2006 ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW)
12/06/2006 |
K4TD
This was my second year to operate in the multi-operator category. The team this year was VE7ZO, NX1T and K4TD. We had a great time both on and off the radio, as expected. Being a CW traffic handler, I have always enjoyed the CW Sweepstakes, and this year was no exception.
It seemed to me like there was quite a bit more activity this year than last, especially from the West Coast on 15M. Some of those guys were S9+40dB here at times.
We experimented with real-time score reporting using N1MM logger and found it to be very interesting. We seemed to be the only Multi-OP station reporting on the site we were watching. However, we noticed Randy, K5ZD, was reporting on that site so we kept an eye on his updates. Even though Randy whacked us (especially on 40M), it was fun being able to make the comparisons in near real-time. I think I will make real-time score reporting SOP from K4TD in future contests.
The main tower is 195 feet high and the home for the 2-el 80M yagi (@180'), a 4-el 40M yagi (@140') and the stack of tribanders for 20/15/10 (@125'/85'/45'). The multiplier tower is 70 feet high and is the home of the 40/20/15/10 yagi (@75'). Not shown are the inverted-V antennas for 80 and 40 and a 1/4-wave vertical for 160. I am happy with the performance of the station on 80, 40 and 15. We didn't ever really check 10 or 160. The only disappointment for me was the number of Q's on 20M. We used every possible combination of antennas on 20, but, try as we might, we could never get a really good run going on 20.
Maybe it was just better antennas at the station this year, but it seemed like there were more QRP callers than ever before. We had some nasty QRN towards the end of the contest, so I apologize to those QRP guys that called us, especially on 80M, and didnt get through.
Finally, we wanted to thank to all those operators who undertook the effort to get on from the rare sections making all the sweeps possible. We managed at least two contacts from every section/multiplier.
I, for one, am already looking forward to the 2007 CW SS... -- K4TD
It seemed to me like there was quite a bit more activity this year than last, especially from the West Coast on 15M. Some of those guys were S9+40dB here at times.
We experimented with real-time score reporting using N1MM logger and found it to be very interesting. We seemed to be the only Multi-OP station reporting on the site we were watching. However, we noticed Randy, K5ZD, was reporting on that site so we kept an eye on his updates. Even though Randy whacked us (especially on 40M), it was fun being able to make the comparisons in near real-time. I think I will make real-time score reporting SOP from K4TD in future contests.
The main tower is 195 feet high and the home for the 2-el 80M yagi (@180'), a 4-el 40M yagi (@140') and the stack of tribanders for 20/15/10 (@125'/85'/45'). The multiplier tower is 70 feet high and is the home of the 40/20/15/10 yagi (@75'). Not shown are the inverted-V antennas for 80 and 40 and a 1/4-wave vertical for 160. I am happy with the performance of the station on 80, 40 and 15. We didn't ever really check 10 or 160. The only disappointment for me was the number of Q's on 20M. We used every possible combination of antennas on 20, but, try as we might, we could never get a really good run going on 20.
Maybe it was just better antennas at the station this year, but it seemed like there were more QRP callers than ever before. We had some nasty QRN towards the end of the contest, so I apologize to those QRP guys that called us, especially on 80M, and didnt get through.
Finally, we wanted to thank to all those operators who undertook the effort to get on from the rare sections making all the sweeps possible. We managed at least two contacts from every section/multiplier.
I, for one, am already looking forward to the 2007 CW SS... -- K4TD
Photo Gallery
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Main Tower (195')
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Multiplier Tower ...
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CQ SS DE K4TD...
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