SS SSB VE8EV Multi-Op HP

ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB

Call: VE8EV
Operator(s): VE8EV
Station: VE8EV

Class: Multi-Op HP
QTH: Inuvik, NT
Operating Time (hrs): 23

Summary:
Band QSOs
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160:
80:       1
40:      89
20:     599
15:     588
10:      49
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Total: 1326 Sections = 83 Total Score = 220,116

Comments:

SS from NT is always about the aurora. After the relatively quiet conditions during CQWW exactly one solar rotation ago, I knew conditions for SS Phone were going to be above average. With the solar cycle on the wane I thought this might be the last chance to take a run at a section record so I went as "Multi" for this one.

I could tell the geomagnetic field stayed fairly quiet as conditions on 40m were fair from up here (which means I worked almost everyone I could hear) but the lack of sunspots showed on 10m where activity was way down from the past few years. 15m and 20m were beyond crowded. I got pushed off a run frequency more often than I could count but thankfully the spotters were out in force and starting over wasn't the chore it usually is. Another few years and we'll all be jammed onto 20m again :(

Despite battling with a flaky T/R relay that got worse and worse all weekend, I hung in there almost til the last hour. I made my final few contacts on 20m barefoot and then worked a couple of guys on 40m by hitting the foot switch and manually pressing the KEY TEST button on the amp at the same time. Fortunately by that time there was nobody left that I hadn't already worked so I called it a day.

Thanks to everyone for all the Q's especially, as always, the 1-Alphas that take pity on me CQing away on 20m after everyone else has already moved down to forty. Last contact in the log was K6LL on 40m who said "let me turn the beam your way" and made it an easy one for me. Sure wish I had a magic button to make *that* happen all the time!

73
John VE8EV