12/26/2004 | N9TTX I can tell over the last three years that my operating skills are getting better. 2002 was filled with people. I could not find a decent open area to run until after 28.650, and most people I could hear I was able to work though I was not used to picking out one from the noise. I made a decent effort in phone I thought at the time. 2003 showed considerably less activity, and I also worked mixed mode. The scoring showed I was more used to contesting. This year the conditions were as some put it...El Stinko. I still made a bunch of contacts...and practically everyone I heard I worked in both modes. The propagation was strange as although the Carribbean was coming in strong, apparently my signal was not very loud. Same setup as CQWW, but my signals apparently were not as strong. It also seemed that from 9 land in Wisconsin, the only real propagation path was to the South to SouthEast. There were others, but this direction was the primary breadwinner. Unfortunately I gave up early as I began to experience equipment problems. The intermittant frequency float I have experienced on the FT-101ZD got worse, and I was not sure where I was at, so I turned to the TS-120S and it decided it would always throw a carrier, and it would not let me tune the G5RV and although the Cushcraft A-3 was pre-tuned for 10-15-20 meters, it still registered high and refused to let me tune. The RCI/Amp combo worked, but started to stay keyed up when on an antenna...but not on a dummy. I gave up...so I now have 8 rigs to refurbish...winter projects galore! Other than that, I think I could have done fairly close to the last years scores if I would have stuck it out, but I was getting frustrated, and the weather in Eau Claire decided to get cold and windy, so the A-3 came down and the G5RV went up another 10 feet....but I packed it up shortly after this configuration due to the aforementioned rig problems. Thanks to those that put up with my less than perfect keying fills and the intermittant frequency drift that I have been experienceing lately on the 101. I think I need to replace capacitors on the VFO. As I said comparing scoring and conditions, I feel I am improving in skill, and that is a positive thing. Now if we can just get the propagation to improve also...*L* 73, catch you all later. Dave...N9TTX -- N9TTX