[SJDXA] N2CW CQWW 160 SSB preliminary overview

[Bob Schenck N2OO]

SJDXA members;

This year we had our best set up ever. Two K3's (TNX N2OO and KB2M!) and our
FT1000MP MKV. And the Alpha 87A amp (TNX N2OZ!).

The new Acom 2S1 communtator worked like a charm making operation a breeze
with the 87A.

Conditions were "iffy" at best. 

 

Everything was "ready for operation" at the start of the contest on Friday
at 2200 UTC thanks to W2ARP, W2USF and W2RDM who joined me (N2OO) at the
site at 930 AM for set up, and a call to W2CG who was in NC this year got us
squared away with the computers and the telnet setups. All antennas are
tested and looked OK. The beverages were tested and also sounded quiet and
OK. We got on the air promptly at 2200 UTC! After 6 QSO's and a whole TWO
minutes of operation, at 2202 UTC we were forced to take our first "off
time" due to a heavy storm with lightning approaching. After torrential
rains and heavy almost continuous lightning and thunder for almost an hour,
we got back on the air. W2ARP headed home. We ran through enormously heavy
static crashes for several hours at a rate of around 120/hour. By 0500 UTC
(midnight) we logged 500 QSO's (half of the overall total). We even managed
to log a few EU's. Things were looking up.

For our first overnight (Friday) we had 3 ops. N2OO, W2RDM and W2USF. N2OO
"crashed and burned" at around 2:30 AM leaving Steve and Randy to handle the
chores until 6:30 AM relief arrived (W2ARP and W2OB) who took over for the
day shift. A decision was made at this time to run most of the day on
Saturday and opt out for staying late on Sunday. So, the total off time
during Saturday daytime was minimal, and there was even 2 hours of no QSO's
at all. For the Saturday evening shift, our operators were N2OZ, W2RDM, K2SZ
and N2OO. Jim K2SZ left around 11PM leaving OO, OZ and RDM for the overnight
operations. OO took one for the team by staying up all night while OZ and
RDM took turns on the couch. Saturday evening conditions were much better to
EU. But most EU's were WEAK. We scoured the bands as best as we could in
order to grab as many 10 pointers as possible. Also, conditions WEST were
far better on Saturday than on Friday. But we heard NO KH6, KL7, VK, ZL, etc
at all. KE2OI and W2ARP arrived around 6:00 AM or so and relieved for the
Sunday morning grunt run. We went QRT at 15:10 UTC (10:10 AM). 

We watched the K1LZ score on live log and realized that giving them a head
start cost us dearly. However, we had been slowly gaining on them. At one
point we were within about 6,000- 7,000 points. But later on Saturday
evening, their score started to grow way beyond any chance of catching them.
What was unsettling to us was the fact that WE were nearly always ahead on
QSO's by as much as 80 or so. even though we missed the start of the
contest. This was encouraging. And, we were also always ahead on mults by as
many as 3-4. But, they must have had MANY more 10 point QSO's. By the end,
we matched them for QSO's and MULTS, but they opened up a 40,000 - 50,000
point advantage over us. Meaning that they must have had a huge number of 10
point QSO's. Perplexing, but no other explanation.

OVERVIEW: To our disadvantage this year was our "stutter start" due to the
thunderstorm, and a relatively light number of ops this year. Those who
participated, had a great time! But we REALLY needed at least 1 - 2 more ops
each evening. Let's hope that next year we can organize some extra help.

DIVERSITY: We tried to utilize diversity Friday evening. This is where we
utilize both K3's full sub receivers by connecting one to our beverage
array, and the other to a remote vertical located about 2,000 ft down the
driveway. Each antenna/receiver is fed to separate ears via stereo
headphones, and a balance control allows functionality. It seemed to work
well the first night. But gradually deteriorated as a line noise became
apparent (and strong) on the remote vertical sub receiver. We can only
assume that it came in from the AC feed down Murphy Drive somewhere. So, for
Saturday night we disconnected the remote vertical and opted to listen
solely on the beverages. On Saturday evening, we also developed a VERY heavy
line noise on the NE beverage (as strong as S9). Luckily, we were able to
adjust our noise blankers and noise reduction to reduce it enough to hear
reasonably well. But it was definitely annoying. Again, since the proximity
of the AC feedline down the driveway is nearest to the NE (and the remote
vertical) we assume that this was the source of the line noise. Must have
had to do with the heavy downpours we had on Friday evening since the noise
was not there before the rain. Also, the other beverages seemed very clear
for the most part.

After QRT, we completely packed up the shack and made it decent looking
since there will be a HAM CRAM starting there next weekend and the "shack"
will be used for demonstrations. The two fold down table tops were folded
away and almost all cables were stowed in the trough.

 

 

Score (PRELIMINARY)

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide 160-meter Contest

Callsign        : N2CW

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Multi Operator - Single Transmitter (MS)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : Single band (SB) 160 m

Class           : High Power (HP)

Zone/State/...  : NJ

Locator         : FM29LL

Operating time  : 32h12

 

BAND   QSO DUP DXC S/P  POINTS   AVG 

--------------------------------------

  160   942  17  47  58    2892  3.07 

--------------------------------------

TOTAL   942  17  47  58    2892  3.07 

======================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 303 660

 

Dupes are not included in QSO counts neither avg calculations

 

Operators       :  N2OO, W2RDM, W2ARP, W2OB, K2SZ, W2USF, N2OZ, KE2OI, 

Soapbox         : 

 

 

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See ya' in the Pileups!

73!

Bob Schenck, N2OO

President SJDXA

GO SJDXA!!! www.sjdxa.org

 

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