2004 ARRL November Sweepstakes (Phone)
12/06/2004 |
N2LJ
Like many others, this was my first real attempt at a contest. I made a handful of Q's in CQWW a couple weeks earlier, but didn't have the time to sit in front of the radio.
Sweepstakes was different. I was chatting about it with the folks on the local repeater (you know who you are!) on my commute. I'd decided to set out some goals, and see how well I could accomplish them.
First, make at least 100 Qs - Done! 137 to be exact. Will be ordering the pin real soon.
Next was WAS - Not quite. My total is still under 40, but I did work a lot of states I had not earlier. I'm hoping to find the time to get in the last few before the year is out for that WAS in the 90th certificate.
Last was a clean sweep. Well, if I missed WAS, then the 'sweep' couldn't happen, could it! Oh well, there's always next year, right?
Anyway, I'm constantly amazed at what a modest station like mine can do. Icom 718/MFJ 941-D tuner on a G5RV junior up about 30 feet. Also, I learned a lot about HOW to use the radio during the contest. The 718 doesn't have all the bells & whistles of the higher end rigs, but there's still a progression that should be learned to help pull in the weak ones. I got a lot of experience with that during Sweeps.
For next year's sweepstakes, and other contests, I'm going to change some of my tactics. First, I only did the hunt & pounce, figuring that's the best methd for a modest station like mine. I realize now, I should have set aside some time to run stations. I found myself just ahead of or just behind stations in states and/or sections I needed. RI & NH come to mind.
Thanks to W2RDS, KB2VRM and others on the W2QW repeater for their advice and coaching. Thanks also to W4MY for going to SC. Yours was the only SC station heard at my station!
I'm getting ready for the 10 meter contest. Maybe I'll pick up a few states this weekend!
73,
Larry West
N2LJ@arrl.net -- N2LJ
Sweepstakes was different. I was chatting about it with the folks on the local repeater (you know who you are!) on my commute. I'd decided to set out some goals, and see how well I could accomplish them.
First, make at least 100 Qs - Done! 137 to be exact. Will be ordering the pin real soon.
Next was WAS - Not quite. My total is still under 40, but I did work a lot of states I had not earlier. I'm hoping to find the time to get in the last few before the year is out for that WAS in the 90th certificate.
Last was a clean sweep. Well, if I missed WAS, then the 'sweep' couldn't happen, could it! Oh well, there's always next year, right?
Anyway, I'm constantly amazed at what a modest station like mine can do. Icom 718/MFJ 941-D tuner on a G5RV junior up about 30 feet. Also, I learned a lot about HOW to use the radio during the contest. The 718 doesn't have all the bells & whistles of the higher end rigs, but there's still a progression that should be learned to help pull in the weak ones. I got a lot of experience with that during Sweeps.
For next year's sweepstakes, and other contests, I'm going to change some of my tactics. First, I only did the hunt & pounce, figuring that's the best methd for a modest station like mine. I realize now, I should have set aside some time to run stations. I found myself just ahead of or just behind stations in states and/or sections I needed. RI & NH come to mind.
Thanks to W2RDS, KB2VRM and others on the W2QW repeater for their advice and coaching. Thanks also to W4MY for going to SC. Yours was the only SC station heard at my station!
I'm getting ready for the 10 meter contest. Maybe I'll pick up a few states this weekend!
73,
Larry West
N2LJ@arrl.net -- N2LJ
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