts in the PAQP, and =
I
think
it just about ties the multi-multi QSO record that N2AZS and I made some
years
back as K8HVT/M.  This may have been the first time that I had more
contacts on
20 CW than on 40 CW.  I think this was also the best 15 meter total I've
ever
had.  =


Conditions were just about ideal.  The short skip on 20 really helped. =

There
seemed to be more PA stations on the high bands this year and, maybe as a=

result, more west coast participation.  I worked seven California mults,
which
must be a new record for me.  40 SSB was really rough on Saturday but it
seemed
to be easier to find run frequencies on Sunday so I had a couple of good
runs. =

Never found the time to hit 75 SSB (except for 2 contacts with WA3RA/M) o=
r
160
CW.  This event is like a 22-hour Sprint.  You always need to be about fo=
ur
places at the same time.  =


I had 171 contacts from Wayne County, a new record for a single county fo=
r
me. =

I had a really nice high loction and rates held up.  Also, many stations
said I
was their first WAY, so I stayed put for a while.  =


I had very few mobile contacts this year.  Only about two contacts each
with
K8MR, W3DYA and K4UK.  Managed 12 contacts with my rival WA3RA, as we fou=
nd
ourselves at the same truck stop in NUM and went through the bands from t=
wo
counties.  We also managed a short eyeball and a couple of pictures.  I
thought
my vehicle was crazy looking, but Bill has got me beat by a mile!

Sunday afternoon about three hours before the end my rig started acting u=
p.

First the dial froze at 14033.9 and neither the dial nor the band switch
was
responding.  I thought it was all over for the weekend.  After a few
minutes
that problem disappeared but then I started to smell smoke from the rig. =
 I
think the internal fan hasn't been working right and the rig was probably=

running too hot.  Fortunately the wx was cool this year, and opening the
car
door seemed to help.  It also seemed to help to have the car engine
running.  I
have two batteries in parallel and usually power is not a problem, but I
tried
to drive as little as possible this year, so it is possible that too low
voltage
was the problem.  The rig is a Yaesu FT757GXII, bought in about 1986 and
used
exclusively for mobile QSO parties.  Maybe it's had one too many.  I hope=

it
lasts through the ILQP next weekend.  Then I'll think about replacing it.=


The old '86 Chevy wagon made it through another PAQP.  I selected my rout=
e
to
minimize driving and I put 229 only miles on the car on Saturday but got
through
Sunday with only an additional 65 miles.  I doubt if the old gal has
another
contest in her, but I've been saying that for five years, so we'll see.  =
  =

  =


The PA scenery is one of the nicest things about this event.  The foilage=

was
not quite at its peak, but it was still just beautiful, especially in the=

NE
counties.    =


Thanks to NARC for sponsoring this great event and to all of you for all
the
contacts.  See you from IL next weekend.

73, Hal W1NN