I posted this on .net previously, and I don't see many competition-related posts in this community, so I'm just moving it over here.
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I haven't touched a radio for a year, but this year I was finally able to use it normally. The 55th shift involved operating the 3CRA CW station, which was essentially like getting back into training mode. In the days leading up to the shift, I had been working late frequently, and my mental state wasn't very good; I felt confused and disoriented.
I didn't make many specific plans before the race, but my goal was simple: to perform better than last time.
The equipment used this time included one sleeping bag and one FLEX-6400 unit, along with a GP antenna, GH1500-4A.
Good hardware makes a difference. I tried using the 6400 with SO2V, making a left-ear call and right-ear sweep to find the frequency. Previously, I would simply use SPOT to find the frequency, which was time-consuming and inefficient. Now, I can directly see the frequency and signal quality on the waterfall chart of the 6400, so I know exactly where it is and how strong the signal is.
Regarding the antenna, I had already used it during check-in (55th), and it worked well with SSB and CW at 1500W. This time, I'm using low power, and the GH1500-4A has a relatively high transmission efficiency, making it suitable for DX work due to its low antenna angle. My score during the 700 QSO competition already exceeded that of my 21-year-old performance. When the coefficients are equal, one QSO is worth more points, which means I've made more QSOs with non-Asian stations. With this antenna and the 6400, I can typically complete a QSO in under a minute when the coefficient reaches its maximum value. However, GP is still GP; dealing with significant background noise is unavoidable, especially in a complex urban electromagnetic environment. Low-band reception also presents challenges due to the inherent low signal levels. While CQ calls can reach very far, it's often difficult to hear a clear response. The slow transmission rate caused by weak signals further complicates matters.
Overall, the competition was quite relaxed, which made it easy to slack off. After the European part opened on the first night, the signal was very strong, and it continued until late at night. The interference didn't disappear either, so I slept in my sleeping bag and had over 3000 QSOs in my dreams. I planned to stay up all night the next evening.
At around 5:00 AM on Monday, I was feeling tired and started to doze off. As I reached for my phone with my elbow, it slipped and fell, shattering the screen. This caused a significant loss. Later, I woke up again and looked at the time – it was already 7:55 AM. I had lost QSO.
After reflecting on the incident, I realized that next time, I should lay down a thick rug and buy a more durable phone.
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