[PVRCNC] ARRL DX 160M VP5M SOHP Unassisted

[James Jordan]

Call: VP5M
Operator(s): K4QPL
Station: VP5/K4QPL
Class: Single Op HP
QTH: VP5
Operating Time (hrs): 5
Summary:
Total:  QSOs = 384  Sections = 57  Countries = 0  Total Score = 43,776
Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club
Comments:
First time doing a 160M contest at VP5M. A big thank you to Guy, K2AV, who
designed a layout for an inverted L with a folded counterpoise (FCP) and
worked
with me by phone on final installation using a RigExpert Zoom 55. To make a
long
story short, it all worked with 1.0 SWR at 1820 kHz, 51 Ohms and RL 30. My
KPA-500 liked it also, with touch-up from the KAT-500 for QSY up the band. I
didn't have time or crew to set up the K9AY loop for receive.
I never planned a "hard-core" 160M effort but considered it just a
bonus on CQWW CW the week before. Started late and quit early after really
nice
runs from about 0100-0330Z. Then a few more before sunrise Saturday morning.
High winds and rain squalls all day Saturday continuing into Saturday night
with S7+ QRN wiped out everyone but the really strong stations, most of
which I had worked Friday. After Bruce, N1LN, gave me a good real signal
report, I opted not to run for fear of being an "alligator" not hearing
callers. S&P'd a bit but called it a night. QRN gone Sunday morning when I
woke up about 1030Z but daylight brought everything to an end around 1200Z.
Thanks for the Q's and hanging in there. Sorry there were a number of
callers I just couldn't pull out.
73,
Jim
P.S. Does anyone know how to do a Cabrillo if you're DX? Very frustrating.
If you put 599 in the log info it says that is not a valid exchange and 599
should be omitted. If you put in nothing it says you must put in a valid
exchange. Then, if you do it anyway when you try to create a Cabrillo says
599 looks like a signal report and should be omitted. It likes "ENN" which
it doesn't recognize as a cut number and makes it an exchange like section
or prefix. Weird, but of course the contest is weird with no exchange but
signal report and not even power like other ARRL DX contests.


Call: VP5M
Operator(s): K4QPL
Station: VP5/K4QPL

Class: Single Op HP
QTH: VP5
Operating Time (hrs): 5

Summary:
Total:  QSOs = 384  Sections = 57  Countries = 0  Total Score = 43,776

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

Comments:

First time doing a 160M contest at VP5M. A big thank you to Guy, K2AV, who
designed a layout for an inverted L with a folded counterpoise (FCP) and
worked
with me by phone on final installation using a RigExpert Zoom 55. To make a
long
story short, it all worked with 1.0 SWR at 1820 kHz, 51 Ohms and RL 30. My
KPA-500 liked it also, with touch-up from the KAT-500 for QSY up the band. I
didn't have time or crew to set up the K9AY loop for receive.
I never planned a "hard-core" 160M effort but considered it just a
bonus on CQWW CW the week before. Started late and quit early after really
nice
runs from about 0100-0330Z. Then a few more before sunrise Saturday morning.
High winds and rain squalls all day Saturday continuing into Saturday night
with
S7+ QRN wiped out everyone but the really strong stations, most of which I
had
worked Friday. I opted not to run for fear of being an "alligator" not
hearing callers. S&P'd a bit but called it a night. QRN gone Sunday morning
when I woke up about 1030Z but daylight brought everything to an end around
1200Z.
Thanks for the Q's and hanging in there. Sorry there were a number of
callers I
just couldn't pull out.
73,
Jim