[PVRCNC] ARRL 160 N1LN M/S HP

[Bruce Meier]

                    ARRL 160-Meter Contest

Call: N1LN
Operator(s): W0UCE N3ND N4CW N1LN
Station: N1LN

Class: M/S HP
QTH: NC
Operating Time (hrs): 36

Summary:
Total:  QSOs = 1584  Sections = 82  Countries = 41  Total Score = 423,950

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

Comments:

When the starting gun sounded we took off on a run, and do I mean run.  Dan, N3ND, opened up for us with a 150 QSO per hour average for the first two. He was followed by Bert, N4CW, with a couple of 105 Q hours. By the time Jack, W0UCE, and I finally got in the operators chair the rate slowed down some with Jacks average in hour 5 and 6 at 100 and then in hour 7 and 8 I averaged 75.
Not a bad first 8 hours with a QSO total already at 860. The mults were staying there also with 96 already in the log. Our first EU QSO came 9 minutes after the contest start at 2209 UTC so we were looking forward to a great night for DX also. Well, so much for our DX optimism. The domestic rates and mults stayed with us but from the DX perspective it got very slow. RBN showed almost no spots for us while other east coast stations were banging into EU. By the end of the first night we only had 27 EU Qs.  NOT GOOD.

We spent some of the mid-day off time checking out various RBN sites and comparing with other stations reports. For some reason we started out with good reports and then just disappeared from all the skimmers. We could understand lower signal strength reports due to our location and transmit antenna differences, but not totally going away. What now? With no real time to drag out the test equipment we just decided to motor on. Good thing we did. Night two was totally different. Not yet great, but much improved. We were finally seeing favorable RBN comparisons with other east coast stations and EU was calling. For night two we put 76 EU Qs in the log. Sure would have been nice for our points per Q average and overall score to have both nights like Saturday.

In the end we were able to put 82 sections in the log, only missing NT. Never heard it, never saw it spotted so don t feel too bad. As for countries we had 41 mults and 103 five point QSOs. All the metrics were improved slightly from 2014 so we are satisfied. 
 
On to the other side of contest weekend. The four of us have been the Camp LN regulars for 160 contests for many years now and we have a great time both on and off the air. It is always good to catch up with each other over a few drinks and some good food. Good food  yes. Chef Archie was with us again and prepared Saturday night dinner. There was no name for his original creation but it was chicken based and a casserole that resembled a Mexican Lasagna. It was EXCELLENT. Several layers, just the right amount of heat, lots of cheese, perfect! Pair it with a few glasses of white wine and we all pushed away from the table quite satisfied.

Between now and CQWW 160 it is time to test the XMIT antenna phasing, work on both the EU and JA beverages and a couple other maintenance items. We will be ready - hopefully.

Thanks to everyone for the Qs. Thanks to the other multi-op entries for the excellent competition.  Thanks to the DX for participating.
  
73 from the Camp LN crew,

Jack - W0UCE
Dan - N3ND
Bert - N4CW
Bruce - N1LN