[PVRCNC] CQ160 CW N1LN Multi-Op HP

[Bruce Meier]

                    CQ 160-Meter Contest, CW

Call: N1LN
Operator(s): W0UCE N4CW WA4PSC N1LN
Station: N1LN

Class: Multi-Op HP
QTH: NC
Operating Time (hrs): 35

Summary:
Total:  QSOs = 1242  State/Prov = 59  Countries = 63  Total Score = 472,140

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

Comments:

Guess that pretty much wraps up the 160 CW contest season for another year.


We expected the 160 conditions to be improved over last year and for our
score to benefit from those improved conditions. That was not to be. Friday
night EU propagation was very disappointing.  By the end of EU sunrise we
had less than
40 EU Qs in the log. Was there an equipment problem we were not aware of? 
Saturday morning around 1205 UTC things started to turn around. Three JAs
responded to our CQ as did one VK. Things were looking better. When we shut
down for Saturday daytime our Q total was 70 down and mults were 3 down. 

Fortunately this is a two night contest. Saturday night was totally
different. 
Around 0030 UTC EU started calling but at an infrequent pace. Then around
0200 the pace went way up and continued for about two hours, the last hour
of Berts shift and first hour of Jacks. Then, it was like the bottom fell
out again. 
Yes, EU continued to be worked but it was almost like Friday night all over
again. Even the EU sunrise was a disappointment.  Hopefully we were not the
only station with that experience. The scores will tell. Sunday morning did
not add to the JA, VK count either.  Never heard a ZL.

As we only use one K3, Howie tried his luck at running SO2V and was quite
successful. I continued with SO2V into my 0700 to 0900 UTC shift. It really
helped keep me awake as the CQ only rate was very slow.  Speaking of slow
rates, we usually try to take advantage of the allowable 40 hour operation
time. This year we CQd into empty air for several of those hours. Our
operating time is about 4 hours higher than the actual time we were able to
make Qs. 

In the end we never caught up to our 2015 Q count but were pleased to better
the mult count by 7. Our score however was down by almost 40k points. We
always have a lower points per Q average than many of the other east coast
entries so it is time to focus on that issue and find the cure. According to
EZNEC4 the other towers and antennas in the proximity of the phased
verticals the pattern and gain toward EU are quite impacted. Currently there
is work going on to address that problem. Thanks in advance to Guy, K2AV,
for driving this project.
Already looking forward to next season.   

On to the social side.  As always this is one of our favorite contests. With
only one station on the air there is plenty of time for conversation and the
occasional drink and even food. Chef Archie joined us for Saturday night
dinner and prepared an outstanding Mexican Delight. Once again, everyone was
well fed.

Until next time the Camp LN gang thanks all callers for the Qs, the mults
and the fun time. 

73 from the Camp LN gang,

Jack W0UCE
Bert N4CW
Howie WA4PSC
Bruce N1LN


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