11/21/2005 | KU4UV Another November Phone Sweepstakes Contest is over. I managed to increase my score and QSO count from last year. I operated as a Single-Op/Low entry, and managed 211 contacts in 16 hours of the contest. I don't have the best station in the world, but I did manage to make contacts on all bands except 160. My station consists of a Kenwood TS-130SE and several dipoles in the attic of my apartment, up only maybe 10 feet. I used my brother's Icom 706 for part of the contest, then decided to go with the Kenwood rig. I used a long wire for 40 and 75 meters. I was tired from working 16 hours of the contest, but I had a great time. Thanks again to everyone who was patient enough to pull my weak signal out of the noise. I managed to work all but 4 states. I needed Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and South Carolina. I am hoping one day in the near future to improve the station and get a clean sweep some year in the contest. It seemed like the Canadians were hard to work this year, at least here in Kentucky. I only picked up SK and MB. I guess you need to either have a big station or just have a lot of luck to work KL7 and KH6 in the SS contest. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I at least made the top 10 as far as the Kentucky contester's scores go. I am hopeful that maybe next year I will be able to operate from a farm that my family owns in Southern Kentucky and be able to get some better antennas up and work some more stations. I have to kind of be creative and realistic when it comes to operating from an apartment. Thanks again to all you guys who were patient and friendly with me and my weak station this year. This is why I enjoy the SS contest and Field Day each year. I hope to hear a lot of you guys in the 10 meter contest in December. Happy Thanksgiving gang, and we'll see you guys in the 10 Meter contest. 73, GL! -- KU4UV