[PVRCNC] N1LN - ARRL DX 160 - CW

[Bruce Meier]

ARRL 160-Meter Contest

 

Call: N1LN

Operator(s): N4CW, W0UCE, N1LN

Station: N1LN

 

Class: M/S HP

QTH: NC

Operating Time (hrs): 38.7

 

Summary:

Total:  QSOs = 1772  Sections = 79  Countries = 50  Total Score = 529,158

 

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

 

Comments:

 

Wow - that was fun!

 

To say this was a simply a fun time would be a major understatement.  Once

again Jack, W0UCE, Bert, N4CW, and I teamed up to have some fun on Top Band.

 

Conditions were not great, but they were good.  Even the Key Clicks were
down

this year.  And, since our final results were well above last year, we knew

there were going to be some big scores turned in.  Congratulations to the
other

M/S HP crews.  I checked a few of the likely suspects and - YES - BIG
SCORES.  

 

Bert always likes to start, so once again this year he led the way for us.
I

think he did a good job finding a frequency because we stayed there for the

first 14 hrs and 15 minutes of the contest.  We hit the 1000 Q mark just
after

08:00 UTC.  At the final gun we had 191 five point Qs or roughly 11% and our

score was up by 24% over 2008.

 

There were a few firsts this year for us.  First time using N1MM at my QTH.
All

previous contests have been WriteLog.  MM has some advantages as does
WriteLog. 

Wonder if the advantages of both can be built into a new logging software

Write-MM?  First time we used the new T-Vertical transmit antenna.  Until
this

event I had an inverted-L.  The T worked well and will not be leaving
anytime

soon.  First time we used Skimmer.  We didn't search and pounce much, but it

appeared to be helpful when we did.  NOTE: A big thanks to Jay, NT4D, for

providing the 'get it running' consulting early Saturday afternoon during
our

short off time.  For me, it was the first time I ran QSK.  At the request of

Jack and Bert, I added Array Solutions QSK Masters to my Amps. I typically
like

semi break-in as it is easier on the ears, but QSK was not too bad with the
K3s

and it did help with the rate.  And finally, the first time we had 250hz

roofing filters in the K3s.  Last year we only had 400hz filters.  The 250s

really helped decrease the fatigue factor.

 

A couple of "not in the log" observations, at least from our QTH. We did not

have any Africa, JA, VK or ZL Qs.   Also, the Caribbean, South and Central

America countries and Qs were down this year.  

 

A BIG THANKS to both NP4A and VA5SAM for responding to our CQs and giving us

section 78 and 79.  Also a BIG THANKS to all that spotted us, for a total of
49

times.  I would also like to give a special thanks to those that called QRL

before simply starting to CQ on our run frequency.  It was much easier to
dig

out the weaker stations exchange through a quick QRL than through the longer

duration CQ and what ever happens next.  Everyone should try that QRL thing

first.  It works!

 

And finally, a BIGGER THANKS to the DX that participated in this contest.
With

only being able to work US and VE your op time was probably less fun than in

CQWW-160 CW, but that is only a few weeks away.  

 

Speaking of CQWW - 160, Jack - Bert - and I will be back.  Hope to work you

again!

 

XCVR:  K3

AMP:  AL-1500, Array Solutions QSK Master

TX ANT:  Vertical T @ 90' with 4 elevated 1/8 wave radials

RX ANT:  W, NW, N, NE, S Beverages

SW:  N1MM

 

73,

Bruce - N1LN