ARRL SS CW-2010

That was interesting.

Operating conditions this year seemed very good – at least in comparison to the last few years.  The noise levels on 80m and 40m seemed low, very comfortable.  15m and 10m remained mostly useless.  Nothing heard on 10m, and the west coast stations heard on 15m  were having a tough time copying the 100w signal from the KazShack.  15m did produce several section mults, so it was well worth the S&P sweeps in between trying to establish runs.  Also dropped back to plain old low power, no packet.

It seemed that my copy at higher speeds was a bit better, but that could just be self delusion.  The log checking report will again be the arbiter of success.  The goal was to cut the error rate in half.  When it becomes available the LCR will tell the sordid tale.

The game plan was to operate low power with no packet spots, and get some more time playing “S&P2R”.  The idea of using packet and connecting to some of the skimmers had some appeal, but in the end decided to enjoy the manual S&P.

80m was the place to be. I had better luck attracting callers there. I missed the first three hours. (LSU 24-Bama 21!!) When I got on the air at 0100z I soon set up camp in the upper portion of the 80m CW band and ran. And ran. And ran. The rate was steady from 0116 through 0600z. Not Bigg-Gunn level rates, but a smooth and steady flow that averaged out to about 43/hr, for almost six hours straight, the longest I’ve ever held a run on a single frequency.  Chased off all of the frequency poachers who thought they could slide up into my passband. Had to really nurse the single 807 I brought with me  down into the shack, but I didn’t want to get up for a second one.  [Time for a dorm fridge in the shack?]

Sunday morning was decent too. Rates soon fell off, and 40m/20m/15m proved disappointing. S&P was OK, but not able to set up any sustained runs after a short Sunday morning run on 40m.  Spent most of the daytime hours search and pounce, with the occasional attempt at starting a run.  None of the Sunday afternoon runs produced, so search and pounce was more productive. Actually, “less unproductive” probably is a better characterization. Just before sunset, I moved down to 80m, started calling CQ, and was immediately rewarded with a decent run that lasted just over an hour.  Ended early with a bit of light S&P.

Despite not reaching some of the goals, it was a very enjoyable contest.  Sweeps has become one of my favorites.

The Good:

• Easier copy.
• Murphy was too busy “helping” other operators to pay a visit.  Everything worked.
• Worked KA3DRR, who had a nice run going, and AE5X called into one of my runs.  Contest on!

The Bad:

• Another operating goal was to really push the QSO totals up.  Failed miserably at that goal.

The Ugly:

• 20m – No successful runs

Claimed Results:

Call: W4KAZ
Class: Single Op LP
QTH: nc
Operating Time (hrs): 19
Radios: SO2R

Summary:
  Band  QSOs
------------
   160:    0
    80:  325
    40:  131
    20:   96
    15:   24
    10:    0
------------
Total:  576  Sections = 78  Total Score = 89,856

QSO/Sec by hour and band

 Hour      80      40      20      15     Total     Cumm    OffTime
D1-2100Z    -      2/2     4/4     1/1     7/7       7/7      27
D1-2200Z    -       -       -       -      0/0       7/7      60
D1-2300Z    -      2/2     5/5      -      7/7      14/14     26
D2-0000Z  19/13    4/3    --+--   --+--   23/16     37/30  
D2-0100Z  40/11    1/0      -       -     41/11     78/41  
D2-0200Z  51/4      -       -       -     51/4     129/45  
D2-0300Z  40/3      -       -       -     40/3     169/48  
D2-0400Z  44/7      -       -       -     44/7     213/55  
D2-0500Z  46/1      -       -       -     46/1     259/56  
D2-0600Z   1/1      -       -       -      1/1     260/57     59
D2-0700Z    -       -       -       -      0/0     260/57     60
D2-0800Z  --+--   --+--   --+--   --+--    0/0     260/57     60
D2-0900Z    -       -       -       -      0/0     260/57     60
D2-1000Z    -       -       -       -      0/0     260/57     60
D2-1100Z  24/1      -       -       -     24/1     284/58     26
D2-1200Z  12/2    34/3      -       -     46/5     330/63  
D2-1300Z  15/1    16/0      -       -     31/1     361/64  
D2-1400Z    -     22/2     2/0      -     24/2     385/66  
D2-1500Z    -      5/0    19/6      -     24/6     409/72  
D2-1600Z  --+--   --+--    4/0     9/2    13/2     422/74     31
D2-1700Z    -       -       -      5/1     5/1     427/75     40
D2-1800Z    -       -     10/0     5/1    15/1     442/76  
D2-1900Z    -       -     12/1     4/0    16/1     458/77  
D2-2000Z    -     14/0    11/0      -     25/0     483/77  
D2-2100Z    -     16/0     9/0      -     25/0     508/77  
D2-2200Z    -       -     20/1      -     20/1     528/78  
D2-2300Z   1/0    13/0      -       -     14/0     542/78     33
D3-0000Z  29/0    --+--   --+--   --+--   29/0     571/78  
D3-0100Z   3/0     2/0      -       -      5/0     576/78  

Total:   325/44  131/12   96/17   24/5