CQ 160 CW SUMMARY SHEET Contest Dates : Jan 23-28, 1998
Callsign Used : K4RO Operator : K4RO
Category : Single Op High Power Default Exchange : 5NN TN
Team/Club : Tennessee Contest Group
BAND Raw QSOs Valid QSOs Points Mults Countries
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160CW 965 906 2122 56 21
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Totals 965 906 2122 56 21
Final Score = 163,394 points.
Equipment
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IC-765/761 ; AL-811 @ 500 W output ; "Sloping" 1/4 wave vertical
with single elevated radial at 8' ; 800' bent RX antenna @ ~10'.
Soapbox Comments
________________
The CQ160 is the first contest I ever entered, in 1994. Fortunately
for me, N4ZZ was not operating this contest in 1994 & 1995, so the
TN Certificate was available. I missed the contest last year, and
wanted to try for a certificate this year. (Still trying for at
least one certificate with K4RO on it...) I figured maybe Don was
going to sit this one out, after two full NAQP efforts, and I might
have a chance at it. Well, about 1-2 hours before the contest, the
phone rings, and it's N4ZZ. He's getting ready to operate the contest,
and has a few questions. At first I was crushed. Outgunned by ~6dB,
plus his operating skill, I figured the certificate was surely lost.
I had two choices - give up, or give it all I had. I decided to try
the latter. Decided to shoot for his 1000 QSO score from 1996, or
as close as I could get. Don't know if I beat Don or not, but hopefully
I gave him a run for his money. It sounds like we were pretty close.
My multiplier count was pitiful. I spent much time aggressively
CQing, and perhaps not enough time S&Ping. Mults count too much in
this contest to miss, and they don't all answer CQs. I worked very
few 10 point QSOs. From this part of the country, it seems much like
a single band SS. A low multiplier total and few 10 point QSOs may wind
up costing me the certificate. I could work a few EU the second night,
but condx were not like in 1996. The JAs were very loud Sunday AM.
Through much of the contest, QRM was quite fierce everywhere. There
were CQers wall-to-wall lined up to 1900 and above at times.
There were times on Sunday when it felt like there was simply no
one left to work. Both CQing and S&P would yield nothing but dupes.
In other words, it got *really slow* at times. I guesss this is a
different contest with decent top band antennas and a full KW.
Among the strange - some beacon sending "4XS" seemed to be following me
around, QRMing my CQ frequency. Was also called by "RG8U" and "RG8X"
(No, I did not log them...) An interesting contest, even if somewhat
slow at times.
Thanks for the QSOs.
-Kirk K4RO Tennessee Contest Group please note
http://www.k4ro.net/tcg.html <-- new adress
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