Stew Perry Topband Challenge
Call: N2IC
Operator(s): N2IC
Station: N2IC
Class: Single Op HP
QTH: New Mexico
Operating Time (hrs): 9
Summary:
Total: QSOs = 400 Total Score = 1,815
Club:
Comments:
I had the usual holiday social obligations that took me out of it for prime time
- 01Z-0430Z. After that, I had no guilty pangs about sleeping from 0830Z-12Z.
Really strange EU from here - Easily worked F5IN, F6IRA and ON4UN around 0430Z,
but every time I did a S&P sweep after that, they were virtually the only EU
stations I heard CQing, and they were like beacons until after their sunrise.
Only deeper EU heard was OK1RI - he came out of nowhere CQing on my CQ frequency
at his sunrise, was easily worked, then completely faded away - all in about 30
seconds. SM5EDX was an easy QSO during the only time I heard him, at his
sunrise. Heard a few other western EU stations doing S&P, but never CQing, and
they didn't answer my CQ's. Pacific condx were very poor - only 3 JA's, all big
guns. Only other Pacific QSO's were HL3IUA and VK6DXI (thanks for your patience
!).
One other interesting propagation note. Since I was going to miss "prime time",
I started very early, 2200Z, about 2 hours before sunset. Beginning around
2215Z, the east coast stations were quite strong and easily workable, while the
much closer mid-west stations remained weak and unworkable. Almost like a sunset
enhancement on the east coast - very strange with almost 2 hours of daylight
between here and there.
Why are some people not working dupes ? There are so many opportunites for a
QSO to get hosed in the Stew. If they tell me I'm a dupe and won't work me, it
just means they are going to get a NIL, since it's not in my log !
With 10 more radials added last week, I think my 160 antenna is finally starting
to work. My EU answer success rate was 80%, instead of the usual 20%.
Worked many, many stations that weren't in my callsign database from last year's
log. Clearly, interest in the Stew Perry is growing ! Excellent !
My grid square, DM52, should win the plaque for the most activity for its
population. At least 4 stations were active (N2IC, N5IA, NA5NM, W5GZ) with a
total population of less than 100,000 people in the grid square.
73,
Steve, N2IC
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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