2009 ARRL 10 Meter Contest
12/19/2009 |
KC2TA
Well, looking back on the comments made subsequent to last year's contest which I ended with "...and hopefully better conditions as the cycle improves", my hopes weren't quite fulfilled. As a matter of fact, they seemed somewhat similar if not slightly worse.
No "Q Tunnels" this year, only a few FL stations heard, but again, the only W7 I heard was on the east coast ("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." This too from last year's post!)
As has been the situation with nearly all the contest operations I plan, there is something to do with soccer happening, namely matches to referee. I did six futsal matches and by the time I got home on Sunday, there were only about four hours remaining. Those couple of hours I did manage to operate allowed a few DX contacts, but most of what I heard had already been put in the log. Did hear a W6 -- in California to boot -- but couldn't make contact.
Openings that did happen were at times EXTREMELY brief. A station would be S9 +40 for all of two letters of the call then gone! Worked more stations off the side and back of the beam than the front for a good part of Saturday. Thank goodness for the years working 2 and 70cm -- pulling stations out of the noise was required on more than a couple (dozen) ocassions. Strongest station heard the entire weekend was an EA8 that was booming into Central New Jersey Sunday evening.
Contest should have been scheduled for THIS weekend (12/19 & 12/20). It's snowing outside and I don't have to go out for anything.
Hoping for better conditions in 2010, I remain optimistic and upbeat. -- KC2TA
No "Q Tunnels" this year, only a few FL stations heard, but again, the only W7 I heard was on the east coast ("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." This too from last year's post!)
As has been the situation with nearly all the contest operations I plan, there is something to do with soccer happening, namely matches to referee. I did six futsal matches and by the time I got home on Sunday, there were only about four hours remaining. Those couple of hours I did manage to operate allowed a few DX contacts, but most of what I heard had already been put in the log. Did hear a W6 -- in California to boot -- but couldn't make contact.
Openings that did happen were at times EXTREMELY brief. A station would be S9 +40 for all of two letters of the call then gone! Worked more stations off the side and back of the beam than the front for a good part of Saturday. Thank goodness for the years working 2 and 70cm -- pulling stations out of the noise was required on more than a couple (dozen) ocassions. Strongest station heard the entire weekend was an EA8 that was booming into Central New Jersey Sunday evening.
Contest should have been scheduled for THIS weekend (12/19 & 12/20). It's snowing outside and I don't have to go out for anything.
Hoping for better conditions in 2010, I remain optimistic and upbeat. -- KC2TA
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