[PaQSO] NK8Q QRP Summary, Somerset

[Mark Schreiner]

While I didn't operate from as rare of a county as I usually try to I had a
great time and set several personal goals while operating from Somerset
this past weekend.  Thanks to NJ3K who answered my CQ on 80m CW with 20
minutes of contest time left to give me my first ever clean sweep!

I got started about 1 hour late, and it wasn't fun pulling the antennas
down in the rain afterward, but I managed to work the following:

CW    291   (50.7%)
SSB   283   (49.3%)
Total   574 QSOs, 1730 Points

Multipliers   119

2X QRP Multiplier (thanks to all who listened for me and pulled me through)

W3ZGD Bonus Station  4

Total Score:  206,670

In addition to a clean sweep, this was a personal high score, topping my
previous high score that I set two years ago from Cameron (where I missed
CRN for a clean sweep!).  I actually had QSOs on all bands/modes (CW/SSB)
from 160m to 15 and only a few CW QSOs on 10m.  I probably would have had a
few more on 10m except for a German station, DL3GA, who answered my CQ on
10m and then asked me to QSO to 15m, where we had another QSO with him,
then kept going on 15m since I was there.  VERY COOL!  It was also nice to
work Bob, N3LL from WCF on 15m SSB & CW as well as 20m and 80m CW (good
ears, Bob!).  It was also amazing working N4PN on 20 & 40m (both CW & SSB)
as well as 80 and even 160m CW!  Yeah, and I was QRP running every bit of
5W, so we know that Paul has a great station to hear me, even on 160m!
Although I know I've worked Paul on 160m many times during 160m contests,
so I should not be so surprised!

Obviously I should have spent more time on 20/15/10m on Saturday, but as it
worked out I made more QSOs with DX stations in this contest than I ever
had for PAQP previously.  Thank you to all DX stations who are subscribed
to this reflector and reading this!

I'm not sure where I will be operating next year yet, but wherever I am
then I hope to be supporting the Bonus Station effort by QCWA Chapter 17!

Until then ...

73,

Mark, NK8Q