NCCC Thursday Night Madness 10 of 10

Propagation is king for this low-power, low-profile radiosport operator. The A- and K-index despite the better than usual solar flux indice (SFI) forewarned a challenging evening. However, the motto is practice, practice, and practice. For example, searching and pouncing (SP) at .040 through .042 then calling CQ (3x) at .043 through .045 then repeat. My code speed continues improving but the listening filter between the ears needs more practice. I observed difficulty copying the one dit difference between H and S this Thursday evening.

The Dayton phenomena coupled with above the one's on the A- and K-index benched 20-meters for this operator. The Slow NS (SNS) suggested a possible zero -Q count on this band. Typically, I work at least one or two -Qs during SNS prior to the Northern California Contest Club (NCCC) NS Sprint. The official 0230Z clock signalled tonight's start and KA3DRR SP'd between 14.040 and 14.042 before calling CQ on 14.043. Five minutes elapsed without -Q production using both SP and CQ.

I keep in mind that practice breeds confidence.

The tried and true band like a familiar pair of training shoes produced the only -Qs for the evening. First, KA3DRR SP'd and heard but did not work a few operators such is above the one's index. Next, into CQ mode on 7.043 and an operator from Colorado answered. My first Colorado contact since joining the fastest 30-minutes in radiosport. KA3DRR QSY'd at least 1-KHz as prescribed by NS Sprint rules while SPing for -Q number two. I called CQ NS (2x) followed by KA3DRR then NS. Yes! A radiosport operator in Arizona responded and we exchanged the baton that is, -Q serial number, name, and state.

Thirty-minutes passed and the 10th running of the NCCC NS Sprint became history. Ten weeks of KA3DRR performance needs examined as a benchmark prior to the resumption of NS Sprint after CQ WPX CW.

KA3DRR scoring distribution is -
1, 1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 9, 12, 15, 15

KA3DRR -Q/Band thus far -
20 meters: 0, 1, 0, 0, 3, 0, 0, 4, 0, 3, 0
n = 11
40 meters: 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 0, 1, 1, 2
n = 12
80 meters: 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0
n = 5

KA3DRR Multiplier Breakdown thus far -
20 meters: Tx, In, Tx, Tx, Tn, In, Tx, Tx, Tx, Tx
distribution = Tn, In, In, Tx, Tx, Tx, Tx, Tx, Tx, Tx
n = 10
40 meters: Az, Or, Or, Tx, Or, Az, Il, Or, Ca, Ca, Co, Az
distribution = Co, Tx, Il, Ca, Ca, Az, Az, Az, Or, Or, Or, Or
n = 12
80 meters: Ca, Ca, Ca, Ca, Ca
distribution: Ca, Ca, Ca, Ca, Ca
n = 5

Potentially, my data groups suggest the following 1). When A - and K-index are below the one's 20-meters production is up in contrast to 40- and 80-meters; 2). When A - and K-index are above the one's then 40 - and 80-meter production is up unlike 20-meters; 3). Forty-meters (n = 12) best -Q band followed by 20-meters (n=11) and 80-meters (n=5).

Surprisingly, KA3DRR's multiplier distribution suggests 40-meters as best (n=12) followed by 20-meters (n=10) and 80-meters (n=5).

My goal this week is to add more height to the random wire prior to the CQ WPX CW event. Likewise, my learning curve is steep but not insurmountable and more reading to follow which is the fun of our great hobby. It is the pursuit of excellence, understanding, and knowledge.

73 from the shack.

Inside the NCCC Sprint Grid (Week 9)

The emergent NS Sprint anthem? Records are made to be broken. Certainly, the buzz from the 3830 Score Rumors built momentum throughout the week. Did he REturn and REclaim? The Northern California Contest Club (NCCC) official posting of NS Results shooshed stadium Earth fans. The one who tamed the photon, W9RE, moved the Grid Series Leader board to the next level. RE's 2574 points is the Odysseyian javelin hurling toward the vaunted 3000 and the K6VVA 'X' prize.

Great sportsmanship exemplified by all as Week 9 scored 32 submitted logs five shy of the record thirty-seven. Meanwhile, N4AF top shelved the -Q Maker, N4OGW, and finished second on the Leader Board with 2280. The force gets stronger with AF. The sprinter of the day goes to K4BAI, the quiet giant, who keyed his way to 2223 on the Leader Board. However, the -Q maker, OGW, retained his 2255 record sprint score as number three.

Moving the rotator toward the East of the Mississippi Division, the devastating inside the hard line of W9RE, N4AF, and K4BAI resulted in a total score of 7077 points. Phenomenal trio. They own the game inside the hard line. Meanwhile, N4OGW and N9CK keyed a tough high frequency (HF) battle as the -Q maker out keyed CK by 41 points. KY4F and N9FC went diode for diode as KY4F scored 150 an 18 point margin. KC4HW continues his string of successes posting four for four in week 9.

Swinging the monobander to the West of the Mississippi Division, the great northwestern K7SS, claimed top honor as divisional leader in Week 9. The big signal from Arkansas, N5DX, keyed his way to a second place finish and scored a personal best. Nice work! Likewise, W0BH topped out with a personal best with third place in the division. Sportsman of the Week goes to N3BB who passed sprint -Qs between line noise while adding a new dimension to NS Sprint. It's contact the mobile.

Moving the rotator to NCCC CA/NV division, N6RO scored his 18th divisional win, 9th consecutive, and a personal best in Week 9. The news from the accelerator? K7NV remains the closest contender vying for a divisional win. Watch for the buzz on the 3830 Score Rumors in week 10. On the other hand, K6VVA posted an April 15th return of 1040. Good to see W0YK back on the grid after two weeks off.

The standings:

Record Sprint Scores
1. W9RE, East, 2574
2. N4AF, East, 2280
3. N4OGW, East, 2255 4th consecutive week

Grid Series Leader's Week 9
1. W9RE, East, 2574
2. N4AF, East, 2280
3. K4BAI, East, 2223

East of the Mississippi Division
1. W9RE, 2574, 7 of 9
2. N4AF, 2280, 8 of 9
3. K4BAI, 2223, 5 of 9

West of the Mississippi Division
1. K7SS, 1770, 3 of 9
2. N5DX, 1598, 5 of 9
3. W0BH, 1551, 9 of 9

NCCC CA/NV Division
1. N6RO, 2072, 9 of 9
2. K7NV, 1288, 8 of 9
3. K6VVA, 1040, 9 of 9

The NCCC NS Sprint goes into Week 10 followed by a break for the major CQ WPX CW event. The competition continues heating the capacitors and the challenge is on. Will Week 10 go down in NS Sprint history as the run of the rookies? Will sport fans in stadium Earth witness the emergence of a new, distinctive division? Then, there is Dayton, perhaps a few portables operating from hotel rooms and there is the new dimension of contacting the mobile. Only sprint time will tell.

73 from the shack.

Reference:
Northern California Contest Club (n.d.). NS Results Retrieved on May 16, 2007 from http://www.ncccsprint.com/results.htm.

Thursday Night Lights: The Newcomer Division

Tomorrow might make history?

Thirty-minutes of fun. Thirty-minutes of intensity. Thirty-minutes for the new, distinctive Newcomer Division.

The venue is stadium Earth where all code speeds are welcomed. The ionospheric track waits and 10 is the magic number.

Read N6TR's Sprint Survival Page http://n6tr.jzap.com/sprint.html.

Follow up with Operating NS http://www.ncccsprint.com/operating.htm.

Know the rules http://www.ncccsprint.com/rules.htm.

Practice breeds Confidence.

73 from the shack.

Attention Radiosport Operators

Wanted: Radiosport Operators

The Northern California Contest Club (NCCC) announced the creation of a new, distinctive division last Thursday. Ten or more operators are wanted to fill the Newcomer Division brackets. Join other first-time participants like NS3T, N9NB, and KY4F as they compete in the NCCC sponsored NS Sprint.

The birth of the Newcomer Division depends on 10 or more first-time participants. The challenge is on. Join the fun as radiosport operators across North America compete in stadium Earth on the ionospheric track.

Be there and feel the RF.

For more, check this football video at Nike http://www.nike.com/nikegridiron/index.jhtml?sitesrc=uslanding#rookies.

Reference:

Northern California Contest Club (n.d.). Next NS Retrieved on May 14, 2007 from http://www.ncccsprint.com/next_ns.htm.