[PVRCNC] AD4L SSB

[Pete Soper]

                     ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB

Call: AD4L
Operator(s): AD4L
Station: AD4L

Class: SO Unlimited HP
QTH: NC
Operating Time (hrs): 19

Summary:
  Band  QSOs
------------
   160:
    80:   88
    40:  118
    20:  204
    15:  279
    10:   30
------------
Total:  719  Sections = 80  Total Score = 115,040

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

Comments:

The first three hours on 15 yielded about 210 contacts, and considering 
the wimpy antenna involved, I was absolutely satisfied.

Got the run frequency from heaven on 20 and was working stations as fast 
as possible when I noticed a weird crackling noise and started smelling 
that truly evil smell of roasted electronics. Then I noticed the amp 
meter lights dimming in time with my voice. A breaker popped next. The 
trusty SB200, age 46, died while giving all it had, and a few quick 
tests confirmed it was not anything transient. So I did most of the 
contest with whatever the TS-850 could get out. Got super tired Sunday 
afternoon and spent an hour sounding like Elmer Fudd. I was just getting 
over bronchitis and was very surprised to make it through the weekend, 
only getting real laryngitis in the last hour. Thanks to W4MR (AA4NC) 
and K4HA for the local cluster. It allowed me to pounce the PR "not in 
the contest" and get his #2 with my weak signal before the thundering 
herds. That was the only sweat for mults.

3 el @ 27 feet for 20/15/10, trapped dipole @ 40 feet for 80/40.