2008 ARRL 10 Meter Contest
12/17/2008 |
KC2TA
Being in the throws of a busy period at the office, I arrived home late Friday evening and began reviewing the scheduled weekend activities. Luckily enough, I didn't have to work, but did have a recertification class to renew my soccer referee license for the next year. This required a fairly early wake-up on Saturday morning, so my thoughts were simple -- eat a late, light dinner, get to bed and awaken refreshed for the class.
Prior to getting comfortable I checked the e-mail which had been neglected, and with one of the ARRL deliveries came the realization that the 10 Meter Contest was taking place NOW!!! Shutting down the computer in the office I sprinted for the basement shack and begin the setup for the event with hopes of getting a few Q's operating for an hour or so and then getting into the horizontal position. Saturday was already pretty much filled with activities and running around that we really couldn't be put off, right?
The only thing that REALLY couldn't change was the recertification class and one or two important errands. Those completed, I got back into the fray and was happy with the activity on the band.
My only problem - as was the case with a number of others - was a seeming Q tunnel to Florida! No matter in which direction the yagi was pointed, I could rest assured that 599 FL would be the exchange. (Note: I still think the FCC allowing the keeping one's call no matter where you are located or how it screws up contesting and state hunting, etc., i.e., a W6 in FL, a K9 in AZ - was and is a stupid decision on their part.)
Worked down into PY, CX, LU, OA, and a few of the Caribbean Islands, but heard nothing from Europe, Africa, or the Pacific. Additionally, where were the W7's? I worked one over the period, and worked only a handful of W6's. Attempts at New England were rewarded with a couple of Q's with CT, but nothing else. Didn't hear a NY station. Maybe what I was looking for was on the SSB portion of the band!
All in all, I still hold this as one of my favorite reasons for hiding in the shack for extended periods and look forward to next year - and hopefully better conditions as the cycle improves. -- KC2TA
Prior to getting comfortable I checked the e-mail which had been neglected, and with one of the ARRL deliveries came the realization that the 10 Meter Contest was taking place NOW!!! Shutting down the computer in the office I sprinted for the basement shack and begin the setup for the event with hopes of getting a few Q's operating for an hour or so and then getting into the horizontal position. Saturday was already pretty much filled with activities and running around that we really couldn't be put off, right?
The only thing that REALLY couldn't change was the recertification class and one or two important errands. Those completed, I got back into the fray and was happy with the activity on the band.
My only problem - as was the case with a number of others - was a seeming Q tunnel to Florida! No matter in which direction the yagi was pointed, I could rest assured that 599 FL would be the exchange. (Note: I still think the FCC allowing the keeping one's call no matter where you are located or how it screws up contesting and state hunting, etc., i.e., a W6 in FL, a K9 in AZ - was and is a stupid decision on their part.)
Worked down into PY, CX, LU, OA, and a few of the Caribbean Islands, but heard nothing from Europe, Africa, or the Pacific. Additionally, where were the W7's? I worked one over the period, and worked only a handful of W6's. Attempts at New England were rewarded with a couple of Q's with CT, but nothing else. Didn't hear a NY station. Maybe what I was looking for was on the SSB portion of the band!
All in all, I still hold this as one of my favorite reasons for hiding in the shack for extended periods and look forward to next year - and hopefully better conditions as the cycle improves. -- KC2TA
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