I hoped in at least average good conditions in the period of sunspot max. But reality was a bit different.
I spent days before the contest by repairing of tribander A4S damaged years ago. I needed to replace three damaged pipes, but also to solve many of related microdetails. Including safety erecting of short aluminium tower with it. Then I found main antenna resonating above the band on 20m… Not good message, but usable on CW so-so. The station was ready at 1900Z, 4 hours nap was too short after plenty of physical work.
40m started in good shape, then also 80m, but 160m was disappointing, never mind, will be better tomorrow. High bands was of weak openings, something like pileup was rare. The best was 15m, but nothing special.
Second night with the only one bright moment: solid opening of 40m at 02-03Z. 160m died, only few new mults. Afternoon with better 10m, average 15m and early closed 20m. Situation was rescued by traditional final 40m run.
A few HW issues, after changing of something in the setup, as usually. I started with SO1R, since my MK2R+ started the contest with only Radio1 support. I try to solve it from time to time, and at 0500Z I found one of hundreds checkboxes switched OFF instead of ON… Then ACOM started to reject to tune inside some band slots, so provide limited power. Then „icing on the cake“: burn smell in the shack. Since it correlated with my small antenna reconfiguration due to diversity reception, I stopped using it and it went away. Investigation after contest discovered error between a TCVR and a chair. Chosen diversity RX antenna was one too close to strong EMF in near surrounding of TX antenna. Fortunately, all protection circuits did they job, nothing fatally burned inside TCVR.
Traffic was fine, I feel improving of the signals from year to year. I also faced to „zero beat“ problem from time to time. Since there is no chance to tune other guys up or down, I tried to spread them in time. After calling several „zero beaters“ I did nothing. Everyone has a bit different feeling when to call again, when didn’t hear my answer, so the first one won. I was able to read at least the first 2-3 letters. Yes, sometimes all guys went away immediately. Also that’s the business risk 🙂
Summa summarum: compared to ARRL CW 2023: loss of 1k QSOs (-34%), loss of 900k final score (-40%). Hope in better 2026.
Thanks to that pile of USs who participated.
.
Final score: x xxx xxx
Category: SO AB HP
Rank: WW #xx EU #xx OM #x
RAW score: 1 347 456
Category: SO AB HP
Rank: WW #22 EU #15 OM #1
Call: OM7K
Operator(s): OM7RU
Station: OM7RU
Class: SOAB HP
QTH: JN98OQ
Operating Time (hrs): 36:22
Location : Northern Europe
Summary:
Band QSOs Mults
----------------------------------------
160: 25 13
80: 222 35
40: 680 52
20: 315 45
15: 331 54
10: 283 43
----------------------------------------
Total: 1856 242 Total Score 1,347,456
Used equipments:
Yaesu FTDX101D
Kenwood TS-590SG
OM Power 3500A
ACOM 2000A
microHAMs: MK2R+, 2x Station Master, doubleTEN, ARCO
2x OM Power OM6BPF
DXLog
Antennas:
160m: Half Sloper
80m: OptiBeam OB1-80 @34m
AD-3446 @31m
Cushcraft A4S @6,5m
5 circle phased vertical RX array
73!
Riki, OM7RU
www.tucek.sk/om7ru