CQ WW 160 meter SSB

CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB: 2200Z, Feb 21 to 2200Z, Feb 23

That's 5:00 PM EST tonight thru 5:00 PM Sunday afternoon

I will be operating at W8PR at the MIC starting 5:00 PM EST tonight till I drop??? ...
Then back on around 5:00 AM Saturday EST morning till band dies (approx. 9:00 AM EST)
Hope to hear from you.
I'll be hunting ALL states and Canada and of course DX.
Will have Legal Limit feeding a steerable "Phased Vertical Array" and multiple beverage receiving antennas plus a W9AY loop Pendant receive system...
I hope to work with some of you.!!
If you hear me...Please spot W8PR on the cluster and I will try and work you.
Hoping for QUIET conditions.
Thanks to All and good luck
All the Best
Gary

This is a contest where ALL stations US/Canada/ N. America are points ...So most stations will be looking. ENJOY and try your luck on the 160-meter band!
Remember General Class and above can work the entire band

I started the Contest at 5:00 PM EST on Friday (22:00 z).
I finished around 4:30 AM EST Saturday morning (9:30 z +/-). Went to bed!
I spent much of my first few hours just dialing up and down the band grabbing multipliers.
The activity was fierce, stations were very close together. Around midnite EST things started to calm down. Then stations began to spread out.
Around 3:30 AM EST the band CRASHED! Last 90 minutes maybe 10 Qso's
I managed a few short runs, but it was still tough. You would find a spot and inevitable someone would move in-close and block your ears.
However, I had a good (but not great) shift. It was FUN but challenging!
When completed: I had worked:
47 US States: Every state but WYOMING on the mainland!
6 of 12 of the Canadian sections
20 DXCC sections:
Slovenia
Poland
Czeck Reb.
Serbia
Belarus
US Virgin Is... Bonaire...Costa Rica...Mexico...Venezuela...Brazil...Cayman Is.
and a few others I don't remember!
245+ Qso's
69 multipliers
43,000 + points (I wanted 50,000 as my goal but did not reach that)
I was running SOLO...operating radio and switching antenna systems plus doing all computer logging myself.
Though I had hoped to do better, I laid a good foundation (I hope!) for the rest of the team to make some good points.
When I finished each QSO was approx. equal to over 100 points.
This was my first experience in a 160 meter only contest.
So a learning curve for myself.

The rig was: ICOM IC-7700
Using INRAD headset w/ footswitch... nice for the price!
Antennas: Phased vertical Array...steerable NE/SW pattern plus also switchable to end fired NW or SE patterns.
Receive antennas: Multiple Beverage (5) switchable, plus W9AY "mini loop" Pendant array.
I say again! A learning curve for myself, for someone who has trouble walking plus chewing gum at the same time!!!
I hope I logged some members!
I heard Mike/ROADSTAR...KI5CHB work the team Saturday evening!
GOOD JOB Mike!!!
All the Best
Gary/W9FNB