[PVRCNC] N4GU SOHPU

[Mike Barts]

                     ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB

Call: N4GU
Operator(s): N4GU
Station: N4GU

Class: SO Unlimited HP
QTH: NC
Operating Time (hrs): 15

Summary:
  Band  QSOs
------------
   160:
    80:  234
    40:  265
    20:  264
    15:   24
    10:   13
------------
Total:  800  Sections = 83  Total Score = 132,800

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

Comments:
Decided to go Unlimited just before the contest began since I didn't 
figure on a full out effort. Haven't made a foray in a phone contest 
in some time. Discovered the state of disrepair of the antennas - 
VSWR on 15 and 10m phone bands have gone pffftttt for some reason, 
the Drake tuner I dedicated to the 80m dipole couldn't make the amp 
happy above about 3675 and barely kept it from tripping off below 
that (works fine in the cw part of the band....). Hey! 20m and 40m were ok.

80m went long early so wasn't the money band it usually is. 40 and 20 
made up for it with good runs. Went to bed about 1AM needing PR for a 
sweep. Up early Sunday (one of the small advantages of having to do 
it 5 days a week...) to look for PR and try to add some more Qs. The 
OVK (Organic Voice Keyer) started to wear out, but got the sweep and 
padded the Q count a bit before taking some time to avoid the dreaded 
Sunday doldrums. Got back on for the last couple of hours hoping for 
another one of those strong finishes on 80m, but it was not to be. 
With a half hour left, I hit the 800Q mark and called it a contest.

I love running into so many old friends, even if we've never actually 
met before. Everybody kvetches about phone contests and Sweepstakes, 
but I still have a soft spot for it, even if it is a PITA sometimes. 
Let's do it again next year.

Mike N4GU