12/09/2008 | K4EME/AD4TJ K4EME/KR4V/AD4TJ: We operated this year, as last year, in the Multi-op, Multi-Band( 50-1296 ), Mixed Mode, Neighborhood rule category.

AD4TJ and the 2 meter report: After improving my receive capability by putting the preamp close to the power divider( where it belongs in the first place! ), I was able to work 36% more stations than last year ( 76 versus 56 ). Still a lot of time was spent calling CQ with no takers to be found. Tuning the digital portion of the band revealed few signals a good deal of the time. Smaller stations must still be making internet skeds and not waiting around to listen for the multi-op/multi-band stations, that aren't allowed by the rules to use the internet, that may attempt a QSO with them. They would simply disappear. Was very pleased to work new DXCC: ZS6WB, LZ1DP, LA8YB, SP7DCS, and VE2JWH. Did not hear any VK's, and only worked 1 JA( JR3REX ), though others were heard but couldn't get their attention. It almost doesn't pay to stick around after the EU moonset unless you have very good ears and/or a dual-polarity antenna system( an improvement planned for next year ); noticed DPOL was near 90 degrees many times. CW stations were few and far between; I did manage to work 6 stations in spite of that( IK3MAC wa S6 at times! ). Cw get-aways were: F1FLA, IK1FJI, and F0CXO.
Worked 54 non-NA sations and 22 NA; 31 on my CQ, 45 S+P.
23 DXCC, 18 States/VE, 41 multipliers.
K4EME and KR4V and the 432 report: Activity seemed to be down from last year. Still new to JT65, so probably missed some easy ones. CW CQs went unanswered many times, even though I put together a 4x22 K1FO array, vertically polarized, for receive for EU Q's. Listening to noise for hours searching for signals gets very tiring! A new preamp with a nf of .2dB for the 2nd weekend helped out some.
Worked 23 stations and 18 multipliers( 5 JT Q's ).
10 DXCC, 7 States/VE

Totals: 2 meters: 76 Q's, 41 M's
432: 23 Q's, 18 M's
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99 times 59 times 100 = 584,100 claimed points

2 meter equip: Icom 706MKIIG, Lunar Link amp, 24dB/.5nf preamp, 4x15 K1FO's horizontal, 700-800 watts JT/1.2KW CW.

432: Yaesu FT-847, Lunar Link amp, .2 dB preamp for 2nd leg, 8x33 TX/RX, 4x22V RX, 600 watts JT/KW CW -- AD4TJ