2008 ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW)
11/03/2008 |
N8XE
Ahhh, the crisp air... the falling leaves... the smell of chili cooking in the crock pot... it must be CW Sweepstakes time!!! And boy was it a great time!
Sweepstakes is such a great contest as you can do well with modest stations but at the same time it is a challenge because of the longer and more complex exchange. It really gives the CW decoder between my ears a workout. I LOVE IT!!!
To celebrate the 75th running of the Sweepstakes, I really wanted to get a clean sweep this year so I decided to go class U. This would allow me to use the spotting network to get all the multipliers. My strategy was to dedicate getting sections first and then work on getting my qso count up once I had most of the sections in the log. I wanted to work 160M as well (in anticipation for the upcoming 160M contest). Another first for me was using two radios this time around to work more contacts.
The previous week was spent making sure everything was working properly and to clean the shack up a little (it can get pretty messy). On Friday, I did some antenna and shack maintenance. The contest chili was prepared and was cooking in the crock pot. I was set!!
I got a good night's rest Friday night. Saturday was spent relaxing and meeting fellow hams at our monthly QRP meeting. About 15 minutes before the contest started, my elmer, N8CPA, calls me on 146.46 simplex for our traditional start to sweepstakes: an on the air toast wishing each other good luck in the contest. Zero hour starts and we were off!
I have never used two radios before in a contest so this was going to be interesting. I had the main radio in the right ear and the backup radio in the left ear. The PC was connected to the main radio so everything done on the second radio was with my 1930 Lightning Bug. The 1960 Blue Racer was at the ready on the main radio for repeats and if I worked other straight key or bug users.
Sticking to my strategy, I only searched for unworked sections. I got about half the sections before I started calling CQ myself. Running stations is always a great way to get your heart racing. It is also fun to hear someone come back to you with a new section.
15 meters was alive with signals! Who would have thought at this time in the sunspot cycle? Maybe it is open more than we think and we just don't get on it... or maybe it was the RF getting generated from the contest keeping the ionosphere charged!
Saturday night, I started running stations on 160M. I worked a few new sections on 160M. A total of about 15 qsos on topband. It was the first time that I have noticed being the spotted on the DX cluster which was neat.
I turned in about 3am to get some rest. I woke up at about 6am (got an extra hour in which was nice!!!) and brewed some coffee. I continued to search for new sections. One of the most difficult pileups was with the pileup for the NL section. I got frustrated and decided it was a good time to take a break. After a shower, and a mile walk with the XYL, I jumped back in. I finally got to work NL! The spotting software showed the other Canadian sections that I needed and quickly worked them. All except NT which is always a challenge.
I noticed VE8EY was spotting folks up and down the band so I figured I would find a nice spot on 20M and call CQ in hopes that I finally get NT. After calling CQ for a little while, VY1EI came back to me to give me the coveted NT section! By about 3pm on Sunday, the *only* section not worked was NV. Once I saw NV get spotted, I quickly pounced and finished my sweep. My first clean sweep ever!
N8CPA and I always said that if we work a clean sweep, we would attach a broom to the side of the tower. After I worked the last section, I climbed up the roof and placed a broom to the tower.
Once the sweep was done, I relaxed and called CQ for the rest of the contest and occasionally hunting and pouncing on the other radio.
290 Contacts
80 Sections (whoohoo!)
46400 Total
It was a sweepstakes to remember...
Next year I will go back to class A or maybe go with Q for something different. Only 363 days till Sweepstakes!!!
73, N8XE
Jason -- N8XE
Sweepstakes is such a great contest as you can do well with modest stations but at the same time it is a challenge because of the longer and more complex exchange. It really gives the CW decoder between my ears a workout. I LOVE IT!!!
To celebrate the 75th running of the Sweepstakes, I really wanted to get a clean sweep this year so I decided to go class U. This would allow me to use the spotting network to get all the multipliers. My strategy was to dedicate getting sections first and then work on getting my qso count up once I had most of the sections in the log. I wanted to work 160M as well (in anticipation for the upcoming 160M contest). Another first for me was using two radios this time around to work more contacts.
The previous week was spent making sure everything was working properly and to clean the shack up a little (it can get pretty messy). On Friday, I did some antenna and shack maintenance. The contest chili was prepared and was cooking in the crock pot. I was set!!
I got a good night's rest Friday night. Saturday was spent relaxing and meeting fellow hams at our monthly QRP meeting. About 15 minutes before the contest started, my elmer, N8CPA, calls me on 146.46 simplex for our traditional start to sweepstakes: an on the air toast wishing each other good luck in the contest. Zero hour starts and we were off!
I have never used two radios before in a contest so this was going to be interesting. I had the main radio in the right ear and the backup radio in the left ear. The PC was connected to the main radio so everything done on the second radio was with my 1930 Lightning Bug. The 1960 Blue Racer was at the ready on the main radio for repeats and if I worked other straight key or bug users.
Sticking to my strategy, I only searched for unworked sections. I got about half the sections before I started calling CQ myself. Running stations is always a great way to get your heart racing. It is also fun to hear someone come back to you with a new section.
15 meters was alive with signals! Who would have thought at this time in the sunspot cycle? Maybe it is open more than we think and we just don't get on it... or maybe it was the RF getting generated from the contest keeping the ionosphere charged!
Saturday night, I started running stations on 160M. I worked a few new sections on 160M. A total of about 15 qsos on topband. It was the first time that I have noticed being the spotted on the DX cluster which was neat.
I turned in about 3am to get some rest. I woke up at about 6am (got an extra hour in which was nice!!!) and brewed some coffee. I continued to search for new sections. One of the most difficult pileups was with the pileup for the NL section. I got frustrated and decided it was a good time to take a break. After a shower, and a mile walk with the XYL, I jumped back in. I finally got to work NL! The spotting software showed the other Canadian sections that I needed and quickly worked them. All except NT which is always a challenge.
I noticed VE8EY was spotting folks up and down the band so I figured I would find a nice spot on 20M and call CQ in hopes that I finally get NT. After calling CQ for a little while, VY1EI came back to me to give me the coveted NT section! By about 3pm on Sunday, the *only* section not worked was NV. Once I saw NV get spotted, I quickly pounced and finished my sweep. My first clean sweep ever!
N8CPA and I always said that if we work a clean sweep, we would attach a broom to the side of the tower. After I worked the last section, I climbed up the roof and placed a broom to the tower.
Once the sweep was done, I relaxed and called CQ for the rest of the contest and occasionally hunting and pouncing on the other radio.
290 Contacts
80 Sections (whoohoo!)
46400 Total
It was a sweepstakes to remember...
Next year I will go back to class A or maybe go with Q for something different. Only 363 days till Sweepstakes!!!
73, N8XE
Jason -- N8XE
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