12/02/2013 | N1XIH/7

 

After surprisingly winning the Rocky Mountain Division Section in 2012, ( still awaiting the plaque) I knew I should try to better my score this year and get a Clean Sweep. Unfortunately I was not able to arrive early enough to acclimatize to the altitude. However my $20 homebrew antenna support slingshot which I built last year worked a treat. ( all parts from Wal-Mart) Taking 1⅟₂ hours to set up the 500ft inverted V dipole. All ready and tested before lunch. With many Europeans on 10m before the contest started. But no time to put up any other antennas though. There were a few issues just at the start of the contest which again lost me nearly 1hr. But they could have lost me the whole contest.  Propagation was different from last year. With good propagation on most bands for much of the time. With 10m 15m 20m open for much of the daylight hours.  There didn’t seem to be the ‘searchlight effect’ of propagation moving around the Sections. Especially on 15m. As has been observed in previous years. Giving me very strong signals into individual Sections. So a beam would have been an advantage. As usual the effect of the Grey Line was fascinating to observe. 40m was better for me this year for getting to the West Coast during the early darkness hours. Unlike last year the propagation did not go ‘long’ as quickly. With the signals from West Coast to East Coast going over my head!! 80m was consistent and gave me some surprising contacts. It is a shame that 160m is hardly used in the contest.  I would like to work at least one station during the contest. But I understand why. I was surprised how active 40m was when I started again on Sunday morning. Making me believe I should have been up at least an hour earlier. I was able to make a few more contacts. Not the 200 I was hoping for.  I know there will be some penalties. I did work a station in Utah though. Which for me is quite hard. I don’t think there are too many operating in the contest from Utah. W1AW was worked on 15m early on Sunday morning. I should like to thank the operator for their perseverance with my signal. 15m did pick up quite strongly about 45mins from CT after the contact. My normal ‘search and pounce’ was not very productive and I need to practice my CQ calls. Many stations use pre-recorded or computer generated calling and contest information exchange. K6JEB’s one had very clear pronunciation tonal content and timing. It was a pleasure to work. May be I should have one. As many operators on the Sunday thought my call was N1XJH/7 confusing ‘India’ for ‘Juliet’. My accent coming through!! 2012 Sweepstakes was a hard act to follow.  But there are some improvements I hope to make to my portable station for 2014.  Trying some additional antennas for specific bands and directions.  Let’s hope that the propagation will be favorable for next year. As always a fun and friendly Contest. Where people spend time and effort to work all the stations.   Have a good year and hope to work you in Sweepstakes in November 2014. -- GW0NVN N1XIH -- GW0NVN