Hey, Phil:

I agree that 160 was indeed in great shape this week-end.

I didn't come up with a big gun contester score, but worked 152 stations 
across the eastern 2 thirds of the US, and a few Canadian stations.

I did it with 100 watts and my Carolina Windom 160 compact up about 37 feet, 
with my high-tech 100-foot piece of RG8X coax in the shack at the 
transmitter to act as a tuning stub.

Again, not a great score, but an accomplishment in my mind because, three 
months ago, I had never been on 160 despite being a ham for most of my life.

I'm looking forwrd to the SSB contest in February.

73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ, Big Rapids, MI

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 7:22 PM
Subject: 160 Meter CW Contest


I did a lot of checking of 160 meters over the weekend and was amazed =
how good the signals were and how much activity I heard.  I always tune =
for the Colorado boys to see how well they are doing.  I've worked the =
contest in years gone by with a shunt fed 55 foot tower once and 100 =
watts output  and another time, with 85 foot slopers with coiles at the =
top for matching and it is always fun to work.  I only have the G5RV up =
at 35 feet and my SWR is 18 to 1 down low in the band so I can't get on =
the band but I heard a friend in western Colorado so I tried and running =
14 watts output, worked him after a few call exchanges.  K0DU is in =
western Colorado and along with K0CL and K0UK, both old time contesters, =
and just a wire hanging out, they made 1,264 Q with 54 countries and the =
first night alone, they worked 56 Japanese all under Jerry's call of =
K0DU.  I heard the Colorado boys, at times, working Europeans, whom I =
could not copy, and of course, the east coast stations were working =
Europe like we work Japan from here in Colorado.  So it is true once =
again; when the upper bands are poor, the low wave bands work better.  =
Running 100 watts, I have worked all states on 160, except for the state =
of Maine, which I heard and chased all over the band during a contest =
and never snagged, and a few Caribbean.  I have copied, with poor short =
antennas, Vk and UA and JA, however, on 160.  I posted an article that =
was published in the old World Radio news magazine called "A Short =
Vertical For The Top Band," hear on the list which was only 32 foot tall =
and running 100W, worked east and west coast and KH6 with it, many =
times, and had a ball even with the low power.

Phil.
K0NX