ARRL 160-Meter Contest - 2020
Call: VE3BR
Operator(s): VE3BR
Station: VE3BR
Class: Single Op HP
QTH: FN03es
Operating Time (hrs): 5 min
Summary:
Total: QSOs = 3 Sections = 3 Countries = 0 Total Score = 18
Club: Contest Club Ontario
Comments:
Radio: Ten-Tec Orion + AL-80B @ ~700 W
Antenna: DX-Eng 80/40 Thunderbolt 55ft Dual Band Vertical
Software: N1MM Logger+ 1.0.8755.0
Be forewarned: the below is not an Iliad of Big Guns, it is not an Odyssey of
little pistols; it is an Aeneid of BB guns (a.k.a. "pea shooters"):
1. That must be my lowest contest score ever by far. I was debating submitting a
checklog, but decided to make it an exercise in humility and in leaving a more
visible reminder of what not to do in the future.
2. Lesson learned: do NOT be a Scrooge. My middle initial is "C" and I
usually tell everybody who listens (not that many) that it stands for a
"cheapskate". But this time I have definitely gone overboard.
3. I was repairing my trusty dual band vertical in the late August / early
September time-frame; needed to replace a couple of (wind?) damaged pieces of
tubing, but also noticed that the trap assembly between 40m and the upper
sections was literally on its "last legs" after 9 years up in the air.
Thought about replacing it at the same time; got a quote (a high one) from DX
Engineering; cheaped out and decided that it will last some more.
4. On Thursday evening I have tested my new set-up (including a newly acquired
and put in-line noise canceller) on 160 - everything worked perfectly. Made a
few really easy EU contacts with good receive and transmit (GW3YDX, EA7X,...)
5. On Friday evening I started late due to other commitments and ploughed
through my 3 first contacts despite unexpectedly not hearing well and not being
heard well, and the VSWR unusually high even for my non-resonant vertical. And
then: kaboom! After 3 QSOs there is no more resemblance of decent RX and nothing
goes out on transmit. I had to give up.
6. Saturday, in the daylight, I assessed the damage: running a scan with my
RigExpert A-54 at the base of the antenna told me my vertical was now a 40 m
only (very nice resonance on 40), but it just does not "see" its upper
part - nothing on 80 at all. You can imagine what this would mean for 160, where
it was already non-resonant at best of times, particularly with HP (~700 W).
Yes, the connector at the end of the feed-line going into the choke before the
antenna was simply burned out.
7. Bottom line: I have had an encounter (for those who still remember Seinfeld
TV series) with an "antenna Nazi": no antenna for me.
8. I am in the process of ordering a replacement trap assembly from DXE and
hoping it will arrive here soon enough with a few days with no snow and the
weather good enough to install it. Otherwise I am done for the winter, until the
weather improves.
9. Once more: Don't be a cheapskate, Do what needs to be done when it needs to
be done.
10. Final gospel: Plug and play, not plug and pray.
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/
______________________________________________
3830 mailing list
3830@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/3830
|