BAND   QSO QSO PTSPTS/Q COUNTRIES

   160    20     60  3.0    16
    80    33     99  3.0    27
    40   209    627  3.0    71
    20   408   1224  3.0    81
    15   606   1818  3.0    87
    10   748   2244  3.0    93
--------------------------------------
Totals  2024   6072  3.0   375 = 2,277,000

All reports sent were 59(9), unless otherwise noted.

Operator List: WN9O & W9IU

Equipment Description:

Station #1          Station #2
==========          ==========

Yaesu FT-1000MP     Kenwood TS-940
Alpha 87A           Alpha 87A
CT Networked        CT Networked
ICE Fileters        ICE Filters

Antennas:
Force 12 EF-180/B (80) @ 107'
Force 12 C-51XR (40/20/15/10) @ 102'
Force 12 C-31XR (20/15/10) @ 62' - TIC Ring
Force 12 C-3E (20/15/10) @ 38' - Fixed SE
WX0B StackMatches for separate feeds on 20/15/10
Force 12 EF-160VX 65' vertical with elevated radials
Beverages 600' E & N, 1100' W

This is to certify that in this contest I have operated
my transmitter within the limitations of my license and have
observed fully the rules and regulations of the contest.

Signature: Kevin E. McClure

MAILING ADDRESS:
Kevin E. McClure WN9O
1610 Fairway Drive
Kokomo, IN 46901
 
 

Here's the Story......

WN9O -> 2 Op Multi-Single

ICE, ICE, and more ICE was the theme for this contest.

It was first time we had the station ready to go at least one day
before the contest. On Friday morning I woke up to notice the
220 MHz cluster link to the packet network was down, so I checked
outside to see what the problem was.. The freezing rain started
around 2:00 AM and continued until morning. Fortunately we only
had an 1/8" build up on the antennas. I started checking the SWR
and 10 - 20 meters was loading okay, but there was high SWR on
160 - 40 meters. The 160 antenna is a ground mounted vertical and
was mostly fixed before the contest. The 80 meter rotary dipole
and 40 meter beam were at 100+ feet and could not be fixed (we did
not have a high power antenna tuner available)... Both of these
antennas were shortened and needed relay switching to utilize the
CW and SSB portions of the bands. We were able to get the antennas
to load with 600 watts out and 80 watts reflected. That was the
comfortable limit we set for the Alpha 87A's.

The contest started with 10 & 15 meters open for a surprisingly
long period of time. We were able to get around 200 Asia and
Pacific contacts by 04:00Z. During the night we were only able
to muster 13 Q's and 10 DX on 160, 18 Q's and 14 DX on 80, and
150 Q's and 40 DX on 40 mtrs.

The next morning was the best I have seen 10 & 15 meters to Europe
in a long time. We were able to sustain rates just under 100 per
hour for 3+ hours (until the European sunset). The pile-up was
similar to when I was in Singapore visiting 9V1YC, James, and had
the opportunity to operate for a few hours into Europe and Eastern
USA.

During the day the temperature mustered a high around 34 degrees
and the lower 45' of the tower was clear of ice by 21:00 Z. The
KJ9D-5 packet cluster node is located at my qth and the link to
the network was still down because the antenna is located a 95'.
Around 21:30 Z I started the ascent of the tower to clear the
antenna of ice. I was fortunately able to lock my climbing belt
around the tower and minimize the risk. Finally around 22:00 Z
the link was back up!! Spots were coming in like crazy..

I see the police were out in force spotting the busted calls!

The second night was still a problem with the low band antennas.
There was a period of time where we made 19 Q's in a 5 hour stretch.
We also slept during that time too. One possible casualty still has
to be investigated and that was an Hygain HDR-300 rotor turned past
the 360 degree point and continue to turn 300 degree past the limit.
Luckily there was enough coax to allow this rotation.

During the next day most of the ice was melting and the antenna
loading was close to normal (too bad we only had a few hours left
on 40 meters).

The bottom line was a new record from my QTH -- 2,277,000 points.

73's es thanks for all the Q's...

Kevin -> WN9O