CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB
Call: NS4T
Operator(s): NS4T
Station: NS4T
Class: SOAB LP
QTH: South Carolina, USA
Operating Time (hrs): 30
Summary:
Band QSOs Zones Countries
-------------------------------
160: 0 0 0
80: 38 8 22
40: 69 15 41
20: 188 23 79
15: 230 24 88
10: 351 25 82
-------------------------------
Total: 876 95 312 = 982,091
Club/Team: none
Comments:
RIG: TS570
ANT: A4S AT 25ft
270' Horizontal loop at 35ft
40M Inverted-vee at 35ft
20M Inverted-vee at 35ft
80M Top loaded 33' vert
40M 1/4 Wave vert
20M 1/4 Wave vert
This contest I learned there are many very smart people writing
books and posting things about antennas and contesting. Thank
you to all of you who take the time to do so. I think I'm going to
go reread quite a few things now that I know just how smart they are!
For example: My common sense told me, and many have written, that a
1 or 2 db difference in gain isn't really enough to make any noticeable
difference at the other end of the propagation path. After trying for a
few minutes to break through several pileups I would switch antenna's.
Although I could just barely notice a slight increase on the signal
strength meter (and then only after watching the meter for a minute or two
could I say "It seems to bounce a bit higher now and then")I would often
break through the pile up on the first or second call on the new antenna.
Used a voice keyer with the same transmitter settings on each antenna ruled
out any difference there. And it happened time after time so I don't think
it's a coincidence. Since it really does seem to make a difference, now I've
a lot more work do do modeling Antenna's for the future farm!
I also found a big difference between using a Heil HC-4 and HC-5 element.
Even with the DSP transmit options available in the TS570 the HC-4 was better.
Guess I need to go back and rerecord all those wave files I made for the
digital voice keyer. Unfortunately I made them with the HC-5 element on
the boom mike and not the HC-4 in the headset.
Had a great time! Only major problem was illness. Some kind of bug kept
me from being on as much as I'd like. Came down with it 3 days before the
contest and still have it 4 days later. Sleep seemed much more important
than contesting every now and then. Sunday morning propagation made it
seem a good time to sleep anyway.
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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