VP5FXB vs V26B Comparisons

These are final numbers for the VP5FXB log, as submitted to the ARRL.

• Congrats to V26B operators N2NT N2NC W2RQ AB2E N3BNA, and WT3Q. A great showing. We were soundly trounced by the Frankford gang.

• The score analysis is interesting, and follows almost classical lines as predicted by geography. We won on the low bands: 160 and 80. Special congrats to Dan, K8RF, who KILLED V26B on 80 with his delta loop. This result is not unexpected, as we had the geography advantage on the low bands based on our proximity to the states. Our other advantage, of course, is the extreme depth of experience of Goose and Dan (W8AV and K8RF) on these bands.

• On 40 and 20 the playing field was pretty much level -- both stations had about the same propagation conditions and the same hours of openings. We lost on 20 by a SINGLE multiplier. See? I was NOT crazy by wanting a mult station running continually. On 40 I'm baffled -- thye made some 140 more QSOs (and one fewer mult). Guess we just got out-gunned on 40, in spite of the 40 yagi. Next time: more power...!

• On 15 and 10 it was no contest. The geography of being so much farther south gave V26B much better conditions and longer band openings. We lost the contest on 10, with the band never really opening. In contrast, K8MFO heard V26B S-9 for many hours on both days, working Qs at great rates, while most of the 10 meter signals at VP5FXB were at the noise level. Many in fact were BELOW the noise level, as the big multis (K3LR, K8AZ for example) called and called us with no response. We never could hear them CQing at any point on 10 meters.

• Conclusions? We lost fair and square on 40 apparently due to conditions that WERE within our control -- we lost on the other bands to propagation -- conditions out of our control. The solution? GO SOUTH!!