2008 ARRL 160 Meter Contest
12/08/2008 |
VE3CUI
Well, talk about feeling absolutely, 101%, STOOOOOPID...!
On the last day of the contest, at around 10:50AM, I told my XYL that I was going to take a break from decorating our Christmas tree, and excused myself to the shack to see how the daylight propagation was treating the band. Well, there were stations on the air, alright --- actually several. I refrained from working them, though, electing instead to update my manual dupe sheet so that my S&P'ing might be made error-free (yes, I still log in the prehistoric age!).
Well, I did this with the 'phones on, casually listening, when suddenly the band got quiet. I just figured the station I was monitoring simply got tired of CQ'ing. Anyway, I finished my paper updates, and started calling "CQ Test" myself --- and actually worked two stations. But then someone sent me "Test SK Test SK"...I replied with, "QRZ?", and the operator came back to say, "Test is over."(!!!).
Sure enough, I checked the rule sheet atop my p.s., and there it was: the contest had ENDED at 11:00 AM!!! I felt like a real dunce...
But then again, I was in some good company, because the two stations that I'd worked were logged several minutes past the closing hour! Hi Hi.
I don't know why, but for some reason I thought the event closed at 6:00 PM. Go figure.
Anyway, in the midst of the fray I managed to work a new one for my 160-meter DXCC total here, i.e. my #130...I couldn't be more pleased! Many thanks to all who participated in this, the 33rd anniversary of my own off-and-on participation...!
~73~ Eddy (VE3CUI) -- VE3CUI
On the last day of the contest, at around 10:50AM, I told my XYL that I was going to take a break from decorating our Christmas tree, and excused myself to the shack to see how the daylight propagation was treating the band. Well, there were stations on the air, alright --- actually several. I refrained from working them, though, electing instead to update my manual dupe sheet so that my S&P'ing might be made error-free (yes, I still log in the prehistoric age!).
Well, I did this with the 'phones on, casually listening, when suddenly the band got quiet. I just figured the station I was monitoring simply got tired of CQ'ing. Anyway, I finished my paper updates, and started calling "CQ Test" myself --- and actually worked two stations. But then someone sent me "Test SK Test SK"...I replied with, "QRZ?", and the operator came back to say, "Test is over."(!!!).
Sure enough, I checked the rule sheet atop my p.s., and there it was: the contest had ENDED at 11:00 AM!!! I felt like a real dunce...
But then again, I was in some good company, because the two stations that I'd worked were logged several minutes past the closing hour! Hi Hi.
I don't know why, but for some reason I thought the event closed at 6:00 PM. Go figure.
Anyway, in the midst of the fray I managed to work a new one for my 160-meter DXCC total here, i.e. my #130...I couldn't be more pleased! Many thanks to all who participated in this, the 33rd anniversary of my own off-and-on participation...!
~73~ Eddy (VE3CUI) -- VE3CUI
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