2003 ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW)
11/07/2003 |
WA3SES
Going in, I had visions of 1000 Q's and a mult sweep; I only have one sweep in SS CW in 15 years. But no such luck....missed AK, NT and MAR.
About 5 hours into the contest I had 70 mults and was feeling like I might do it. But it was a little strange to see that I had all the 0's and 6's and 7's but hardly any of the 1's and 2's. And while my rate ref sheet told me I was ahead of my personal record pace (142k in 2000), my QSO points were behind that year and I was ahead only because of a much higher mult count than normal.
Highlight: Making an honest to goodness, real, true, second radio QSO while running on radio #1.....ain't no stopping me now!!!!
My decision to call it a night at 0530z, I think, was good. From what I've heard rates were not very good between then and 0830z, the usual start time for my first break. Never had (or I totally missed) any decent local propogation on 40 and 80 meters Saturday evening/night.
It's getting harder to "stay in the chair". I really wanted to put in 24 hours, and even with a solid 6 hours sleep Saturday night/Sunday morning, I just could not keep at it Sunday afernoon and took two more two hour breaks. Is it my age or something else?
The Sunday outage was an experience I won't soon forget.
This is still my favorite contest. I really like the "work 'em only once" rule. But I would not mind if it were a "work 18 hours out of 24" contest also.
73 and see you next year
Ed -- WA3SES
About 5 hours into the contest I had 70 mults and was feeling like I might do it. But it was a little strange to see that I had all the 0's and 6's and 7's but hardly any of the 1's and 2's. And while my rate ref sheet told me I was ahead of my personal record pace (142k in 2000), my QSO points were behind that year and I was ahead only because of a much higher mult count than normal.
Highlight: Making an honest to goodness, real, true, second radio QSO while running on radio #1.....ain't no stopping me now!!!!
My decision to call it a night at 0530z, I think, was good. From what I've heard rates were not very good between then and 0830z, the usual start time for my first break. Never had (or I totally missed) any decent local propogation on 40 and 80 meters Saturday evening/night.
It's getting harder to "stay in the chair". I really wanted to put in 24 hours, and even with a solid 6 hours sleep Saturday night/Sunday morning, I just could not keep at it Sunday afernoon and took two more two hour breaks. Is it my age or something else?
The Sunday outage was an experience I won't soon forget.
This is still my favorite contest. I really like the "work 'em only once" rule. But I would not mind if it were a "work 18 hours out of 24" contest also.
73 and see you next year
Ed -- WA3SES
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