ARRL 160-Meter Contest - 2023
Call: K3ZM
Operator(s): K3ZM
Station: K3ZM
Class: Single Op HP
QTH: VA
Operating Time (hrs): 30
Summary:
Total: QSOs = 1121 Sections = 78 Countries = 31 Total Score = 272,173
Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club
Comments:
Last weekend offered lots of excitement, with the thrilling race in CQ CW
between the multi operations at K1LZ and KC1XX that ended in a temporary tie.
We wondered what this weekend would bring. Perhaps a shootout among K1LZ,
VE3EJ, K1DG, AA1K and K3ZM? Will K1ZM enter the fray with his own loud signal
from Cape Cod? Some of those above might still be recovering from their efforts
several days ago. One thing was almost certain. The crew at W2GD would be up
and running, and tuning up for their big annual effort in CQ 160 next month.
K3ZM and W2GD always have fun comparing notes and trying to outscore one
another. Let the games begin, John!
As it turned out, this running of ARRL 160 reminded me of what Mr. T said in
Rocky III when the TV commentator asked him, “What’s your prediction for the
fight, Champ?” “Pain!” he replied.
It was not especially noisy over the weekend, but propagation seemed to be the
worst ever. I did manage to work seven EUs during the first 20 minutes of the
contest but that was about it for my sunset run. At about 0400Z, they woke up
in EU and I was able to work some here and there. But it was often a struggle
to copy their callsigns. At times, it seemed like working meteor scatter.
Nonetheless, I managed to log 13 EUs in a row at about 0650Z. By Saturday
morning, I had only worked 61 EUs.
Conditions seemed terrible toward the West Coast Friday night. Usually, when
there is a problem working EU and especially Northern EU, the propagation going
west offers a consolation. But not this time. At bedtime Saturday morning, I
was missing NM, WTX, five sections in California, NV, WY and SD. I only had 70
sections at that point. Usually, it’s more like close to 80. I never did
work KL7. But I logged three KH6 stations Friday night. Mahalo! After the
first night my score was only 180,384 with 833 QSOs and 26 countries. My lowest
midpoint ever, I think.
Activity appeared down, as evidenced by the fact that signals on the band were
not as crowded together as they sometimes are. For much of the contest, I had
my filter set at 400hz instead of 250hz.
I worked even fewer EUs on Saturday night. Only eight more, for a total of 69
in the whole event. Dismal.
I never worked PY or LU. No VK or JA for me. In the end, I missed WTX, SB,
SJV, WY and VE5. Many thanks to John, VY2WW for supplying PEI to many of us now
that VY2ZM is gone.
Speaking of that, I’m grateful to big brother K1ZM for checking in several
times during the painful conditions, often in the middle of the night, to keep
my spirits up. On one of those occasions, I said “Please shoot me.”
It was nice to get calls from 40 meter long path buddies VA2AM and WA2VUY. Also
from fellow Goat Farm friends NR4M, K7SV, N3ZV and others. Somehow, K5ZD and
K1AR always go out of their way as true contesters to chip in a contact to a
serious contender.
If it’s possible to feel sorry for K1DG (just kidding, Doug), I wondered more
than once over the weekend what it must be like up in the middle of an aurora on
Topband after making a long drive and riding a boat just to get his station.
Ouch.
I had a brief power outage Friday evening. Once I got things turned on again,
WinTest would not key the XCVR so I was sending manually, the old fashioned way
until I got the XYL to take control of my shack computer from two hours away and
fix the problem. I am not making this up. As Maverick said, “I don’t sail
boats, Penny. I land on them!”
Many thanks for all the QSOs, and Merry Christmas to all.
73,
Peter K3ZM
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