My 10,000 RadioSport Challenge | 9,515 - 45 = 9,470 To Go

The unexpected happened when Cycle 24 went aggro and everything necessary for a lot ham radio fun converged over the weekend. Certainly, who predicted high band conditions would open a virtual ionospheric pipeline into Europe on 15 and 20 meters resulting in 'best yet' commentary? It was a dream having to decide against the high bands after midnight when 6 point Qs loomed toward Asia. The cascade of signals over the pole flowed like continuous electric water while a magnetic river of Qs bridged two continents between Asia and North America.

Back Story
Randy Thompson, "The Contest Machine", K5ZD and his crew of volunteers could not have asked for better and, probably, CQ Magazine shook up a little Sky Mojo in the martini shaker for good measure because Cycle 24 seriously pumped.

My initial goal going into WPX CW was 1,000 Qs in the log and 36 hours of butt in the chair time. I met both while exceeding another far beyond my wildest RadioSport dreams. I realized something special was happening when over the pole EU signals hammered the ICOM 756PRO s-meter on 20m at a time when the coyotes are howling at the moon.

In fact, I wonder if anyone did howl at the moon, given spectacular solar weather long talked about on the reflectors? There are those who have never experienced such a phenomenon since the beginning of Cycle Twenty Four.

On the other hand, WPX is a rate event that is call CQ then call CQ again because, the multipliers follow. My wetware brain is spinning less but I'm still hearing those long delayed echoes bouncing between the hemispheres.

Nitty Gritty
The nitty gritty is over 2 million points, 1,588 Qs in the log, and 33 of 40 zones logged the signal radiating from SL's antenna farm over looking the Five Cities. The first 3 hours stacked up like this --

• Hour 1 = 80 
• Hour 2 = 61
• Hour 3 = 74

Then the last 3 hours stacked up like this --

• Hour 34 = 26
• Hour 35 = 53
• Hour 36 = 33

Let's look at combined zone totals --

• Zones 3, 4, and 5 = 747 Qs
• Zones 10, 11, 12, and 13 = 48 Qs
• Zones 14, 15, and 16 = 319 Qs
• Zone 25 = 311 Qs

Point totals are --

• 676 = 1 point
• 78 = 2 point
• 635 = 3 point
• 32 = 4 point
• 167 = 6 point

Summary
I learned a lot from this 2012 WPX experience and improvement goals are in the pipeline for example polar flutter is difficult to copy at RadioSport WPM resulting in an embarrassing moment on 20m; look again at properly weighting my dots and dashes; listen to the difference between 'S', 'H', and '5' especially at WPM; practice sending '8', 'L', 'R', this maybe related to keyer weighting not properly adjusted.

Wondering why 10m went without full tilt given the spectacular pipelines on 15 and 20 meters because the conditions were dialed in for a few break away rates on this spectrum space? Was it Bz with its north-to-south path?

Overall, I'm stoked that K5ZD a.k.a. "The Contest Machine" is well connected with the committee who runs Cycle 24 sunspot production and for CQ Magazine with their martini shaker thus producing electrified Sky Mojo for WPX weekend.

Contest on!

P.S. The Beach Boys Amateur Radio Club is now getting ready for Field Day.