06/17/2005 | W3SO This was the best score for W3SO (FN00sn - WPA) since its first contest in 1996. The Sunday AU on 6m, 2m, and 222MHz was great. Our claimed score is posted at . Thanks to the New England Weak Signal Group for providing this service. If you haven't posted your score here, please do. Posting are open to everyone.

The WX was hot and humid, even for the WPA mountains. We had some rain on Saturday afternoon. The only equipment problem was an amp and pre-amp quit working. A blown fuse was discovered and replaced in minutes. Redistributing the load solved the problem.

This contest had four phases: 1) The traditional VHF start but with a little better reach and more activity than normal in the first two hours. During this period the 6m operator worked VE3s and had a quick opening to AZ. There was good activity on 222MHz. 2) The bands went dead about 5:30ET Saturday and later we learned that the Preakness was being run. We should have eaten dinner then. 3) At 1920Z on Sunday we had our first 6m AU QSO. That was followed by 2m and 222MHz AU QSOs beginning at 2000Z. The AU never really made it to 432MHz. During
the AU we logged 28 new grids on 6m, 5 new grids on 2m, 4 new grids on 222MHz and 1 new grid on 432MHz. And during the AU the only 432MHz signals were from the multi-operator stations. 4) And there was the normal end-of-the-contest period where some "fresh meat" stations appear plus the rovers pushing on to that last grid.

Thanks again to all the rovers. We worked 37 of them and they accounted for 147 of QSOs or about 11% of our total QSOs. We appreciate every rover's efforts. There is an adrenaline rush at
each of our position when we see the network messages about a rover being passed from one band to another.

W3SO will be on for the CQ WW VHF Contest in July, the ARRL September VHF Contest and the Fall Sprints to round out the 2005 VHF Contest Season.

The W3SO station description is at www.qrz.com/w3so and the QSL manager is Roy, W3TEF.
-- K3IXD