12/13/2005 | NU4SC This was W4MEL and my third time together at his QTH for the 10m contest and our first time using the club call.(See .) We are getting better, if only the band would cooperate. Saturday AM we thought the rig died, no signals across the band. We even tried a back up radio, switching to a multi-band dipole, and going out to the car to try another rig and antenna! But finally, after almost 2 hours, we heard a signal. Sunday AM wasnt quite as bad. But it wasnt worth it being there at sunrise either day. We did get some nice multipliers late Saturday evening.

Highlights were being called by TF3YH and OH8JT while beaming west, a skewed path off the back of the beam; being called by VK2CZ in the mist of an opening to the western states, we also worked VK4AN; working S9SS off the back of the beam; working FO5RH in the final hours of the contest. We never worked any 9As,Gs, Fs, DLs, etc. We never heard any ZLs on phone but we saw the spots, on CW we worked ZL3TE and ZL4BR. Some other DX stations worked were CU2JT, CT1DVV, EA1YP, EA7HP, EA8AH, EA8ASJ, SM2M, 5U7JB and 6W1EA.

It was frustrating to see packet spot of stations up and down the east coast, in the Caribbean, etc. that we couldnt hear. A far cry from running EU stations at 28.950 several years ago.

The set up was a Ten Tec Orion, Alpha 91B, Hex Beam at 45 feet,1/4 wave ground mounted vertical with 12 radials, and N1MM Logger software. We put up the 1/4 wave vertical 50 feet from the Ashley River. We were hoping that it would compliment the beam; however, we never made a QSO with it. Last year it was some what useful. Next year we will not be taking the time to put up the vertical.

Overall, there were poor conditions in the Charleston, SC area but we were glad to provide SC. The result was 804 QSOs, 136 multipliers for a claimed score of 338,912. We will be back next year.

de Ed -- K3IXD