[RRDXA] DF1LON (@DL2OBO) WPX-SSB SOAB HP (A)

[RRDXA Claimed Score Submission]

Claimed score submission: WPX-SSB 2010

Call: DF1LON (@DL2OBO)
Operator(s): DF1LON
Mode: SSB
Category: SOAB
Active hours: 36.0
Power: HP
Assisted: yes
Club:Rhein Ruhr DX Association

Summary: 

 Band	   QSOs	    Prefix

 -------------------------------------
  10m:	     34       0 
  15m:	    325       0 
  20m:	    365       0 
  40m:	    444       0 
  80m:	    264       0 
 160m:	    131       0 
 --------------------------------------
 Total:	  1.563     837 
 
 Claimed Score:  3.470.202 


Comments: 
The WPX 2010 SSB is history. My goal was to make 2000 QSOs. So I \"booked\" DL2OBOs Station but at the end I missed my goal by almost 500 QSos. But why?

The optibeam 17-4 for 40m to 10m is a great antenna. I almost never had problems to break any prefix pileup. I was surprised about the directivity, especially on 40m. If the other station is off about 45degress of the current antenna direction, you already notice a lose of signal strengh. By 90 degrees you do not hear weak stations. Much difference to a FB33 which I usually use. S&P worked great, but as soon as I started to call CQ, no one came back. I often called for 10min without making any contact. Very frustating because with S&P I made rates of 60-80 QSO/h.

On 80m I had a not optimal build 4-Square but with a great directivity. I could easily work DX station, but had hugh problems working EU stations. Often CQ calls were only answered by DX stations but no EU station called in. I tried to call DR5A for a new multi on 80m, but he was just S1 and could not copy me. But he was called by some US east cost stations who were S9. I could work easy HC8, ZF and US with the first call, so I decided that we have to change something on 80m to improve the score. On sunday afternoon DL2OBO build for me a low 80m dipole which performed great on Sunday eveninng. So I could double my QSOs on 80m within 1,5h.

On 160m we build on friday an inv-L Antenna in one of the hugh trees. Almost 20m vertical aluminum were put in the tree. Some light winds, rain and a small thunderstrom were not very helpfull during setup. We were almost scared to death as a lighting crossed the sky folled by a thunder just milliseconds later. NEVER climb in a tree with an antenna in your hand (which is greater than the supporting tree) during a thunderstorm!!! Just with one radial we finished the work on the antenna. But it performed great.

Whenever I was spot in the cluster I had a small mini pileup and afterwards some medium rates. Without a spot, the rates were very low. Very interesseting as most station claim for unassisted... Or do we have so many M/x stations?

Things to improve the next time? The low 80m dipole was a great help, but a low 40m dipole would have been also very helpfull. The 3ele on 40m are very usefull for DX but have some disadvantage on the short distance with high angles.

I would like to say thank you that I was able to use DL2OBOs station, his great hospitality and especially to my YL Sabine, as she has broken her wrist just two days before the contest and she still let me go to the contest. But she survived the weekend well on her own with just one working hand.

73 de Lars


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