[PVRCNC] KA1ARB 2008 NAQP SSB

[Robert Katz]

            NAQPSSB Score Summary Sheet

   CallSign Used : KA1ARB
   Name : Robert Katz
     ARRL Section : NC

        Club/Team : Potomac Valley Radio Club, Team VoxLox


         Band    QSOs    Pts  Sec

          1.8       6      6    5
          3.5     346     346   37
            7     122     122   30
           14       1      1    0
           14     117     117   36
           21      25      25    9

        Total     617     617  117


            Score : 72,189



This was one of those days that was both painful and fun at the same 
time.  The highlights included my best run ever!  I spent 2 hours 
with very few CQs - people were calling in as fast as I could work 
them.  And this was on 80 meters, with S9+ noise plus static crashes. 
Lowlights were many mechanical breakdowns - bad mic cable, bad mic, 
bad 40 meter dipole, and bad antenna switch - that were all topped 
off by our well pump dying just as the contest began and leaving us 
with no water.  So far, I have fixed them all but the water pump.

Even with the high noise, 80 meters was the hot band here.  I never 
could get anything going on 15 meters, and I missed much of the 
daylight operating due to all the problems.  I milked 20 meters for 
all I could before it died, but I didn't get to 40 meters until well 
after dark.  There were mostly west coasters by then, and I missed 
all of the in-close 40 meter mults.  Had a few short runs on 40, but 
mostly bounced between 40 and 80, S&P and running.  Loaded up my 80 
dipole for a few 160 QSOs and mults.  Several times I had to force 
myself to keep at it, and I kept telling myself that I promised Team 
VoxLox that I'd give a full effort and I didn't want to let them 
down.  It felt like going to the gym - I don't always want to go, but 
I'm always glad that I did.

Next time, besides having my station and my house working for the 
contest, I'm going to hit the low bands a bit before dark to pick up 
those mults, and I will make a list of the tougher mults to ask them 
to move to other bands.

But, all these challenges keep it interesting and fun.  Thanks for 
all the QSOs!

-- 
Rob Katz, Director
Legacy Center, Inc.

(919) 678-6000 x106
(919) 678-6015 fax
rob.katz at TheLegacyCenter.com
www.TheLegacyCenter.com