03/01/2005 | J6R ARRL International DX CW 2005 - Single Opr. Low Power - J6R (Operator K3LP)
This was the most exciting contest for me ever! The day before the contest, my FT-1000MP transceiver receiver section stop working. I spent much time inside the rig checking for cold solder joints, loose wires, and trying to trace signals using limited equipment. About 6 hours before the contest was to start, J69AC (Given George) showed up with an IC-756 PRO (with no CW filters) for me to use. I built a new CW Keying cable for the ICOM rig. Then about two hours before the contest, my laptop Pentium 4, XP version computer would no longer send CW using my faithful WriteLog software. I down loaded the Direct I/O drivers again, but the problem did not go away. The issue was clearly in the PC not the WriteLog software which I have used during many DX-pedition contests. I located a new computer and reloaded WriteLog. Finally, after much stress, I was on the air at 0300 GMT (three hours late).

It was difficult holding a frequency throughout the contest using low power. The real challenge came when trying to work the huge pileup with no cw filters. I was hearing QSO's two operators wide on each side of me throughout the contest. It's amazing what techniques you use to fight through the situation (i.e. shifting of the RIT, RF Gain, etc.).

It was quite exciting working everyone. After finding the right combination of frequecies, it was easy moving multipliers and other stations through all the bands (i.e. 28 to 21 to 14 to 7 MHz during the day and 14 to 7 to 3.8 to 1.8 MHz at night)whiling holding the run frequency.

I really appreciated the 80 and 160 meters QSOs and spots. With the poor 80 and 160 meter dipole antennas, it was difficult being heard.

I used a Tribander at 20 feet and dipoles for 40-160 meters at 40'. Also a ground mounted Hustler vertical for 10 thru 80 meters worked great. The J6R score looked like the following: QSO's 3,412, Multipliers 297, Score 3,040,092

I can't wait until next year.

73's David - K3LP -- K3LP