[PaQSO] K3YTL Observations From Adams County

[Jim]

Here are a few observations on the activity as
observed from K3YTL in Adams County:

1.A view by bands:

160m- Had good activity during the activity hour. 
More takers on SSB than CW.  Not many stations during
the other times.  

80m- Activity was down here again for the second year
in a row.  People were worked, but not like in the
past when the band was packed for a good chunk of the
contest.

40m- Phenomenal amount of activity!

20m- Decent showing, but down from last year.  Not
super conditions.

15m-Decent activity.  Good DX here, many Europeans. 
Got 20 over reports in Europe.  More DX than stateside
it seemed.

10m- Good activity.  DX as well as US.  Worked
Rarotunga(or something like that.)

6m-A pretty good showing on SSB here.  Worth having. 
Worked into New England as well as every surrounding
state.  Mainly on SSB on 50.125, but there were FM
contacts tooon 52.525.

2m-Worked a fair amount of people on FM only.  The
best contact was from Adams County to Richmond, VA. 
Many people worked were not actually seriously
contesting.  This is VERY disappointing.  IT WAS
HEAVILY ADVERTISED THAT K3YTL WOULD BE LOUD ON FM FOR
THE WHOLE CONTEST(AND AT 4 PM SUNDAY), YET MOST PEOPLE
DIDN�T SEEM TO BOTHER LEAVING A RADIO ON 146.55 AS I
HAD ASKED! WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER YET TO PROGRAM
146.49, 52, 55, AND 58 IN AND SCAN.  COULD NOT ALWAYS
CALL CQ ON 55 DUE TO LOCAL CONVERSATIONS. You would
have at least worked K3YTL, IF NOT OTHERS.  You could
call CQ once in awhile too.  The only thing here was
that we may have had to have been pointing reasonably
near to your direction.  If you are weak you will hear
us louder than we will hear you.  However, we would
have been pointed towards you at some point during the
contest. There were several 360 degree sweeps in 15
degree increments as well as some in each general
direction. We were on 146.49, 52, 55, and 58 at
various times.  The stations who said there was no
activity did not have their radios on.  That�s all
there is to it.  

We received fantastic 2m reports from all who worked
us.  A Richmond ham said we were 5x9 there!  There is
NO excuse for not making the effort to monitor 2m FM,
as everyone has it.  Just leave a radio on, or scan
the above freqs, squelch it, and call CQ on the hour
or once in awhile on 55.  The mobiles all had 2m, why
not everyone else?

Thanks to the people who did make the effort.  Thanks
to the mobiles too.  It�s nice to know that we were
appreciated, and we certainly liked getting you on 2
FM!

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?  GOOD!  We actually could have
been louder, but decided to scale back the station a
bit.  During a past contest we did manage to blow out
a receiver of another ham who was nearby and didn�t
know we were near him, oh well!  You will have such
things.

222-Was going to be on FM, but somehow that never
worked out?  Next year.

446- Made a few FM contacts.

2.CW activity was strong.  

3.On the high bands like 15m and 10m, heavy DX
presence.  

4.N3KAE was LOUD into Adams County on 2m FM.  WOW!

5.The hardest counties to get this year seemed to be:
CLI, FOR, INN, JUN, MTR.  Juniata was very elusive. 
Montour also, that is bizarre.

6.Worked Potter and Snyder on 6m SSB.

7.Only got insulted on the radio twice.  Did get
called a LID though.  Don�t get that on VHF or CW.  

8.A special thanks goes to rare counties as well as
the mobiles.  As long as you said mobile you got moved
up.  I put the effort in and you guys did to.  Thanks
for stepping up and being patient.  

9.Thanks goes to K3BM for being the �Voice of Sullivan
County.�

10.I liked the PA joke posting.  You need to add the
COAL CRACKER as a person from Northeast, PA.

11.To the multi effort with the big dinner and
California wine, try a PA Wine!  PA has at least 76
wineries, most of which sell directly, some in state
stores.  Visit:   www.pennsylvaniawine.com.  I just
popped a bottle of Mia Rose from Maiolatesi�s of
Carbondale, PA and it was GREAT!  This is another fun
hobby of mine.  Man cannot survive by radio alone!

In conclusion, K3YTL ops had a lot of fun and really
enjoyed passing out wonderful Adams County to all.  It
was our pleasure.  Thanks to the two mobiles for the
flattering reports on 2m FM.  That was a fun thing to
do, but we just wish more people were on.  A BIG
thanks also goes out to NARC, because without the
sponsorship, there is no contest!  Can�t wait until
2004!

Jim
N3PBH


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