[TVARC] ARRL 10 K2PS SO Mixed LP

[K2PS Pete Stafford]

Another great 10M contest!  Conditions were not as good as they were two
weeks ago, but good enough.  Made about the same number of QSOs as in my
single band 10M CQWW CW entry, but about half the DXCC (110 vs 49 on CW, 37
on SSB).  The ability to work stateside made up for the drop.  Solar flux
was roughly 170 two weeks ago, and only about 130 this past weekend.  That
meant that the European openings started later, finished earlier, and didn't
get out as far east.  Also, the Asia openings too, were shorter and weaker.


Friday night, which is always kind of a grind, resulted in 41 QSOs (the same
as Rusty).  I closed up shop by 830 local.  Was able to pick up a few EUs at
around 7A Saturday, but wasn't able to start running 'em until about 745A.
Was about the same on Sunday.  Running EU is the bread and butter for scores
in both contests, but in ARRL 10M we have the added benefit of stateside
pileups.  So, when Europe started to dry up, the USA took over.

Interesting propagation - the EU was F2 certainly, but the USA showed
Sporadic E, in that we got a nice opening to New England Saturday, but very
little on Sunday.  Also, it seems as if the clouds parked themselves so that
MN, CO, and AZ seemed next door, but the closer-in stuff, like OH, WV, and
the Southeast were nearly non-existent.  Never worked IN, SC, AL, KY, TN,
MS, WV, DE on either mode.  Picked up GA a few minutes before the contest
end on backscatter (antenna swung due West).

Comparing, had 895 Qs/192 mults last year, and 1180/185 this time.  I guess
the fewer mults implies that I was better able to call CQ productively this
time, and so had less time to search for those mults.  As a Mixed mode
station, with double the points for CW contacts, the less time I spent on
SSB, the better. But you still need those mults on SSB (you can count the
mult twice, once on each mode).

Glad to see so many TVARCers on during the contest, both actually working
them, and following their progress on Contest Online Score.  I also
monitored my SO LP Mixed Mode category, and the competition seemed to be
between me and PY2NY.  Interestingly, I managed to forge ahead of the
Brazilian during the morning EU runs, but then when the band opened to South
America, he pecked away at me, and ultimately prevailed.  Rusty provided
competition within TVARC, and after he got that Big Ear working, the 1500
watts carried the day.  Nice job!

Some nice scores from W3US, K3WT, ND8L.  And a gavel for Rusty?

Thanks for the QSOs from W3US, N0SMX, K1CTR, K3WT, AD4MO(!), N4GL, ND8L,
K2TE, and W2TR's brother, K7DQH.  Heard N4FP but never connected.  Sadly,
missed K3ZGA and ND4G.  RIP, guys.

73, Pete, K2PS

                    ARRL 10-Meter Contest - 2023

Call: K2PS
Operator(s): K2PS
Station: K2PS

Class: SO Mixed LP
QTH: FL
Operating Time (hrs): 24

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
   CW:  752   105
  SSB:  428    80
-------------------
Total: 1180   185  Total Score = 714,840

Club: The Villages Amateur Radio Club

Comments:




Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/