Call: VP9/W4OV
 Operator(s): W4OV, WD4R, W4DTA, K9VV
 Station: VP9GE
 
 Class: M/S LP
 QTH: Bermuda

 Operating Time (hrs): 48
 
 Summary:
 Band          QSOs     Zones       Countries
- ------------------------------------------------------
 160:             83           5              10
  80:             227          11             33

  40:             343          18             70

  20:             692          26             97

  15:             1112        26            100

  10:             1383        25              98

-------------------------------------------------------
   Total:       3840         111            408  Total Score = 4,767,015

  Equipment:  2xIC-706 barefoot.  TA-33 beam at 40 feet and A4

  at 30 feet.  Effective electrical height was probably on the order

  of 70-90 feet thanks to Ed's hillside North island QTH.  High dipole

  on 40m & G5RV on 80/160m. 

 

  Running 100 watts sucked the first 1/4 of the contest as we felt like

  a guppy in the ocean of kilowatts.  Things got better after the "noise

  floor" lowered a bit.  The cerebral noise floor of the Italians proved

 to be unusually high, as suspected.  We thought our callsign should be

 " Victor Papa 9", "Victor Papa 9", "Victor Papa 9", "Victor Papa 9",

  as we had to yell this a minimum of a half-dozen times before we

 could raise any attention.  Packet spots proved to be very beneficial.

 

  10m was outstanding!  Best DX was SU9NC on 40m.  Best Last 100

  rate was 395 QSOs, best last 10 rate was 507, both on 15m.  Goes

  to show that high rates don't always need high power. 

 

  Thanks to Julio, WD4R for organizing yet another radio / diving

  adventure.  Look for additional details in another superb FCG

  bulletin by K4LQ.  Our operation was from the fine B&B run by

  Ed Kelly, VP9GE.  (Thanks Ed! - You ROCK!)  True to the

  previous reports, Ed was the gracious host many before us had

  mentioned.  Thanks to N4BP for the expert computer assistance

  & logging computers.