2008 ARRL 160 Meter Contest
12/08/2008 |
NZ1U
I had the thrill and privilege of operating this year for the first time from the contest station of KB1H using the local Barnstormers Contest Group call NZ1U from CT. We operated multi-op with myself, W1WBB, doing the lion share of the operating and KB1H providing short relief times but at high QSO rate runs.
As an enthusiastic Topbander it was great to see all the activity each night.
This was my first time using "interfaced-radio" logging software on-air so I did much "search and pounce" until feeling confident enough to call CQ and "run" QSOs on Sunday. Many thanks to all the patient ops who hung in there when I experienced keyboard "fatfinger-itis" or logging software confusion, especially while running! I had prepared/studied ahead of time but there is no substitute for "the heat of battle".
Overall, conditions were good although propagation appeared poor to the far West with fewer 6/7-land stations than expected. Missed SF, SDG, PAC, KL7 and WY as well as VE4, VE5 and (of course!) ND and NT in the black hole of the northern plains/Canada. And where was KP4? On the other hand Europe was strong here both nights and we were able to put a number of them in the log. Thanks to all the DX for persevering with all the stateside QRM.
Unfortunately we had to QRT at 0330Z the second night due to other obligations. Still, it was great fun with our final log showing 686 Q's, 70 Secs and 29 DX mults. What a treat to listen on a very quiet switchable beverage rx ant oriented to Europe or the southwest and have a tx ant up over 100 ft with QRO!
It was a great learning experiece and really helped improve my operating skills working from a big signal station. I highly recommend it to others! Thanks again for all the Topband contacts.
73, Bill W1WBB
Station equipt: Yaesu FT 1000MP, C/T HF-2500 Amp, Tx ant Inv Vee w/ apex @ 110 ft, rx ant 2-wire 580' NE/SW beverage, N1MM logging software -- W1WBB
As an enthusiastic Topbander it was great to see all the activity each night.
This was my first time using "interfaced-radio" logging software on-air so I did much "search and pounce" until feeling confident enough to call CQ and "run" QSOs on Sunday. Many thanks to all the patient ops who hung in there when I experienced keyboard "fatfinger-itis" or logging software confusion, especially while running! I had prepared/studied ahead of time but there is no substitute for "the heat of battle".
Overall, conditions were good although propagation appeared poor to the far West with fewer 6/7-land stations than expected. Missed SF, SDG, PAC, KL7 and WY as well as VE4, VE5 and (of course!) ND and NT in the black hole of the northern plains/Canada. And where was KP4? On the other hand Europe was strong here both nights and we were able to put a number of them in the log. Thanks to all the DX for persevering with all the stateside QRM.
Unfortunately we had to QRT at 0330Z the second night due to other obligations. Still, it was great fun with our final log showing 686 Q's, 70 Secs and 29 DX mults. What a treat to listen on a very quiet switchable beverage rx ant oriented to Europe or the southwest and have a tx ant up over 100 ft with QRO!
It was a great learning experiece and really helped improve my operating skills working from a big signal station. I highly recommend it to others! Thanks again for all the Topband contacts.
73, Bill W1WBB
Station equipt: Yaesu FT 1000MP, C/T HF-2500 Amp, Tx ant Inv Vee w/ apex @ 110 ft, rx ant 2-wire 580' NE/SW beverage, N1MM logging software -- W1WBB
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