Hello,

this was my first ARRL DX CW contest ever! Our contest location is usually occupied by Leo – S50R as was this days. So I had to put together all my courage, and try it from home. My home is in a narrow valley, bottom width in average 80m, extends from east to west. To north and south, there are reefs, about 300 meters higher then my place, with relative steep slope. Not very good location for Ham’s work, especially to USA direction. The only antenna I can have is vertical one. So I put up 9m vertical, the best for 40m, with some radials (not enough!) and MFJ 1,5kW antenna tuner. You can see my antenna on attached picture. Radio is FT-2000 with additional NS filters, power amplifier is RANGER 811Hk.

And so I woke up at half past midnight, made myself a cup of tea and went contesting. At the beginning, signals from USA were week, with a lot of feding, but workable. As time went on, signals become stronger and frequent. So I went from S&P to Run and rich more than 100 QSO’s per minute in a short period of time. There must be someone spoting me on the cluster HI! As day rose up, so my S-meter began to fallen down, and I stop working at 6 o’clock at local time. Time to wake up my wife, she had to go to work that morning.
All in all, I ejoyed this contest every minute, though conditions were not good. All Europe was under cover with bad weather, and consequently, there was a lot of all kind of noises on the band. I admire the skills of USA HAM’s, able to receive my week signal, and at the same time my apologize to all I couldn’t receive, because of whatever reason.

As it wouldn’t have much sense to tortured myself and others further on, as weather become worst, I decided that this was enough for the first time. Maybe next year our contest location will be free, or at least weather and other conditions will be better.

Best 73 de Janez, S51J