[PaQSO] 2012 report

[Larry G]

Grettings!! Another great contest.  Thanks to the 
organizers.  No sweep this year.  Didn't even have to run 
the attenuator either!!  Knew the geo activity was coming 
early Sunday and conditions closing early Saturday evening. 
Did much antenna work that worked gangbusters.  I was able 
to hold a frequency at will with 100 watts and made several 
nice runs.   I thank all for patience with my CW work .  I 
am not a cw contester but am always out there punching and 
keeping CARBON on the air all these years.  Goody's K3NG 
attack squirrels took out my 80 antenna (had similar 
incident 2yrs ago) and some 9913.  He warned me about the 
chipmonks!  Propagation started long working OHIO and 
western Pa counties then filled out until the geo storm 
commenced.  I worked few IL IN MI WI stations again.  Had a 
boss signal into VA MDC and Ohio.  Heard NO AZ stations. 
Had 55 counties at 11pm Saturday.   Things were slow Sunday 
but thanks to the portables, rovers and mobiles we stayed in 
the chair and run up a nice total short of our goal and 
probably not enough cw stations to beat AA3K Mark.  Nice 
job!!!!  A lot of noise but the antennas worked great.  Also 
no FLA stations this year.   Did work several GA VA TN NC 
stations on 40m and 80m.  11 stations on 160m.   Will try 
again next year but QRP!!!!!   GOODY K3NG take notice!!!   I 
think I have the antennas now.   I will work on the CW (and 
with ka3afy logging).    I could have used the 80m cw 
antenna but kept it in the box.   The Quad doesn't like 80m 
band ends.  Had no tribander this year.   Thanks to all the 
VE stations!!  Lots of 59 reports around.   Missed out on 
the 2m action, needed the coax for 80m.   Heard no stations 
on PSK 10m or 15m  with OCF dipole.  No coax for 6m (used 
for 160m).   Going to my winter setup of wire antennas. 
This years PAQP antenna selection is:
        80m     OCF dipole at 50 ft          80m Quad Loop 
at 50ft   160m "Z" Dipole at 25-45ft
        40m    Inverted Vee at 50ft    40m Quad Loop at 
40-45ft      20m Delta Loop  at 40ft
         other Quad Loops (15m 10m 6m available but not 
used)     2m Vertical at 50ft

PAQP 2013 will be run with big antennas as high as I can get 
them QRP probably with a IC703.  I have an extra 1/2 acre 
with tall oaks.   Small critter traps will be put out for 
K3NG attack chipmonks and squirrels.   Coax will get buried 
where possible.   I know K3NG and K3PP will be on notice and 
hope AA3K Mark joins us again next year.    I also heard 
KB3AGZ Jack from Carbon County.  This will make it a real 
contest in CARBON next year.  GOOD LUCK AND GOOD DX!!!  May 
the propagation gods be with us.     458 Qsos   83 CW    4 
bonus    52100 pts.     THANKS FOR ANOTHER GREAT CONTEST!!
73s de larry n3cr   multi one  Carbon County  (with 
ka3afy)...............