This year N1LN has been able to find enough operators to be able to host a M\/2 effort for the ARRL DX SSB contest. \u00c2\u00a0I am fortunate enough to be part of the SSB team this year, and I’m excited about the opportunity. \u00c2\u00a0This is a great DX contest, as the DX stations are seeking to work the US stations. \u00c2\u00a0If we are fortunate enough to have good operating conditions, it should be a blast. \u00c2\u00a0Good 15m or even a chance 10m opening would just make everything better. If the conditions are anything like this past weekends’ DX CW, we are going to have a great contest and a lot of fun operating.<\/p>\n
Looking at the 2009 results, it appears we have a real shot at creating ripples in the M\/2 pond. \u00c2\u00a0 For 2009 the top 10 in the W\/VE M\/2 class were:<\/p>\n
1\tWE3C\t6,019,992\t4,167\t484\tEPA<\/a>\r\n2\tN3RS\t4,507,461\t3,461\t441\tEPA\r\n<\/a>3\tW4RM\t3,431,106\t2,857\t406\tVA\r\n<\/a>4\tK8AZ\t2,759,328\t2,308\t402\tOH\r\n<\/a>5\tNR4M\t2,565,171\t2,170\t399\tVA\r\n<\/a>6\tKB1H\t2,518,431\t2,191\t391\tCT\r\n<\/a>7\tNE3F\t1,984,140\t1,861\t365\tEPA\r\n8\tK0TV\t1,793,412\t1,623\t372\tNH\r\n<\/a>9\tW5WMU\t1,654,044\t1,459\t388\tLA\r\n<\/a>10\tNK7U\t1,312,464\t1,491\t296\tOR<\/a><\/pre>\nOperating during the CQ WW SSB contest, we managed just over 3000 QSO’s.\u00c2\u00a0 In better conditions, it is likely we can do better than that.\u00c2\u00a0 But so will everyone else.<\/p>\n
After looking at the descriptions of some of the other stations[see links above], its a tough task to join this crowd. \u00c2\u00a0All of these stations have larger antenna farms than that at N1LN. Most of the top five have towers over 120′. \u00c2\u00a0WE3C has a high 80m rotate-able dipole, as well as 4-squares for 160\/80\/40. Most also have superior geographic situations working in their favor as well.\u00c2\u00a0 The promise of good conditions may also lure some stations back into the M\/2 category. The poor conditions of the past few years must certainly have caused some to drop back to a single transmitter.<\/p>\n
We can also hope that ‘other factors’ will NOT be equal. \u00c2\u00a0But the chances of bad weather are probably higher in this part of the US than in these more favorable locations. \u00c2\u00a0That is not a controllable factor. So it is probably best to think of things we might do to improve our performance. \u00c2\u00a0Maximize multipliers. \u00c2\u00a0Dig out the weak ones.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Be on the right band at the right time. Rate is king.\u00c2\u00a0 Butts in chairs.\u00c2\u00a0 A couple of cold 807’s to keep ‘YDU’s pipes going for the duration.<\/p>\n
Should all other factors be equal, if we are to cause ripples in this pond we will need to be better operators than the other guys.\u00c2\u00a0 I’d like to think we can at the very least keep them looking in their rear-view-mirrors.<\/p>\n
“No sweat!” [HA!]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This year N1LN has been able to find enough operators to be able to host a M\/2 effort for the ARRL DX SSB contest. \u00c2 I am fortunate enough to be part of the SSB team this year, and I’m excited about the opportunity. \u00c2 This is a great DX contest, as the DX stations are seeking to work the US stations. \u00c2 If we are fortunate enough to have good operating conditions, it should be a blast. \u00c2 Good 15m or even a chance 10m opening would just make everything better. If the conditions are anything like this past weekends’ DX CW, we are going to have a great contest and a lot of fun operating.<\/p>\n
Looking at the 2009 results, it appears we have a real shot at creating ripples in the M\/2 pond. \u00c2 For 2009 the top 10 in the W\/VE M\/2 class were:<\/p>\n
1 WE3C 6,019,992 4,167 484 EPA 2 N3RS 4,507,461 3,461 441 EPA 3 W4RM 3,431,106 2,857 406 VA 4 K8AZ 2,759,328 2,308 402 OH 5 NR4M 2,565,171 2,170 399 VA 6 KB1H 2,518,431 2,191 391 CT 7 NE3F 1,984,140 1,861 365 EPA 8 K0TV 1,793,412 1,623 372 NH 9 W5WMU 1,654,044 1,459 388 LA 10 NK7U 1,312,464 1,491 296 OR <\/p>\n
Operating during the CQ WW SSB contest, we managed just over 3000 QSO’s.\u00c2 In better conditions, it is likely we can do better than that.\u00c2 But so will everyone else.<\/p>\n
After looking at the descriptions of some of the other stations[see links […]<\/p>\n