[PVRCNC] AA4NC SS SSB SOQRP

[Roberts, Will]

ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB

Call: AA4NC
Operator(s): AA4NC
Station: AA4NC

Class: Single Op QRP
QTH: NC
Operating Time (hrs): 17

Summary:
Band  QSOs
------------
  160:
   80:
   40:
   20:
   15:
   10:
------------
Total:  401  Sections = 83  Total Score = 66,566

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

Comments:

In my quest to operate all categories and modes of SS, I chose the dreaded QRP
Phone category this year. It is the most work I think I have ever put into a
contest. My hat goes off to those that do this regularly. I would also advise
that they seek immediate psychiatric counseling :>)
Thanks to those that pulled out my puny signal and expressed concern for my mental condition.
Rest assured that this was only a temporary condition and that I will return to normal wattage
operations immediately!

Due to household responsibilities I didn't get to put in full time.

The race for the sweep seemed entirely backwards as QRP. VY1AAA had great ears
and heard me very early on the first call. Most other "difficult"
sections came fairly early. I was at 80 sections late Sunday afternoon,
thinking a sweep was not going to happen. I needed UT, ORG and WCF - all active
sections, but I couldn't convince anyone there to hear me. After working a UT
and an ORG, a flood of other UT and ORG stations started coming out of nowhere!
I finally heard WX4G on 20m in WCF. Bob worked hard and pulled me out for #83.

It seemed overall that participation was down, but maybe that is because of my
QRP and almost 100% S&P vantage point. I know that like the CW weekend
there were a lot of 50's and 60's checks and not a lot of 00-15 checks, so it
would seem we may be aging out? I wonder if there is a way to promote
participation similar to the very successful ARRL Bicentennial operations?