Operator(s): ZL2BSJ
Class: M/S HP
Operating Time (hrs): 4

Summary:
Total: QSOs = 15 Sections = 14 Countries = 1 Total Score = 420

Comments:

No Eu heard at local sunset on the first night. It was fairly obvious that the band was noisy in NA...I tuned around calling people - mostly without success - and then spotting them, just to have something to do. I could often hear W working W (both ends of the QSO) and copy both exchanges first time, but, occasionally, it didn't seem that easy for the participants themselves.

It was fun calling WD5R and K9DX, both ops didn't CQ straight back at me and I had hopeful visions of antenna-matrices being switched around...sure enough...some more persistent calling...and the QSO was suddenly in the can with surprising ease. Well done, both.

The plan was to stay up for East Coast sunrise, but I couldn't keep it awake after a pleasant day in the sun rebuilding storm-ravaged 20 m yagis with Brian ZL1AZE and Bob ZL2CA. I kept nodding off at the key, and at 22:45 went QRT.

Got up at Sunday 5 AM loc. to look for Eu and JA at local sunrise, but NIL
heard. Didn't make it back to the station the second (and last) night.

The only DX heard outside NA: PJ2T. 'Best ears' award: K5BG in NTX, worked 30 minutes before local S/S on the first night...one call, no repeats. FB.

Wkd: AR CO CT GA IL LA MO NTX OK PAC SD SNJ STX SV

Gear used: FT1000MP + amplifier
Antennas: Full-size dipole sloping off a 40 m tower (pointing at NA) and a 20 m tall top-loaded 'Tee' vertical with elevated radials and an earth mat. The sloper was clearly the better antenna.

Most people seemed to appreciate the QSO, 160 m really is a gentleman's band.

Posted by ZL1AZE on December 04, 2006