Saturday, December 13, 2014

ARRL 10m contest day 1

Event: ARRL 10M contest (day 1 of 2)
Logger: N1MM+ most updated version
Station: Icom IC-706MKIIG, 100W
Antenna: HB9CV at 6m AGL

Oh my, I overslept! Planned to be on the radio before sunrise to catch first DX but it was already light when I woke up. I took a run to the shack and switched on all equipment. Radio was already buzzing with voices and it was just 7:15 UTC yet! Oh no, computer screen told me it was updating 3 of 3 updates. Why now!! Finally computer started.....clicking N1MM+ but nothing happened...nothing! Quickly surfed the internet to the newest download of N1MM+, installing took ages...finally at 7:28 UTC the contest logger came to life! I logged some stations and did hear some VKs but unfortenately they didn't hear me. The rest of the family woke up also and I had to go. Returned in the afternoon for a few minutes and a few contacts. Later that afternoon I managed to get on and off the radio for a hour. In the evening already dark I managed to hear and work some last USA stations in about 10 minutes. Then the band seemed to be closed. At 19:30 UTC decided to switch everything off when I suddenly hear M6T with 5/7. A QSO was made fast and a few seconds later he was gone. Would it have something to do with the Geminids meteorshowers?

First time since 2007 I'm able to use a directional antenna again during this contest. My goal is not really to break any records but to work at least a ATNO. And yes I did although I had limited time today. I worked V31MA Marc from Belize. Propagation on 10m today as far as I could hear was really good. In total I managed to spend 90 minutes on the radio in total today. I worked 57 stations from 23 DXCC. I hope for a good day tomorrow and will try to shoot some video if possible. This year might be the last year we can enjoy this kind of good propagation on 10m. In a couple of years it will be a struggle to get about 20-30 QSOs in a whole weekend at the 10m contest. So if you can find some time to be on the radio I recommend to give some shouts to work the DX during this contest.


2 comments:

Hans said...

Hallo Bas, ja als men haast heeft zit alles tegen. In het verkeer met stoplichten en oude omaatjes en bij jou met de computer.
Maar als ik kijk naar de tijd en de resultaten mag je echt niet klagen. Geweldig. En dan ook nog Belize. Mooi hoor. Inderdaad zijn nu de condities op 28Mhz nog goed, ze zullen in de komende jaren drastisch teruggaan dus laten we er met zijn allen nog goed van nemen. Succes morgen. 73 Hans, PE1BVQ

PE4BAS, Bas said...

Mag absoluut niet klagen hoor. Maar had het liefst nog wat meer tijd gehad voor de hobby met dit soort contesten. Helaas gaat dat niet meer lukken. Je moet ook een keer tevreden zijn met wat je hebt natuurlijk. Het kan best zijn dat dit voorlopig het laatste jaar was dat de condities goed waren op 10m tijdens de ARRL 10m contest. 73, Bas