Stew Perry Topband Challenge - Dec 30
Call: K5PI
Operator(s): K5PI
Station: W5KFT
Class: Single Op LP
QTH: TX
Operating Time (hrs): 12:55
Summary:
Total: QSOs = 343 Total Score = 2,031
Club: Central Texas DX and Contest Club
Comments:
The best laid plans . . .
The center fed sloper at 150' at W5KFT has been working great. And it worked
fine on Thursday night as I made a few dozen digital Qs at about 500 watts. But
when I tuned up the amp to full power, the SWR shot way up. 100 watts, no
problem. Turns out the ISP has a loose cable at the top of the tower that
touched the top of the sloper. (Zip ties to secure cables - really?!)
So I ran 100W. It wasn't that bad, really. (Yeah, I know it was YOU that had
to suffer my puny signal!) I was able to work 99% of everyone I heard. Okay,
so not first call.
The noise level was very low here. The two beverages (NE and NW) and two VE3DO
loops (SE and SW) worked very well after a couple half days trudging in the
pasture. I used the AY Technolgies RAS-8 8X2 RX antenna switch that had
belonged to K5NA (RIP, Richard). He'd forgotten more about Top Band than I ever
knew.
Propagation seemed just okay. Very few big signals, no EU heard. Worked two
JAs, one KH6, one KL7, a handful of Caribbeans.
Participation seemed down. I'll do more nagging next time - hope you will too.
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/
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