[PVRCNC] CQWW - 160 CW (N1LN)

[Bruce Meier]

Call: N1LN
Operator(s): W0UCE, N3ND, N1LN
Station: N1LN

Class: Multi-Op HP
QTH: NC
Operating Time (hrs): 39:54

Summary:
Total:  QSOs = 1533  State/Prov = 58  Countries = 70  Total Score = 674,688

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

Comments:

After the excellent conditions enjoyed for ARRL-160 in December and the band
conditions for the weeks just prior to CQWW-160, I was optimistic that many
scores above 1M points would be turned in again this year.  Last year our
score
was 857,736, so we were optimistic we might be one of them.   Thanks to
Mother
Nature, it was not to be.   We were even 30% below last year. 

When I host a multi-op event I never open as a lead operator.  I want to be
available to respond to any out of the gate technical issues.  Well, this
year
we had a couple.  We were not 10 minutes into the event when an email
arrived
from Ron, N4XD, informing me we had TERRIBLE key clicks.  As I am one that
typically comments (really complains) about others with Key Clicks I was not
about to ignore Ron and keep going. It MUST BE FIXED. I did not suspect the
K3,
so what else had changed.  The quick solution was to simply change the TX
Delay
from 8ms to 12ms.  Our assumption was that with the K3, QSK Master and
AL1500
in the configuration, the delay needed to be greater than the standard K3
8ms. 
A quick check listening with my other K3 and we were good to go.   I
answered
Ron's email that I thought it was fixed.  He quickly replied - THANKS, all
better!   The next issue was what seemed to be excessive RF getting into the
beverage selection box.  The LEDs for unselected beverages were blinking in
sync with the keying.  I had also removed my ICE model 119D from the
beverage
input coax.  The only time they blinked was when the W or NW beverage was
selected.  They are the closest beverages to the XMIT antenna.   A quick
re-cabling to put the 119 back in the circuit and that was fixed.   OK, what
is
next? ?  Fortunately, there were no additional technical issues the rest of
the
weekend.  Good thing as we had more than enough snow storm related RX
problems
to deal with.

Speaking of Mother Nature, North Carolina was definitely in her sites for
the
bad weather this past weekend.  If you had the opportunity to look at a
Doppler
radar map at any time, well, you would have seen the storm clearly focused
on
NC.   On Friday night there were many US stations calling that we just could
not pull out of the QRN.  Then at about 05:00 UTC on Saturday the west and
northwest beverages became virtually useless with noise levels constant at
S9
to +10. Fortunately that was when we were looking toward EU for their
sunrise. 
That noise condition on the W/NW beverages stayed bad until Sunday morning
at about
01:00 UTC.  At that time, when EU started calling, the QRN on all beverages
jumped up to between S6 & S7 with bursts well above S9.  A quick check on
the XMIT
Vertical-T gave an S-Meter reading over S9+30.  The timing could not have
been
worse.   By 09:00 UTC the QRN became reasonable and signals started to
emerge
- but EU was gone.  

Here is a comparison between 2009 and 2010.

Year    10 point        5 point         2 point         Countries
2009    332             116             1299            74
2010    240             96              1197            70

OK, time for the fun comments.  

Jack (W0UCE) and Dan (N3ND) rounded out the M/S team.  Not only are they
both
great operators, but they are also fun to watch off the air.  They have been
friends for a long time and it really shows.  The jokes, comments and the
occasional shot (hard to believe) made for an outstanding on and off the air
fun time.   When Jack is part of the crew you always know that Chef Archie
is
close by making another one of his outstanding dinners.  As this was a 48
hour
contest we had the opportunity to sample two dinner creations.   Saturday
night
was Archie's masterpiece of the weekend featuring a crock pot sensation.
Pork
loins, potatoes, carrots, leeks and onions simmered all day in the kitchen
sending the pre-dinner aroma all around the house.  Of course dinner started
with shrimp cocktail and, if desired a glass of white or red wine.  Yes,
just
another simple contest gourmet's delight!

We would like to thank everyone that called us, had the patience to hang
with
us and send the repeats until we were able to copy through the QRN, and as
always, those that spotted us on the cluster.  With every spot comes a much
appreciated rate burst.    

Congratulations to the other M/S entries.   All the scores are down some
from
last year, but the top of the chart call signs remain the same.    

73 and see you next time,
Bruce, N1LN