First full-time SS effort in a number of years. Oddly, this is also my first full-time CW bravo entry. Nothing like jumping head first into the deep end of the pool to see what happens.
As it turned out, the water was warm at the beginning, and got down right chilly in the end. Had fun using Contest Online Scoreboard. Was neck and neck with AA3B and K5ZD. Unfortunately, when the final bell rang, I was one multiplier short of a sweep. Costly. Missed VI. I heard NP3X moving up 20m working guys S&P, but could never get his attention. Read he was QRP, which explains the weaker signal.
Many missed the VI mult, including fellow WWDXC member N7WA who also was using the online score board. Misery loves company. Some guys mentioned getting a call from NP3X om 15m, but we simply didn’t have propagation to that part of the world. My question is: Was NP3X/QRP the only VI on the air?
Almost missed VY1AAA. Heard him warming up before the test when he was 599+20. When I finally found him at the bottom of 20m late Sunday afternoon, he was piss weak with flutter. He was sending at about 36 wpm, which was very difficult to copy with a weak, fluttery signal. He was kind enough to QRS so I could get the exchange. Thank you!
There were a few stations I had to abandon after getting an initial call. If that was you, and you’re reading this, I sincerely apologize. After a few tries the signal never came up to a readable level. I don’t like to give up on anyone, but we could have spent a ridiculous amount of time piecing together the long exchange with others waiting in the wings. Hopefully, we worked later on.
Some very interesting CW tones out there. If CW could be sent with a heavy accent, I think these would qualify. At times it felt like a test to see if I could decrypt the exchange. Love it. One guy was sending what sounded like a series of meaningless dots and dashes. It was so choppy that after a few tries I had to just give up. Really sorry about that.
My goal was to make the top ten. Looks like it’ll have to be the top 15 instead. Bravo category is always very competitive, so in the end, I’m happy with the final result. Plus, there’s always next year 🙂
Always appreciate the Qs!
73, Mitch, K7RL
Call: K7RL
Operator(s): K7RL
Station: K7RL
Class: Single Op HP
QTH: WWA
Operating Time (hrs): 24
Radios: SO2R
| Summary: Compare Scores | |||||
| Band | QSOs | ||||
| 160: | 0 | ||||
| 80: | 119 | ||||
| 40: | 511 | ||||
| 20: | 474 | ||||
| 15: | 86 | ||||
| 10: | 0 | ||||
| Total: | 1190 | Sections | 82 | Total Score | 195,160 |
Club: Western Washington DX Club
