Quite good conditions regarding the maximum solar activity. Also some station setup improvements made the job.

I used FTDX101D for the first time in this contest, with two RX systems (K9AY and 5-circle RX verticals) in diversity reception mode. Essential thing is to have two identically set RXs, which 101 supports. It works beyond my expectations. Reception was very comfortable with MAIN-SUB RXs and VFOs synchronized… pleasure. I switched between RUN only, SO2V, and S&P only. And had to be aware not to transmit into the RX ANT connected to the ANT2 port, since 101 has only the ANT3 port configurable as RX only. Fortunately, that didn’t happen 🙂

Conditions did not look good the first night, NA stations… so-so. But Saturday evening was a nice surprise, loud DXs from the east. And it worked like that until the end of the contest, including a much better NA opening since EU midnight. I also hoped for the usual morning opening, but it didn’t happen. I heard that VK was called by EU, but I didn’t copy it. Also, a lot of countries that were usually a must in the past probably didn’t take part this time. I hope this is not a trend, but only a reaction to the bad Top band conditions expected during the maximum of the Sun cycle.

I’m a fan of full-time online scoreboard presentation. But it makes sense only when you have serious competitors. Greetings to LY5W, thanks for posting and congrats, I was short… 🙂 No idea why „unassisteds“ don’t like online scoreboards. I’m convinced that a lot of guys had it displayed on their monitors. I only did that one time: when I discovered the online scoreboard. Then I felt that it’s fair to post if I watch others and I learned how to switch it on.
I would welcome it if the organisers of the contests would advise posting the scores to boys who aspire to be in the top ten, to run full time or so. It could make contesting more interesting and fair for the whole community. Nevertheless, since this is not mandatory, it’s part of contest strategy. Hoping for something like a ‚gentleman’s agreement‘ within the contest community.

I was able to easily read signals even with 50 Hz filter. 101 + diversity RX is big step for me compared with 1000MP or TS590SG. Fewer situations, when I was not able to read some station due to wide „triangle shaped“ signals or clicks. Challenge towards ARRL CW: to invent how to incorporate this RX low band setup into SOAB SO2R setup. Uf!

Congratulation to OM0RX, it looks like another extraordinary QRP result…

Thanks to all for Top band effort!

FINAL score:   xxx xxx
Category:      SO HP
Rank:          WW #xx   EU #xx   OM #x

RAW score:     484 329
Category:      SO HP
Rank:          WW #14   EU #9    OM #3

Call: OM7K
Operator(s): OM7RU
Station: OM7RU
Class: Single Op HP
QTH: JN98OQ
Operating Time (hrs): 29:59
Location : Europe

Summary:

  QSOs     State/Prov   Countries   Total Score
-------------------------------------------------
   1006        25           62          484 329
-------------------------------------------------

Used equipments:
Yaesu FTDX-101D
OM Power 3500A
microHAMs: MK2R+
2x OM Power OM6BPF
DXLog

Antennas:
160m: Half Sloper
5 circle phased vertical RX array
K9AY

73! Riki, OM7RU/OM7K
www.tucek.sk/om7ru