[PVRCNC] K4QPL/NY4A SS SSB SOHP

[Jim Jordan K4QPL]

Official report to follow. Left the NY4A log at W0UCE and don't feel like
messing with the K4QPL one. Just a few comments.

Started as NY4A at W0UCE on time. Slow off the mark as couldn't establish a
run position which a better op would have done with the available equipment.
Took a break at 0130 for dinner and to let Jack do his scheduled stint as
NCS of EAN. Worked pretty solidly from about 0230 until around 0800Z. Closed
up with about 585 qso's and seventy-something sections. Was really a joy to
be able to bandswitch the radio and the Icom PW1 and the antennas
automatically. Jack's antennas worked very well with great unsolicited
reports.

Came home and slept until about 1230. Switched the voice keyer back to
Kenwood from Icom. Took awhile to get going as the DVK wouldn't release the
VOX. Figured out eventually it was an adjustment issue after trying to work
without it for a while.

Had some decent runs on 80 and 40. When 20 and 15 opened couldn't run as too
much QRM and the TS850's overload and you end up being an alligator unable
to copy stations calling you. Oh for a radio with roofing filters! I went
back to 40 and then took some time off. Eventually as the bands cooled off I
was able to have a decent run on 15 and another one on 20 after I was lucky
to hear someone say he was QRT and I asked for his frequency. Couldn't fight
with the broadcasters much on 40 so went to 80. All the good seats were gone
so had to S&P until I found one.

Here again having nothing but stock SSB filters it was work trying to copy
everyone with other stations close by and blowing through the IF.

Ended up with about 630 qso's and 77 sections as K4QPL. Missed Nt, Qc and Nl
from here. While I picked up a couple mults with packet, it really didn't do
that much since my objective was to run as much as possible and get numbers
rather than worry about mults.

But this was really fun. Getting to work so many PVRC people twice and
staying busy it never got slow. Knowing I couldn't run over the time made it
easy to not worry about the length of breaks. Some time I'll figure out the
real hours but I'm sure it was overall way less than 24.

Not being a very good phone op my total was no better than the top guys did
by themselves, but it was a heck of a lot more than I could have done if I
stayed at one station. Total score of about 180k. Also more fun than the
usual Sunday afternoon which is more boring than watching paint dry.

Was not set up for SO2R as had no audio switching at either place so had to
choose between either running or S&P. Mostly chose running, even when rates
were not great. This plan would work a lot better with SO2R Unlimited to
take advantage of packet.

A lot of respect for the top phone ops from this mostly cw guy!

More formal report later. Will be interested in comments of others who also
tried it.

73,

Jim NY4A/K4QPL