Five members of the Louisiana Contest Club gathered at W5WZ for a M/2 effort.
Having operated the past three NAQP SSB as a M/2 team, Bobby WM5H and Scott W5WZ,
were the anchors, joined by periodic station guests Mark K5ER, Marsh KA5M and
Jim W5LA.
For this contest, the SO2R station was split between Run 1 and Run2. Additionally,
for the first time at W5WZ we added an in-band S&P station interlocked with Run 2.
This S&P 2 was furnished with its own set of independent antenna: KT-34, 40m dipole
and 80m dipole. Bandpass filters and front-end protection was employed on all three
tranceivers.
We opened with a 262 QSO first hour; hopes were high! The rate decayed to a second
hour of 159, followed by 140 in the 3rd hour.
W5WZ Max Rates:
2019-08-17 1821Z - 8.0 per minute (1 minute(s)), 480 per hour by W5WZ
2019-08-17 1829Z - 5.1 per minute (10 minute(s)), 306 per hour by KA5M W5WZ
2019-08-17 1904Z - 4.5 per minute (60 minute(s)), 272 per hour by KA5M W5WZ
At 2240z, we heard what every contester dreads on a summer day - booming thunder.
Looking at a real-time lightning strike website, we quickly made the decision to
disconnect and safe the station until the slow-moving storm passed. No rain ever
fell at W5WZ, and the strongest part of the storm passed a few miles to our west.
W5WZ - Off Times >= 30 Minutes
2019-08-17 2253Z - 2019-08-17 2359Z 01:07 (67 mins)
No signals ever heard on 10 or 15. Even though 20m was the QSO total king, the mult
count was low. 40m QSO total was lower than our expectations, but the big
disappointment was 80m. Even with the beverage receive antennas, because of the nearby
storms and static crashes, we were sorely disappointed in our 80 meter QSO totals.
Carribean stations were not heard; logged 2 Puerto Rico, 2 British VI, and 1 Barbados.
Beginning around 2130z, QSB on 20m was fast and deep, and it wasn't much better on 40m.
But, with all that, the station performed flawlessly. Operators new to interlocked
transceivers gained valuable experience that will be most helpful for November SS SSB.
We employed N1MM+'s "partner mode" on Run 2 and S&P2, with the partner having a
separate computer while listening to the same receiver audio stream as the rig operator.
My elmer, Jim W5LA, is a CW guy. He says he doesn't like SSB contesting. However,
he remarked during the contest that operating a SSB multi-op contest was one of his
bucket list items. Don't be going anywhere Jim! We'll make an SSB op out of you yet!
Without the help and contributions of the team, this couldn't have happened and been
such a success
My wife, Sharon KW5MOM, tolerating all of us!
Bobby, WM5H, for 2 days of assistance in the sweltering heat to get the outdoor antenna
work and other preparations completed. And as always, for ensuring that the team is
well-fed (to find out how well-fed, you'll have to be on the W5WZ team for a contest)!
Jim, W5LA for bringing a few pieces of needed equipment to make the partner mode a
success, and for crossing over to the dark side of SSB contesting! It was great to
operate with my elmer at my side (BTW, it is his fault I'm a ham!).
Mark K5ER, for giving up a valuable Saturday away from his wife and other of life's
necessary responsibilites and priceless opportunities with family.
Marsh KA5M, for making the longest drive to join us- last time he joined the W5WZ team
was 2010 CQ WW SSB- he should come back more often!
|