CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW
Call: P40W
Operator(s): W2GD
Station: P40W
Class: SOAB HP
QTH: Aruba
Operating Time (hrs): 45
Summary:
Band QSOs Zones Countries
------------------------------
160: 412 18 62
80: 1102 25 83
40: 1350 32 96
20: 1422 32 96
15: 1418 31 95
10: 923 20 68
------------------------------
Total: 6627 158 500 Total Score = 12,900,090
Club: Frankford Radio Club
Comments:
Location: Santa Cruz - just about in the geographical center of Aruba, 200M
from P43A, 400M from P43W, 1.2 Km from P49Y/P40L, 6 Km from
P49V/P40YL/P40C/P40P
Station: IC756ProII, ACOM 2000A, Win-Test 3.24
Antennas: Two 60 25G towers:
160 Vertical Dipole (55' vert),
160/80 Inverted V @ 55 feet,
Cushcraft 40M rotatable dipole @ 68',
2 ele 40 to NW (director element mounted in front of and below rotatable
dipole),
4 ele. 40M wire beam NE (EU) @ 50 feet,
3 ele 80M wire beam NE (EU) @ 50 feet,
Force 12 C4 @ 60',
Force 12 C31XR @ 60'
Beverages: 800' NE, 500' NW, N/S, E/W
A Short Story:
Was that ever fun! Great quite low band conditions (quiet is relative of
course - under S-7 on 160 is a blessing), and some real spotlight EU prop on
10M for the first time in years. 80M was terrific, first time over 1000 qsos.
This was my 20th or 21st CQWW CW operation from Aruba since 1986. I don't yet
have the experience of "father time" N6TJ, but I'm trying to catch up (nice job
from 9Y4W Jim, but that old N7NG 20M S.A. record has proven very hard to
crack).
The CQWW is really the biggest and the best, one of just a handful of contests
that gets me excited these days. Love this event because it places such a
premium on all of the contesting elements: operating skill and strategy,
planning, station design and construction, propagation knowledge, and even
physical endurance. Its exceptionally difficult for someone to win this one on
their first try...there is no substitute for experience to understand the
nuances of the CQWW, although the recent open log policy provides newbies (and
oldies) plenty of data to ponder and formulate strategies. To many of us, this
remains the "big one", the granddaddy of all internationl events, the unoffical
'world championship' if you will. No other event approaches it's level of
participation and competition. Victories have to be earned. There is little
or no margin for error. For serious operators, this is the place to compete.
Work commitments allowed me to be on Aruba for both CQWW PH and CW this year.
Before WW PH spent three days of very hard labor hacking away clearing paths
through the thorny vegetation to install/repair antennas, particularly
beverages. Have never seen Aruba so green. Its been raining nearly daily for
seven weeks, the wetest fall ever recorded, and the explosion of the cactus
like bushes/trees is exceptional. Between PH and CW, some of the paths once
again disappeared!
Unfortunately my CQWW PH effort was interrupted by a nasty stomach virus which
prevented operation the second night....sigh. So I was anxious to return for
CW. The beverage work really made SSB bearable.
With most of the serious prep work completed back in October, I had the luxury
of time to do some long delayed maintenance work (like 4 yrs) on the rotor
which turns the C4 on tower #2. Finding oddball resistance readings on the
control cable, went up the tower to investigate. Found a hole in the bottom of
the rotator....the control cable dangling....corrosion on Aruba is neverending.
Ended up replacing the rotor and adding an extra run of #14 wire to make the
brake release.
Another change was adding a director element in front and below the 40M
rotatable dipole to create the equivalent of a 2 ele beam to USA/AS. By all
indictations this worked great. Produced 15 to 18 db of front/side compared to
the dipole alone.
On Aruba, WW weeks are social events.....and this year was no exception.
During PH week it was the P49Y team (AE6Y, K0DQ, N4OC, P43A), the guys from WTX
(W5AJ, KE5OG). For CW, there was the P40L team (W6LD, KX7M, N7MH and W0YK) and
the P40C clan (KU1CW, KU1YL + daughter). We all got together for several
meals, and immediately after each contest for dinner and swapping of contest
stories. Contesting is really about people, and friendships.....adds so much
to the experience.
Won't go into great detail about the contest this time. Tried to start on 20M
again, but no EU or NA prop to speak of. S/Pd a few SA neighbors and headed to
40M. Had mini VU run in the first 30 mins on 40M. Later spent too much time
the first night trying to make 160M work in lieu of 40 and 80(as it turned out
160 was better 2nd night when I concentrated on 80 - that cost me some 160
mults). Virtually ignored 20M the first morning to do 15, probably the right
choice, but left me wondering all day if I'd make up the missing mults and Qs
(I did eventually-almost). Kept checking 10M, missed a brief EU opening very
early Sat. morning, but caught the Sunday EU run, signals were not loud but
workable...which helped the 10M mult total nicely. Missed so many easy mults,
never heard the Voodoo 9L guys all weekend on any band (and I spent more time
than normal tuning), and easy ones like FY, 8P, V4, TO5, TO3, VP9, HK, etc. on
many bands. Aggressively moved as many as I could (TNX guys)...with about 85%
success. But congratuations to Yuri VE3DZ @ PZ5T for doing it just that much
better this time. I miss those days of being the only active station on
Aruba.....there is a price for popularity. Ended the contest by working the
J28 on 40M with 15 seconds to go.....WOW, a real rush. Overall, felt pleased
with the results, nothing broke, stayed in the chair for 48 hours (slept
literally with my head on the desk), and the mult total was where I had hoped.
The score is my best effort in a decade.
I want to make a comment about signing calls. My preferred technique is to
sign after each contact. HOWEVER, when the pileup is 10 deep, a simple TU for
three or four contacts is more efficient before signing my call again. If you
can't wait one minute, shame on you! Intentionally QRMing with CALL? is
terribly disruptive for everyone and poor sportsmanship. Please....don't.
Two other observations. The use of the two letter calling technique was
substancially diminished this year.....a most welcome change, thank you! Savvy
ops seem more and more to know to call slightly off frequency...higher or lower,
to break the pileup. Very smart!
As always thanks to my hosts for tolerating the blanketing their property with
wires and cables for a month, P43P for amplifier support, and to all the
operators worldwide who provided the contacts and the enjoyment.
Hope to be back at P40W for WPX CW in 2010.
73,
John W2GD/P40W
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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