[PVRCNC] WPX SSB NN3U(@N1LN) M/2 HP

[Rob Katz]

Bruce, thanks for a hosting a great weekend!  And great job by Kaz and Jim in the final shift.  

73, Rob K4OV


On Mar 31, 2015, at 6:55 AM, Bruce Meier wrote:

>                    CQWW WPX Contest, SSB
> 
> Call: NN3U
> Operator(s): N4GU K4OV W4KAZ KK4UNZ KG4NEL N1LN
> Station: N1LN
> 
> Class: M/2 HP
> QTH: NC
> Operating Time (hrs): 48
> 
> Summary:
> Band  QSOs
> ------------
>  160:    0
>   80:  283
>   40: 1128
>   20: 1286
>   15: 1080
>   10:  896
> ------------
> Total: 4673  Prefixes = 1333  Total Score = 15,140,214
> 
> Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club
> 
> Comments:
> 
> This was a weekend of OPPORTUNITIES.   
> 
> The first opportunity presented itself about 30 minutes before the 0000 UTC starting time. The station was checked out, all antennas tested, software configured, even the amplifier pre-tuning was redone on the Acom 2000s. We were ready and waiting well ahead of time.  Then someone suggested that everyone pre-record their CQ WAV messages to complete the log software setup. The recording on the left station went quickly and well. However, when the first person tried to right station the log software screen went translucent and then CRASHED.  We restarted the log software a few times but the crashing continued and we did not have additional time for troubleshooting. Fortunately I recorded mine earlier in the week so we decided to not change Ops and started the contest ... about 20 minutes late. The software crash opportunity presented itself about 20 more times throughout the next 48 hrs.  
> 
> The next opportunity was also log software related. When a QSY frequency was entered in the call window the K3 would not change frequency and the bandmap would jump to some RED frequencies way out of any ham band. The quick fix for this was to open Configure Menu and reset the rig. This also happened when clicking on spots. Again, due to time constraint concerns this has not yet been investigated for root cause.  
> 
> The third and final station related opportunity happened on Sunday afternoon with about 5 hours before the end of the contest. The right station ACOM 2000 shut down due to over temp. We turned it back on and cut the drive and watched the tube air temps. The front tube seems to be running about 12 deg C higher than the rear tube. No investigation done here yet either but current thoughts are a soft tube.  
> 
> The final opportunity is one that was probably shared by many. Who turned off the bands on Sunday morning?  80, 40 and 20 were open all Saturday night and we even made a few Qs on 15. Then there was NOTHING. We could hear Europe direct but better on LP, but EU could not here us at any compass heading. That lasted from 4 - 5 hours until late Sunday morning. Finally by about 1530 UTC they started to come back and were back to stay. 
> 
> OK, done complaining, on to the operating. This was another fun time at CAMP LN. This is the second time this same team has come together for a M2 activity and another fun time was had by all. The fun was helped along by mostly good band conditions, good food and great teamwork. It was fantastic to have 10 meters open up on Saturday morning and stay open all day. Based on the level of activity I think everyone enjoyed the conditions. That made finding a run frequency ranged from hard to impossible. That was especially true on 40 meters Friday night. We may have moved too early to 40 on Saturday, but we got a frequency and it seems to have paid off.  
> 
> Everything was going well and our Q and Mults were building well until the Saturday morning  shut the bands off  event. During the null hours we worked mostly US stations which helped add to the Q count, but brought our points per QSO totals down. When the bands came back our rates and fun both increased in sync.  We never had any spectacular rates but what we lacked in burst rates we made up for in consistency.  
> 
> Thanks to everyone for the Qs, the repeats and the patience. Thanks to those that actually asked if the frequency was in use before starting to call CQ. 
> Thanks to Mike for letting us use his call. And, again, thanks to the rest of the team for a fun weekend.
> 
> 73 from the NN3U team.
> 
> Mike N4GU
> Kaz W4KAZ
> Rob K4OV
> Tucker KK4UNZ
> Jim KG4NEL
> Bruce N1LN
> 
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--
Rob Katz, Director
Legacy Center, Inc.
919-678-6000
rob.katz at theLegacyCenter.com