[PVRCNC] CQWW-SSB - N1LN

[Bruce Meier]

CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB

Call: N1LN
Operator(s): W4KAZ, N4YDU, KA1ARB, K4CZ, N4TCP, N1YXU, N1LN
Station: N1LN

Class: M/2 HP
QTH: NC-05
Operating Time (hrs): 48

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Zones  Countries
------------------------------
  160:   78    14       30
   80:  290    19       82
   40:  573    30      107
   20: 1113    34      131
   15:  924    29      129
   10:   98    10       24
------------------------------
Total: 3076   136      503  Total Score = 5,018,706

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

Comments:

Another CQWW-SSB is now behind us. What started off to be a very frustrating
Friday evening, from the propagation perspective, ended up being a much
better than expected finish and weekend overall. The goals we set were quite
simple. To work over 3000 Qs and score over 4 meg points. In the end, we
realized both goals, but in the early hours of the contest the probability
for success of the journey was questionable. 

The frustration, mostly with 75 and 160, was caused by being able to hear
MUCH more than we could work. We kept calling the EU stations with few
responses. They were working mid-west, south-west and western states. So
trying to get a run going was out of the question. Some consolation was
realized when the BIG GUN east coast stations were heard calling and calling
and also not working them.  In this case misery did not enjoy the company.
This continued for much of Friday night and into Saturday morning. When this
frustration was combined with the S9+ static crashes, on both 75 and 160,
our pre-contest goals seemed quite distant. Saturday night was better, but
not much.  Our final Q count and Mult counts on 75 and 160 were 10 percent
under 2008.

Salvation was to come early on Saturday morning in the form of both 15 and
20 meters opening to Europe early.  20 opened at 1018z on Saturday and 1044z
on Sunday. 15 opened shortly after at 1159z on Saturday and 1128z on Sunday.
These times are when Multi-two is fun.   We stayed on 15 and 20 all day
Saturday and finally moved to 40 and 75 well after dinner. Yes, the
occasional check of 10 meters occurred but not much success on Saturday.
Sunday on 10 meters was better but we did not catch the EU opening.  Our Q
count break down on 10 meters ended up being SA at 79 percent and NA at 21
percent. 

At the 16 hour mark we finally got ahead of our 2008 totals and never looked
back.  The gap continued to build for both Q count and multiplier count and
when the final bell struck we were successful in beating both of our
original goals and, at the same time, improving on our 2008 total score by
43 percent. Our Q count was up by 19 percent and our mult count was up by
8.5 percent. 

Even the equipment all cooperated without any failures.  We did drop our
logging software network a couple times, but this was the first time we ran
wireless.  Not sure if that was the cause, but a quick reconnect and all was
well.  As expected the two K3s made the crowded band conditions bearable. 
Another THANK YOU to Elecraft.

Imagine all this while spending a weekend with good friends, good food, a
few favorite teams football wins including Duke, LSU, the Patriots and the
Texans.

The team members were W4KAZ (Kaz), N4YDU (Nate), KA1ARB (Rob), K4CZ (Barry),
a new team member and hopefully a regular at future events, N4TCP (Ken),
Laurie (N1YXU) and Bruce (N1LN).

73,
Bruce - N1LN
(aka: NC4KW)