CQWW WPX Contest, SSB
Call: VC6R
Operator(s): VE4GV VE6RST VE6SV
Station: VE6SV
Class: M/S HP
QTH:
Operating Time (hrs): 40
Summary:
Band QSOs
------------
160: 23
80: 213
40: 587
20: 1711
15: 931
10: 0
------------
Total: 3465 Prefixes = 1152 Total Score = 11,321,856
Club:
Comments:
This was the 18th running of the WPX SSB contest for VE6SV and team from the
current QTH. Over the years we have used VC6R, VC66S, VC6T and VC6K with a
focus on the CQWW events
This year we had a real slow start to get into the operating rhyme that cost us
probably about 200 Qs in the first 2 hours of the contest. As of this morning, I
still do not fully understand why this happened.
This year’s team of VE4GV, VE6RST and VE6SV tried to keep operating for the
full 48 hours. But it was the local propagation that did not deliver. The early
morning hours from 0900Z to sunrise (local being 1300Z) rates dropped to less
than 20 a hour, if that.
From sunrise to about 10:00AM local (1400Z) all we could work were only the big
gun stations. We could not establish running stations until after that 10:00AM
local mark. In fact, this seems to be the normal from here year after year, but
this year it was worse than in previous years.
The 40M band continues not to produce for us regardless of how much hardware I
get in the air at this station. Once the grayline is done to the various parts
of the world from here we are done. Multi chasing and any type of running rate
is exhausted once we work down the larger stations. Our QTH does not a loud us
to reach into the 3rd and 4th tier of stations. As it takes 2 to 3 prop hops to
get out of country from here via the aurora zone to the target QSO wells.
Of course 10M was a no show here or we just did pay enough attention to catch
an opening. The 15M band did treat us to a 3 hour JA and Southeast Asia window
of operating late Saturday afternoon into early evening, Rob VE4GV had a ball
running the opening.
The 20M band was absolutely packed here and keeping a clear run frequency to
enable us to work the many S4 and less strength signals was tough this hear. As
we continue to slide down the sunspot cycle signal strengths fall by 50% to 60%
at our QTH. Mix in some active aurora and we struggle for any type of rate.
But, this year we had a good opening over the pole on 20M from midnight to
about 2:00AM local. Years ago we experienced many of these types of openings
but this year it was better. It was nice to work many Eastern European
prefixes.
Max VE6RST was the low band specialist this year (actually every year) and kept
us on track to catch the short grayline openings to the various parts of the
world. I mean short, from here grayline is no more than 30 minutes in
duration.
What we didn’t get going this year was the second station to truly max the 10
band changes that M/S allows. Not sure why. Sure miss operating M/S with the old
10 minute rule. Maybe is just a head space problem that needs re-wiring.
Including operating SO2R in our main operating position as it is fully equipped
to do so. Why we did not use is another mystery.
Thank you for all the Qs from VC6R
73, VE4GV, VE6RST and VE6SV
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/
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