When conditions are favorable this is a very fun contest.I've actually done a 20m only try when I didn't have antenna options and the solar cycle was not great.Its a tough slug with only a dipole! Luckily the past several years I've had many more antenna options and band conditions have been mediocore to exceptional.This year was in between when I was operating and as usual ,from what I've heard,conditions improved some on Sunday before the end.Yes-I had already quit by then-oh well!
I did operate Friday,Saturday and Sunday but as always not for any long periods of time and only a casual search and pounce endeavour. I did not have any contacts on 160-40m mostly because I only operated during daylight hours and quite frankly never even checked the lower frequencies for contesters!
I really like when 10m is open because of My antenna choices. Using My ground mounted vertical is just Ok for 15 and 20m but having a Yagi for 10m is great. I could really be spoiled if I had a tri-bander in the air!
Conditions seemed good and I made fairly easy contacts with European and South America/ Caribbean stations on 10 and 15m. I did not spend as much time on 20m, mostly because I was only hearing North American stations calling CQ for the most part! 10m was active from 28300-28900 at times and I cruised up and down the bands picking out the loudest and least busy stations. Most power levels were 100w or "one kilo" although I did log several 200,400 and 500w stations.Even a 99w and VP5H was QRP at 5w! I asked for a repeat for that one.Not a bad signal even for only 5w!
Nice to have at least one all time new DXCC plus many of the regulars.I recognized many call signs and it was nice to have so much activity. Ended up with 163 contacts which is not My best effort but still satisfying.
73--Tim
