CQWW WPX Contest, SSB - 2019
Call: K5FUV
Operator(s): K5FUV
Station: K5FUV
Class: SOAB LP
Class Overlay: TB-Wires
QTH: AR
Operating Time (hrs):
Summary:
Band QSOs
------------
160:
80:
40:
20:
15:
10:
------------
Total: 716 Prefixes = 390 Total Score = 625,560
Club:
Comments:
CQWPXSSB
CallSign Used : K5FUV
Operator(s) : K5FUV
Operator Category : SINGLE-OP
Assisted Category : NON-ASSISTED
Band : ALL
Power : LOW
Mode : SSB
Overlay Category : TB-WIRES
ARRL Section : AR
Band QSOs Pts WPX Pt/Q
3.5 122 270 61 2.2
7 125 341 62 2.7
14 412 829 246 2.0
21 57 164 21 2.9
Total 716 1604 390 2.2
Score : 625,560
Rig : FT-1000MP
Antennas : Hex, 40M vertical, 80M vertical
This was an interesting weekend. I'm thinking I might change my
philosphy about this contest in the future.
Since I moved the Hex beam unto a permanent, higher tower, I decided to start on
20m and call CQ for a while. I did start a nice little run going, but noticed
after about 30 minutes that I was working mostly stateside, so I stopped and
went to S&P (S&M?). That pretty much killed the rate, event though it
turned out to be the best rate of the weekend. On to 40,where there was some DX
for points, then to 80 with more DX, and off to bed early. Thunderstorms were on
the way, and the QRN levels were rising. I did notice, however, that my usual
line noise (S9+10) was gone, and 80 was as quite as I've heard it in some time.
I disconnected all antennas.
Awake at my usual 5am weekend time,(1000Z), I could hear the thunder. You don't
play with that stuff in this location. I once watched lightning split my 100
year old oak tree in half, and last year what was apparently lightning induced
voltage blew apart the coax connectors on the (fortunately disconnected)80m
vertical and took out the automatic antenna tuner on the 40m vertical. So I
rolled over to wait it out.Sometime around 8am, I decided the weather was past,
and started operations for the day. But 20 was the only band open, and just
marginally at that. So I spent the day waiting for conditions to improve, while
watching Formula 1 qualifying. Eventually things got better, and I generally
stayed with it until 0300Z. Never could really get anything going on 20, and
limited 40 and 80 to S&M (S&P?).
Here is where my philosphy change came about. After the contest, I read NG0C's
review in which he said he planned from the start to pass on 15 and 10, and
concentrate on working W's in large quantities. It obviously worked for him.
Somewhere during the middle stages on the contest I had an epiphany, which told
me I should probably not avoid working W's quite so much. As background, during
the mid 70's when I first started working this contest, W's counted zero points
and there wasn't a plethora of US prefixes, so you worked one of what you needed
and worked DX the rest of the time. In the present day, with points for
everything, you can work three W's to equal one DX, and probably get a lot of
mults too. So I started paying more attention to working W's, and called them if
they weren't in my log. I also called some CQs on 40 and especially 80,
especially since there didn't seem to be many JA's on 80 or 40 this year as
compared to last, and they didn't seem to hear me as well. So,at 1000Z on
Sunday, I actually called CQs on 80. Did I mention the line noise had by then
returned? Power comany noise trackers can't find it, there's so much out here. I
was looking for country quiet, but the QTH by the shopping center seemed to be
quieter.
This was actually the first time I've actually had more QSOs on the second day,
so I guess my attitude about this contest has changed.
Meanwhile, I look at the 100Ft of 45G on the ground and the pile of stacked
204BAs and the 40m beam, and wonder when I'm going to get around to putting this
stuff. I aint' getting any younger.
Thanks to all who dropped by and said hello during the contest.
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/
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