I spent a lot of time in the contest chair this weekend. While the Olympics were on and on Sunday, the much-anticipated U.S. vs. Canada hockey matchup sparked sports fever in our house, but it belongs to my wife, not me. For me, it was all about contesting, so I happily settled behind the radio.
I began early Saturday morning and continued until Sunday evening, wrapping up at 23:45. Conditions fluctuated significantly: on Sunday morning, I noticed a lot of what I call “wobbling” in station signals. Solar activity picked up on Sunday, and I found many stations calling me were just above the noise floor. I ran for about 90% of the contest and enjoyed every minute. I can always tell when I’m spotted suddenly as the floodgates open with callers!
By the end of each evening, fatigue started to set in, and I found myself mixing up S and H or 7 and 8. When that happens, I know it’s time to pull the plug and walk away before frustration takes over.
The station, PC, and antenna all operated flawlessly. I had contacts from South America, Hawaii, and even Africa. There were also quite a few QRP stations reporting just 5 watts I double-checked, thinking they meant 500, but nope, it was 5! One of my many pins now claims South Korea, though I know that’s not accurate. When I looked up the call, I realized my mistake, but by then, the station had already moved on.
All in all, it was a memorable weekend of contesting, full of challenges and highlights.
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