07/10/2006 | K5BZH Propagation left a lot to be desired. I didnt work many DX stations until about 2 hours before sunset. I crashed around 2 a.m. My operating time after taking out breaks (food, stress relief, etc) was about 16 hours. After removing 3 dups, my total number of Qs was 284.

My station is very modest, I used my 100 watt Heath SB-1400 and a MFJ tuner. For antennas I used a wire in the attic for 80 and 40, 20-15-10 were covered by a 12AVQ vertical. I still log by paper, but I think that is about to change.

Had a lot of fun. Of my Qs, 223 were within the USA, I only worked 27 DX entities. Within the U.S., I worked 33 states. Those I worked the most were TX (33), CA (25), IL (17), FL (16), and OH (9). I suspect the big percentage for Texas was not because I reside there, most of my US contacts were in zone 8, most likely it is because a lot of DXers and contesters reside in Texas.

DX entities worked were: Austria (1), Barbados (1), Belgium (1), Brazil (4), Canada (9), Columbia (2), England (1), Estonia (1), Finland (2), France (2), Galapagos Is (1), Guatemala (1), Honduras (1), Hungary (3), Italy (1), Latvia (2), Mexico (7), Netherlands Antilles (2), Poland (1), Russia (8), Slovakia (1), Slovenia (1), Spain (1), Trinidad & Tobago (1), Turks & Caiscos (1), Ukraine (1).

My thanks to all of you serious contesters for putting up with me. Hopefully my skills will continue to improve. May the Ether Gods bless us all, providing the path to work some great DX. 73, -- K5BZH