2019 ARRL International DX


Call: N8YXR

Operator(s): N8YXR, KC0RBV
Station: N8YXR

Class: Multi-Single LP
QTH: MI
Operating Time (hrs): Too bloody long and embarrassing

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
  160:    0     0
   80:   37    28
   40:   49    37
   20:  123   70
   15:   29    70
   10:    0     0
-------------------
Total:  238   155  Total Score = 110,670

Club: Mad River Radio Club

Comments:

We started out so positive and energetic. Then, well the bands did us in. Our goal was to try and beat the 8 land multi-single record, but as the weekend went on we saw it slip away. About Saturday evening, our goal shifted to simply surviving and minimizing the damage. What a !#$#% time! Truly horrible conditions up here! 10m never opened for us. Europe had some impenetrable dome on it until this morning. About 4pm each night was witching hour and we couldn't make anything really happen.

Today, I felt better with how I switched bands as sunset occurred. Worked more Europeans on 40m and 80m because of it. Our total multiplier count was one short of last year so I think that means we did a good job with reading band conditions and being willing to change things up enough for conditions.

Most entertaining thing all weekend was watching the squirrel in a tree near my 40m vertical run around in the snow. Heck, the snow flakes were more interesting than the bands. On the up shot, I did see an eagle fly over my house while contesting. It seems we have a new neighbor! (Gotta love when what's outside is better than contesting.)

On the positive, I worked AH2R for the first time. (Maybe not the station since I think Jennie did it earlier this season, but it's my first time.)  I was a whole boat load of entertainment for a set of guys while working LZ5R on 80m. He could not hear me worth anything. I tried moving on, but he said, " Don't go. Don't give up! Stay with me!" Then I heard somebody accidentally transmit laughing at us. Then suddenly he told me "You came up and are a true 59!" Didn't have a problem then. Not sure, but somebody had a laugh.

Glad to put this one in the books.

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