[PVRCNC] N1LN - ARRL SS SSB

[Bruce Meier]

Call: N1LN

Operator(s): N1LN

Station: N1LN

 

Class: SO Unlimited HP

QTH: NC

Operating Time (hrs): 14.0

Radios: SO2R

 

Summary:

 Band  QSOs

------------

  160:    0

   80:  437

   40:  291

   20:  300

   15:   50

   10:    0

------------

Total: 1078  Sections = 80  Total Score = 172,480

 

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

 

Comments:

 

This weekend I was once again reminded why I prefer CW to SSB contesting.
If

the following explanation sounds like the typical 75m GERITOL net, I pre

apologize.    The target Q count of between 1500 and 2000 quickly vanished.

 

Early Saturday afternoon I found out that it was my turn to come down with
some

Type of 'crud'. In this specific example 'crud' will be defined as a very
soar

throat with accompanying loss of voice,  stuffed up head and the occasional

cough.  With CW - no problem.... use my computer, keyer and paddle.  With
SSB,

well - try to use the DVK as much as possible and operate for shorter
periods

of time while relying on various decongestants, menthol cough drops, hot tea
and

cold water.    

 

Saturday night, after a painful 6.5 hours of operation I shut down at

22:30 EST (03:30 UTC) which was 4 or more hours earlier than I originally

targeted. I lost most of prime time 40 and 75 and many of the missed Qs were

never to return.   

 

Sunday morning started bright and early at 10:00 UTC (5:00am local). I

lasted for about 2 hrs before my voice went out again. The rest of the day
was

comprised of 1 hour here and parts of an hour there that, when added
together,

totaled 14 hours of on-the-air time.   About 3 hrs were search and pounce

that did not help the Q count but did help the multiplier count and the
voice.

 

I justified my U classification for two of the 80 multipliers as both VE8EV
and

KP2M were cluster located and both Qs were made on 15 meters.  

 

I have read a couple other postings about operating within 2kcs of another

station and being asked to QSY.   This weekend my experiences with close

operating were mostly " no issue " as the K3s address that situation quite

well.   That is not true, however, when the interfering station has one of

those 5kc wide splatter signals and they are only 2kcs away from you. 

Unfortunately, there were MANY of those on this weekend.  Another PLUS for
CW

contesting. 

 

Thanks to all for the fills, the patience, the fun and most of all the

participation.    Due to family commitments CQWW-CW  will only be a casual

operation, but look for a multi-single entry in the upcoming ARRL and 

CQ 160 CW tests.

 

73,

Bruce - N1LN

(aka: NC4KW)