11/20/2007 | NG1I Well with just a G5RV, participating in the contest for good high score is not achievable as I have found in past years except for those days band condx are really good (like the CW SS 2007). I decided that this year, instead of concentrating on scores, I would concentrate on getting the most number of sections I can. I started Saturday PM with S7 noise signals across the bands and made only 50 Q's before I called it a night two hours later.
I awoke at 5AM and was on 80M no problem and luckily made all the sections for W1, 2, 3, and some 4's that you would get on 80 up here before that band closed. While using spotting cluster 50% of the time, I found many of the spots were those who someone worked and that spot moved on. I also used the search and pounce method which was also 50% effective. From 5AM to 6PM I manged 76 sections, 300 Q's, and missed MS,CO,and ORG( which I got on the 2007 SS CW) and of course, NT which is rarely heard up here unless you have a 500 FT tower, 20 element 20 and 15 monobanders and run about 6KW (: (maybe some do?...)

Of course things will change when the solar cycle gets better but until then I look forward to getting 77 sections or more both CW and SSB next year. ......and the ARRL SS pins are also a prize to me. Besides, who would beleive me if I ever did get a sweep with a G5RV up here in WMA? Maybe somebody did! CUNY and 73's to all.

Frank "Never Give 1 Inch" -- NG1I