12/15/2009 | WA8KSS At the start of the contest conditions were very poor, signals were fading in and out. It was very difficult to be sure if it was good contact or not. Just as you got your report and sent your report the signal disappeared, so you couldnt log the contact because you didnt know if the station got the report or not. In last years contest I made 62 contacts and in the beginning thought I would never exceed that mark in the poor conditions. Then conditions improved and I actually could see the S meter show a reading. The highlight was working Gary ZM4G near the end of the contest, at first I thought, this cant be New Zealand because he had such a strong signal. Only other DX was 3 South American stations. I did do a little better than last year with 81 Qs. I want to thank all the stations I worked or tried to work me. 73, Ralph -- WA8KSS