MFJ 9020, feeding Inverted Vee with apex at 20 ft. 12v Deep cycle (67.5AH) Power Source.
N9TR logging program, on Packard Bell Notebook, with Bencher paddles.
Setup was at home, West Chester, OH.
Started at 2130Z operated until 2345Z - 2hr 15 min - 4 QSO - 1.78q/h
Restarted at 0015Z operated until 0045Z - 0hr 30 min - 3 QSO - 6q/h
Restarted at 0120Z operated until 0830Z - 7hr 10 min - 20 QSO - 2.79q/hr
Restarted at 1230Z operated until 1825Z - 5hr 55 min - 38 QSO - 6.42q/hr
Total Operating time 15hr 50min - 65 QSO - 4.1q/hr
Lessons Learned
Deep Cycle marine batteries work MUCH better than automobile batteries.
Having a seperate logger for CW contesting is beneficial, as long as the logger can keep up with your speed.
Not having a logger, after having one, is a shock to the system that may be fatal!
November + CT = COLD
Cold + Outside = Low blood flow to extremities.
Building a camp fire near the operating position may result in destruction of log sheets!
2 ops + 3 kids (oldest was 13) = too many kids.
If you DO bring kids, inform them that if they hear a constant funny noise in the middle of the night, don't ignore it.
Get a good night sleep before... (notice the big gap between 0830Z and 1257Z)... This gap was NOT planned. Four things happened:
1. Joe fell asleep.
2. I fell asleep.
3. My hand (now lifeless on the straight key) caused the HW-9 to continuously transmit, thereby Deep-Cycling the Deep-Cycle!
4. As a result of item 3, another hour was spent re-charging the Deep-Cycle from my Sable. This was partially a good thing, as while charging, the heater was on and we were restoring some blood flow to our extremeties!
