Final Results: Fourth Annual Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge
by Larry "Tree" Tyree N6TR & Lew Sayre W7EW
The fourth running of the Stew Perry TBDC contest was held on December 18th and 19th, 1999. We are happy to announce that 210 logs were received - a new record for this event. This gain is very significant when you consider topband conditions have been on a slide since the sunspot numbers have been increasing.
Part of the reason for the turnout is due to the 31 plaques that were sponsored. This exceeded our plaque manager's wildest dreams (and I can tell you, he has some pretty wild ones). We tip our Boring hats to those of you who paid out $50 to sponsor one. A couple of these still remain unclaimed. If nobody can prove they deserve them from the last event, they will be carried forward into the next one. Those two categories were Top Score, 100 watts, with an antenna that is less than 46 feet high/wide/long. The other was for the top single op score by someone under the age of 21, making at least 50 QSOs. If you feel you qualify for either, or both, of these awards, please let us know.
Perhaps another reason for the increased activity level is the new and improved certificate program administered by Jim Monaham, K1PX. Jim will be sending certificates out to all two letter grid field winners worldwide who didn't receive a plaque. He will also cover anyone who had a minimum score of 500 points without a plaque.
The contest started just as the sun was rising in California. About 20 west coast stations listened carefully for any juicy stations in the pacific or Asia. However, other than a few JAs and the signal of KH2/K4SXT, nothing much was heard. The better opening was 22 hours ahead. The activity in Europe was pretty stong - but not sufficient to keep most of the stations interested after working each other. DJ7AA had a hard time attracting anyone's attention in the USA - including W4ZV! Wil has said this will be his last Stew - but we all hope he will return when topband conditions are more like they were two years ago.
Since the European to USA path was not working - the most consistent DX signal heard in North America was KH7R.
It had always been felt that a station in ZS or VK6 could run away with this contest - IF they had an opening. Steve, VK6VZ, proved our thoery right by taking full advantage of a good opening during the last 4 hours of the contest to run away with the top score honors. Stever worked 80 North American stations with an average QSO point / QSO ratio exceeding 30 points.
KH7R easily won the multi-operator world high score and second highest score overall. Ten QRP stations made it into KH7R's log.
In a hot race for the 3rd highest world score, Al, K7CA, edged out three other USA QRP stations (N7GP, N0TT and W3GH) with nearly 3,000 points. While Al did manage a QSO with VK6HD, N0TT ended up with the longest QRP QSO at 17,139 kilometers (also with VK6HD).
K8ND and K1KY were the only two stations to break 300 QSOs. K8ND was the QSO champ with 388 QSOs and also the grid square champ with 164, but due to his power level and number of local QSOs - he wasn't able to break into the top ten. Several stations had QSOs with 13 QRP stations. Of them, KE9I had the most low power stations in the log to claim the Wiley Bunn Memorial Golden Ear Award.
Congrats to K1PX who wins the Longest 100 watt QSO Plaque thanks to his QSO with VK6HD. The longest QSO was between VK6HD and N3OC which was measured at 18862 kM. It seems strange that Maryland can be furthur away from VK6 than Connecticut, but strange things happen around antipodes.
Some juicy DX was on during the contest. We received logs from VQ9DX, 4X4NJ, 5H3RK, 5B4ADA, ZS6EZ and YC0LOW.
There was much discussion after the contest about the QRP multiplier being too generous and hurting availability of loud stations. This is probably a bigger problem during the years where conditions are not so hot. The contest dircectors have decided to break up the score listings into the four separate categories. However, we will multiply the QRP scores by 4 and the low power scores by 2 just to make them compatable with previous runnings. In the future, there will be a high score plaque for each category (QRO, LP, QRP and Multi). Really, the only difference between the new policy and the old is how the scores are grouped. However, this will hopefully spread out the recognition and prevent the QRP category from taking over the contest.
In the end - of the 29 plaques awarded - 13 of them were won by high power stations, 11 of them by low power and only 5 by QRP power stations. It would seem that running QRP isn't the best way to get a plaque.
The complete computer log checking process is in its third year. As before, almost all of the information in your log was verified and QSOs with incorrect information have been removed. You can receive a report showing the checking results for you log via e-mail. Send your request to tbdc@contesting.com.
The next Stew Perry event will be held on December 30/31st. The rules can be found at http://jzap.com/k7rat/stewrules.htm.
Plaque Winners
Sponsor |
Winner |
Category |
1. AA4NN | UA2FF | Top Score, Single Operator, Hi-Power,Europe |
2. EI7IU | N7DD | Most South American stations worked |
3. K1PX | OM3TZQ | Top Score, 100W, Europe |
4. N7CL | KH7R | Top Score From Oceania |
5. K7CA | PY2FUS | Top Score From South America |
6. N5UL | VK6VZ | Top Score World Wide |
7. N0JK | W0AH | Top MidWest 100 watt score |
8. K1KY | K0EJ | 2nd highest score in Tennessee |
9. Low Band Monitor | K7CA | Top S/O Score in North America |
10. KJ9C | N0TT | Top Score > 400 miles from Ocean |
11. N7JW | JA5DQH | Top Score in Japan |
12. N7GC | N0AX | Top 100W score in WVDXC versus WWDXC (Willamette Valley DX Club in Oregon and the Western Washington DX Club) |
13. KL7RA | W3GH | Top Score OP > 50 years old |
14. N5IA | K8ND | Most Grid Sqaures Worked |
15. KI7Y | W7RM | Top USA West Coast S/O Score |
16. WA2DFI | VE3OSZ | Top Canadian Score |
17. W7GG | N5UL | Top Score by OP > 60 years old |
18. W8JI | KE9I | Wiley Bunn Memorial Golden Ear Award (highest QSO point total of QSOs with QRP (times 2) and Low power stations as reported in the results). |
19. Boring Amateur Radio Club | WA2DFI | Best Soapbox Comment. |
20. Boring Amateur Radio Club | N3OC (607) | Highest prime number score (after log checking - note that this will be a very hard plaque for a low power or QRP station to win). |
21. Boring Amateur Radio Club | K7RAT | Highest West Coast Multi (Calif, Ore, Wash + VE7) |
22. K1FK | WA9IRV | Calcutta Award (#1 score in WI, MN, ND, VE4 or VE3) |
23. W4CAT | K1KY | Top Score in Tennessee |
24. QSL's by N0TT | Unclaimed | Top Score S/O, Age < 21, > 50Q's |
25. ND3A | VQ9DX | Top Score VK/ZL or Indian Ocean |
26. WA4TT | 4X4NJ | Top Score from Asia (excluding Japan) |
27. WA9IRV | K1FK | Top Score, single op, from the state of Maine. |
28. W1TO | K1PX | Longest DX QSO with 100 watts |
29. Comtek Systems | N7GP | Top Score - USA |
30. KQ6ES | Unclaimed | Top Score - 100 watts - Radiator <46 feet high/width/length |
31. AA8U | AA8U | High QRP Score from W8 call area. |
Soapbox Comments
I entered the first event part time and I don't think I turned in a log. The second one I missed entirely. This time I decided to enter fairly seriously, at least not part time. I read the rules at least once and decided, without much thought given to it, to enter QRP. I chose QRP mostly because so many QRP stations found their way into my SS logs and I was impressed. The thought occurred, hey try it and see how it works out. So, I did. Now I read posts that border on disparaging toward QRP entrants....especially if you have anything more than a modest station. Gee...I guess I do. But, for 160 I only have one TX antenna, a full size vertical, and a bunch of electric fence wire Beverages. Not a super station in my book, but more than most I guess. All the stacked Yagi's for the other bands are irrelevant for the Stew Perry contest so I can't understand why any "Big Gun" or "Super Station" should be somehow deemed as an unfair competitor when entering QRP. I didn't enter QRP to compete with anyone or any class of entrant but just to have fun and participate. Of course I tried hard, nearly my best effort I think. After it was over I had to look up how to score the mults, etc. and found the X4 factor for QRP. So, big deal. I didn't think I was competing with everyone else anyway. I surely didn't think I was at any particular advantage because of running such low power. The conditions for the Stew were well short of normal so I think the apparent lack of DX is being incorrectly blamed on too many QRP entrants. Had the conditions been more normal I doubt this issue would have come up. Maybe a X4 multiplier is too much for QRP. I don't know. This is a fairly young contest and if it survives until the next sunspot minimum and beyond we will all have a better set of data to base any rules changes on. For me, it is fine as is. It might be better to have QRP and QRO compete in separate classes or adjust the multiplier some to improve the fairness factor if that is necessary. Oh, if you always run QRO like I usually do. You will really get your perspective adjusted by entering QRP. Not just for a part time entry either. Do it as you would if the amp was on and you were serious about winning. I assure you, you will have a greater appreciation of all those intrepid QRP contesters and their special set of skills. QRP is more demanding of the operator, equipment, antenna system, and tactics than you are used to. Don't knock it if you haven't tried it. - AA8U
I now believe this equalization technique for power is a really bad idea (one I mistakenly backed BTW). Now you have everyone running as little power as possible to be competitive, and thus less and less DX QSOing going on. Hell, less QSOing period. It's a damned shame that W8JI and the like get on in this contest running 5w on a very prime time weekend for 160M and dont give the opportunity to some guys in Europe and other places to work them. Make the points the same regardless of power and give the 3 power classes their own box. If you don't, this contest is dead for sure. - W4AN
This was my first serious part of a Stew Perry Contest. I was the second Op at W8TOP, along with W8UVZ. Lots of QRPers Stateside, took some repeats and QSB peaks to get all the Grid Info, but it worked. Between 0300 & 0715 zulu I could find DJ7AA readable until his sunrise. He was the only totally consistant station coming through the absorbtion. There were many QSB peaks and mini-openings: I heard SM4CAN early, but missed him, then found him on 1836 and answered his CQ TEST with a solid 2-way. I was running on 1823 for a while and kept hearing a signal in the mud. Eventually I could copy HA8BE running on the same frequency. As he became readable we had a good contact. Similar situation with S57M, who we heard 3 times before a contact was made. Heard a whif of 9A4U(?) and 9A1A, but no contacts. UA2FF was good copy for a while but probably had lots of U QRM and QRN. about 0630 6W6JX was readable but didn't hear either a W4 or me. At 0700 ON4UN was about 50 hz off the 1830 birdie, but was Q4-5. W9RE worked him and I called thereafter. John was fading into his local sunrise. IV3PRK and another I-station were in a S-9 pile-up calling someone on 1834. I couldn't hear the other end and never heard Italy again! We heard one G early, nothing later. No KH6 on their sunset, fortunately we got one after 1000 zulu. I guess I am dissapointed that Santa's helpers couldn't reduce the absorbtion. Also lots of "part time" activity, like people coming home from a reception or evening shopping and then lighting up 160. That makes it fun and makes you balance your run time with your hunt and pounce time. Thanks to all who called us. 73 George (and George)
Is "over the age 50" considered to be "old"? I forgot to mention my age when submitting my log. My DOB: 14 July 1921. First ham license dated, 25 Feb 1936, W9WJV, Laurium, MI (Upper Peninsula). I think that age 50 should be changed to 75! That would be more meaningful. There must be many in all of these contests that are over age 50. I know a few that are older than I am, but perhaps there are not too many. I don't even consider myself to be old, .......yet! I must admit that I don't like trying to stay awake for a 48 hour contest period like I once used to do! Also, I've used a bug since 1936, and a chromium plated Vibroplex since about 1947, after WWII. Couldn't afford one before that time! I am not a "button pusher". I still enjoy the "old fashioned" way. There probably should be a special category for NON-BUTTON PUSHERS, too, with a special multiplier of at least 6 or 8 (more than for low power)! 73, W3GN, GN de GN
Stew Perry TBDC 99 was a real rollercoaster of a ride from VK6. A few hours before the contest, I was dragged away from clearing up the kid's Christmas preparations by a phone call from Mike VK6HD to say ZF2NT was on the band - Caribbean stations are next to South American stations as the holy grail on 160m from here. Not only was Bruce ZF2NT there at 1140Z, QSX JA but peaking S8, but stacks of North American stations and UA0MF. Looked like the Stew was going to be a great one... The start of the Stew found me kitted up and ready to go. Unfortunately, the band was dead, except for a weak VQ9DX for the first QSO. What then followed then was four hours of cat napping on the shack floor and hearing nothing until around 200Z when the first weak Eu signals were heard. An hour of reasonable conditions produced around 28 European QSOs, plus Ralph 5H3RK who was a genuine 579. Sunday was a very hot day here, humid, over 35 degrees C and I watched the thunderclouds gather around the QTH. A big rain storm turned up in the early afternoon, but there was still thunder in the distance. Switching on at 1100Z, the band was staticcy, but bearable. Then North American signals started popping up, as sunset approached at 1115Z. What followed was almost four hours of the most memorable 160m operating I have ever experienced. The band started with good signals from the far eastern seaboard and, despite a drop in signal level and increase in static, opened across North America as the sunrise terminator moved across from one coast to another. It was like I was on 40m, chasing the sunrise as it moved across, but with much lower signal levels - hard operating but bloody great! Usually NA propagation is spotty on 160m, even when it is good, but this was something different At 1448, I made the last very difficult - but extremely satisfying - QSO with Stew organiser Lew W7EW (I think) who was about S4 buried in the S4 - S8 static. My ears were shot and I was only just awake, but there were 123 QSOs in the log - and some very long distances indeed. It was hell and it was great - and a contest I will remember for a very long time. I am too tired and busy to work out my score now and the family is in the throes of its Christmas preparations. My wife Deb's father died just over a week ago, so family is very important thing for me to take full part in right now. Thanks to Tree, Lew and the Boring gang for organising such a great contest. Thanks to all those who called me and made it so memorable. Vy 73 Steve, VK6VZ
Contest from my point view has been quieter than last edition. There was also some controversy on the band due to a 9A contest on same dates. Static crases by a near storm made sometimes difficult to pick up the stations out of the noise. Only a couple of US heard and worked, with heavy QRN and deep QSB. At my sunrise I had the hope to work some more, but that was only a hope! Great news is that I was called by 5H3US (#136) on 1835.8 at 2226z, giving KI93 as report. There must be some kind of opening to AF at that time, cuz short after of working 5H, I heard, but could not work, 6W6JX on a near QRG. And a bit later I made what has been my longest QSO, VQ9DX at 2250z with 18 points. Great contest anyway, and pity that condx havenīt helped enough. 73, Josep EA6ACC First, my apologies to Wil DJ7AA for not responding to his call (as reported in his 3830 report). I'm sure there were others. I *was* alternating my listening between my "shorty" NE Beverage and other antennas during potential EU periods, but other than ON4UN, I didn't work any Europeans. I heard bits of a G4 and maybe a bit of an Italian (IV3PRK?). I was awaiting the DX to generate pileups in the DX Window (which was *generally* free from US stations, with one notable exception from 7-land), but conditions didn't seem to allow them to attract a pileup. Since my personal goals were to maximize QSOs and Grids rather than score, it made no sense for me to spend a lot of time calling CQ DX. Noise and band conditions in Ohio were very odd. The Europeans I heard were very weak and 'thready', with QSB bobbing them slightly above to below the noise. This as consistent with conditions here this season with few exceptions. The "Left Coast" folks were similarly weak, owing in part to the incentives for them to be running low power in this contest. What was different was that the "Shorty Beverages" almost never were better than the Inverted-L on receive, in any direction. This was in sharp contrast to their performance during the ARRL 160M Contest, when the Bevs worked well for me. Weather was clear locally, although there were storms South and West. What an odd obsession we all have! Jeff Maass K8ND It was a frustating conditions in Cinere during the second day. Noise floor was never less than S9+ 20dB since my sunset! I was expecting to re-work K7RAT like I did in 1998. Practically, I heard nothing but the noise until the contest finished because my RX antenna was broken long time ago. First day was better. Could hear strong signal (ever!) from KH2/K4SXT at around 1200z during almost 2 hours with only slight QSB. He's easily worked with 100 Watts. Thanks also to VQ9DX and VK6VZ. It's still a great contest, anyway. tnx es 73 de Jo, YC0LOW -- During the weekend StewPerry, I ran 100 watts. Don't think I won the Black Hole plaque (>400 miles from ocean) like I did last year running QRP, but my personal challege was to see if I could better my 1998 score using LP, which I did. I was able to work almost every thing I heard with the exception of KV4FZ, the PY's, and a few other HP stations. Worked 4 JA's compared to only 2 during the poorer JA conditions of the ARRL 160M test when we ran HP. As many have observed, the SPerry gives an scoring advantage under most conditions to QRP operation which I think is fine. In fact, my only suggestion to improve the contest is to limit power to what Stew Perry ran, 100 watts, the maximum allowed then. Actually, the SPerry rules make HP pretty uncompetitive so no need to ban HP. The much discussed and bemoaned stateside CQing in the DX window probably isn't as much of a problem as Loran was back in Stew's days (and the Loran never got out of the DX window back then no matter how much we pleaded :). I remember it well, as a little pistol in in MD and NY as a high school and college student. In fact, next year, I'll be able to compete in the over age 60 SP division. Tempus fugit! Thanks to all who provided plaques. I promise to do so next year. In memory of Stew and all the other giants who have contributed to our hobby.... Happy Hollidays to all! Doug W0AH hello all, i found conditions to be fair during the contest at my location in southern arizona.the following was some of the reports i heard DX stations at. all stations were copied on beverage antennas with "0" noise. it was REALLY QUIET here. kh7r- peaked at 599+10 and mike called 1 hour before his sunset. kv4fz- 589 dl2gg/yv5- 579 py2fus- 599+20 g3bua-559 ok1awz-559 g3pqa-579 heard off and on for hours fo0een-599 gw3jxn- 589 heard for 1 1/2 hour g3sed- 579 vk6hd-589 vk5vz-589 ua0mf- 599+20 ja stations- many at 599+10 to 30 db. i worked 27. lots of loud DX but not much activity. sorry about not hearing S50U who called. i would like SWL reports from any DX that i did not work, europeans in particular. see you all in the CQ 160 contest. happy holidays! larry, n7dd Hello All ! This was my first participation on the Stew Perry Contest, and I really enjoyed the time I spent on it, although the noise level here (10db over S9) didn't help. I'm just returning to the TopBand after a long time (24 years), and I'm still working on my station setup. I ordered a home made tower about four months ago, and I've paying the tower in monthly installments, and month after month the tower has been growing.... Last week it finally reached the final planned height of 25 meters, and my 160m inverted vee has been taken to top of it, just in time for the contest. Considering the reports I read, I feel like having a big mouth and no ears. I apologize those I've been unable to copy. I do have some beverages planned: one with two wavelengths beaming US and another one with one wavelength beaming EU, and I hope they will really improve my receiving conditions, but so far I'm using the inverted vee for receiving, too. On my fight against the noise I was able to work VQ9DX on his sunrise, on a 12600 km (26 points!) QSO. But I could complete a total of only 13 QSO's, average 17 points/QSO. On the night before (Friday) I worked 16 US stations in a row, but unfortunately these conditions did not repeat on Saturday. I didn't hear any other SA station but PY2BW. I want to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best at the holidays and in the coming year. 73's Ron PY2FUS K7NU Topbanders' Club Report, 1999 Stew Perry TBDC or "Are you SURE Field Day isn't in December?" I arrived at Horned Toad Acres, AZ, W7GNP's mountainous summer QTH, about 2130Z Saturday to commence setup of the quarter wave balloon antenna and station in one of the FD trailers. It was looking like it would be clear and cold that night, so I wanted everything ready by 0000Z. This was not to be! I got the station all set up: power hooked up, rig/computer set up and, most importantly, the heater warmed up! I even had the bed made up in the unlikely event that it would be needed! It was only 2300Z; plenty of time to fly the balloon, especially since Jim had left me a nice, big pulley atop "ye olde balloon supporte pole". There had been a "gentle" breeze blowing all afternoon. My customary 8 ft diameter balloons had been back-ordered in November, so I was going to try out one of the16 ft "backup" models. I usually only inflate them to about half size (4 ft) anyway, so I figured I would have plenty of extra room in the larger model. HOLY HELIUM! 16 ft is BIG! That breeze took to my balloon like a wouff-hong to a DX-hog! It was all I could do to keep it off the ground, out of the bushes, in my hand and get it attached to my precious "aerial wyre"! After the ordeal, I ran in and commenced to operate, only to find that my calls were answered with either dead air or CQ CQ ... well, you get the picture. Now we're talking LOUD stations that don't even hear a PEEP! Back outside to re-inspect the antenna, and oh noooooooo! It looks like an inverted "L" with no vertical section! (What's that, a semi-inverted "I"?) AND it was caught in the pine tree about 30' from its far end. Now pine trees have things on them called needles. They are called that for a good reason. That reason was foremost in my mind while gazing at my one thousandth of an inch thick neoprene balloon bobbing about just inches away from the 10,000 sharp, green "contest stoppers"! After an eternity (who keeps track of time at moments like this?) I managed to free the wire from the tree. It was obvious, however, that more lift was needed. The 16 ft balloon was much heavier and presented a much bigger surface area to the wind. I miraculously managed to haul it down and put in the rest of my tank of helium. I now had at least 5 lb of net lift and it was getting pretty tiring wrestling with this 7 ft behemoth. Even with the added lift, the "vertical" was never more than 30 degrees above horizontal. It was still coming dangerously close to those "contest stoppers". At this point, it was "40 deg and getting colder". OK, OK, you east coast guys can laugh, but I'm from the desert. Cold is anything below 90F. Fishing for owls in a 40F breeze is not for me! I decided that it was time. Damn the needles, full QRQ ahead! Until about 0700Z when the wind let up, I was living QSO by QSO, waiting for that loud "boom" that would signal the end of the 1999 Stew Perry TBDC for me. But it never came. All through the night, as the antenna got more vertical, it just worked better. Ah, topband, what a band you are. And what a great contest! Stew's sprit lives on! Thanks to all the Boring crew for their hard work, and thanks to W7GNP for the generous use of "ye olde balloon supporte pole" and the surrounding area. 73, Scotty WA2DFI, op at K7NU I am a bit of an anomaly in American amateur radio. I am a middle-aged male, but only licensed in 1993. Unlike most of you, I learned the code at age 39. I still struggle with it, but contests like this one force me to improve yearly. I have never experienced a solar cycle maximum. Maybe this is why the low bands (160 meters in particular)intrigue me so much. In any case, I was a participant in the first Stew Perry and every year since. It has become as much a part of my holiday season as the Christmas tree and presents. I was disappointed in my low band station the first year. I went and laid out a Beverage. I was disappointed in my station the second year. I went and laid out two more Beverages, put a 1/4 wave radial system in place with over 70 radials, and erected a low inverted-L (southern New England trees are really just shrubs). I was disapponted in my station the third year, but I got the crazy idea to get a Master's degree (what is a doc doing with a management degree?) No radio. Off the air. Finished in November, just in time to return to the air for this Stew Perry. I am still disappointed. The spring will find me working on the radial system and looking to acquire a commercial vertical antenna for topband. Conditions from Northeastern Connecticut were lackluster. The noise level was tolerable but the propagation was sad. I only heard Europe at 0500 UTC. Even then it was a struggle to make any contact. I worked long to get a QSO with a GW station (forgive me, I forgot the call). Never made it. Frustrating not to be able to get Wales from Connecticut. Lots of U.S. stations put up with my rudimentary CW skills, and I thank them all for their incredible patience. I reached as far north as Quebec, as far west as Kansas, as far east as Kaliningrad, and as far south as Cuba. I had been on-call playing doctor all week, fatigue set in quickly, and I signed off the air after 8 hours of operation. BUT I HAD A BALL! Wait till you hear my signal next year! Happy Holidays, Mike, N1MD
Lost my towers in Hurricane Lenny before the contest but was thrilled how well an inverted L at 40 feet was able to bring in so many nice contacts. Most notable was the high caliber of operators. Stew Perry's legacy has left his footprint on the "Topband". I bet he is very proud of all of you. - KV4FZ
Thanks for running this fun contest! It was great to hear the JA's so loud. JA5DQH was my last QSO and best DX, and he was S9!. This is the first time I have worked JA's with low power. UA0MF, VK6VX and VK6HD were all weak but copyable, but I couldnt get thru to them. Antenna here is 75 foot shunt fed grounded vertical, with a rx loop, on a city lot. 73, Rod VE7VV
You guys should consider toning down the power multiplier. Look at the score totals compared to power! I made almost half the score in two hours running five watts than I did in the full contest last year running high power, but I won't send in a log or even bother with making contacts next year. This isn't a distance challenge, it's a QRP contest. I listened to DOZENS of Eu, VQ9IO, 4X4's, and others calling CQ but if I would have ran enough power to work them my score would have dropped like a rock. I can easily work hundreds of USA at less than 5 watts, and there are not enough DX stations in the world to offset the multiplier. The winners will always be USA stations with exceptionally big antennas who run flea power, and the poor guy with a normal installation doesn't have a chance. 73, Tom W8JI
And here are the scores.
High power single op scores:
Call Grid Power Cat QSOs Grids Score Best DX with (distance in km) VK6VZ OF88 H S 120 97 3726 18694 NB1B N7DD DM42 H S 247 159 1588 15602 VK6HD JA5DQH PM73 H S 79 54 1433 11281 W5UN VQ9DX MI62 H S 85 70 1388 14690 KH6AT NB1B FN41 H S 286 154 1357 18694 VK6VZ W7RM CN85 H S 206 139 1183 14878 VK6HD K8ND EN80 H S 396 165 1141 7335 KH7R UA2FF KO04 H S 183 132 985 15216 VK2OI K1FK FN57 H S 208 126 964 14310 VQ9DX DJ7AA JO52 H S 167 121 957 13998 VK6HD K1VW FN31 H S 240 132 948 18847 VK6HD WD5R EM45 H S 314 145 923 17476 VK6HD W7AWA CN88 H S 168 110 888 14712 VK6VZ N5LZ EL29 H S 223 125 826 11281 JA5DQH 4X4NJ KM71 H S 127 89 763 8940 NB1B N1EU FN32 H S 193 115 744 18506 VK6VZ W1FJ FN42 H S 215 111 718 18602 VK6VZ W4ZV EM95 H S 195 111 704 18382 VK6HD JA0QWO PM85 H S 43 34 668 10231 W5DM 5H3RK KI93 H S 47 39 639 11514 JA1JRK KV4FZ FK77 H S 90 68 618 9715 KH7R N8EA EN82 H S 191 107 612 18071 VK6HD K5ZO EM12 H S 189 118 608 2754 W7WA N3OC FM28 H S 213 115 607 18862 VK6HD N1RJ FN43 H S 134 92 587 8243 KH7R N6RO CM98 H S 91 69 565 14895 VK6HD S50U JN66 H S 153 110 558 8411 VQ9DX K9MA EN53 H S 214 118 553 2818 N6FF 8S5X JO99 H S 132 98 553 13673 VK6HD N1RR FN41 H S 147 88 540 6874 9A2TW K5ZG EN70 H S 213 112 531 8105 PY2FUS OH8LAE KP44 H S 107 79 520 13026 VK6VZ W7EW CN84 H S 99 75 516 9129 KH2/K4SXT NO2R FN20 H S 171 95 504 7212 9A2TW W2VJN CN83 H S 104 69 502 14843 VK6HD N8PR EL96 H S 130 87 490 7834 KH7R W6EU CM99 H S 122 78 487 14778 VK6VZ K4SXT QK23 H S 34 27 481 11708 S57M W9WI EM66 H S 196 113 476 3208 W7AWA K5MC EM32 H S 133 93 474 17200 VK6VZ W3GN FM19 H S 190 104 461 7859 KH7R N4BP EL96 H S 127 80 456 6633 PY2FUS EA6ACC JM08 H S 98 76 440 8990 VQ9DX K1EA FN42 H S 142 76 432 18602 VK6VZ 5B4ADA KM65 H S 81 67 431 9115 JA1JRK K5WO EM12 H S 141 98 427 2807 W7AWA K0CS DM79 H S 91 73 423 16279 VK6HD K5NA EM10 H S 86 73 422 16815 VK6HD WT9Q EN53 H S 174 99 417 2818 N6FF IV3PRK JN66 H S 97 81 410 13490 VK6VZ OH2BO KP20 H S 68 63 396 13104 VK6VZ K5ZD FN42 H S 112 66 354 6559 9A1A 9A2TW JN83 H S 83 65 350 7974 VQ9DX NI6T CM97 H S 81 55 323 8903 JA5DQH W6UE DM04 H S 84 61 323 8746 FO0EEN AB4I EM96 H S 124 78 311 3657 N6FF RV1CC KO59 H S 71 61 309 14487 VK2OI W7LR DN45 H S 64 51 299 15631 VK6VZ N1MD FN41 H S 110 60 293 6569 S57M K1KI FN32 H S 77 57 286 6715 OK2RZ K3UL FN11 H S 40 38 280 18569 VK6HD NS0B EM38 H S 103 77 263 2623 W7WA N0IJ EN36 H S 73 61 252 6486 KH7R ON4WW JO11 H S 51 47 237 14523 VK6HD AJ6T CM97 H S 75 47 231 8903 JA5DQH PY2FUS GG66 H S 13 13 229 12660 VQ9DX 7S5J JO79 H S 40 36 225 13896 VK6HD IK0HBN JN62 H S 80 66 215 5920 VE1ZZ N5OT EM26 H S 84 59 212 2834 VE1ZZ N6ZZ DM73 H S 55 42 201 10306 JA5DQH K8OQL FM09 H S 71 48 192 18325 VK6VZ W3MC FM19 H S 61 47 188 18475 VK6VZ K6DB CM98 H S 52 38 168 4083 KH7R W4VQ EL98 H S 48 39 160 2905 N7DD W7LNG CN82 H S 61 38 150 4075 KH7R W4PA EM85 H S 66 50 147 3527 K7RAT ZS6EZ KG44 H S 10 10 131 12642 NB1B N3AM FM19 H S 52 39 125 5813 G3PQA G3TXF IO91 H S 40 33 115 5277 NB1B N2LO FN20 H S 51 32 98 1649 N4BP K3SWZ FN10 H S 49 29 85 1516 W0FLS W7GNP DM33 H S 35 27 64 1674 K5KA WL7E CN87 H S 25 17 52 4322 KH7R OM5RW JN98 H S 1 1 18 8989 JA1JRK RA6LBS LN16 H S 7 9 13 2179 OH8LAE
Low power single op scores:
Call Grid Power Cat QSOs Grids Score Best DX with (distance in km) W0AH DM78 L S 261 149 2032 16148 VK6VZ K1PX FN31 L S 299 129 1894 18847 VK6HD K7NU DM44 L S 178 114 1844 15660 VK6HD K1KY EM66 L S 304 138 1646 7053 KH7R K9ZO EN50 L S 282 137 1576 17641 VK6HD WA9IRV EN54 L S 265 134 1516 6801 KH7R K9LU EN51 L S 282 133 1446 6821 KH7R W0AIH EN44 L S 236 121 1406 17387 VK6HD N5UL DM82 L S 157 104 1328 10517 JA5DQH N5DO DM80 L S 155 106 1318 10674 JA5DQH KU8E EN80 L S 273 128 1302 3452 N6ZFO W5ODD EL09 L S 126 94 1232 16598 VK6HD VE3OSZ FN25 L S 213 106 1220 7882 KH7R K9AY EM83 L S 200 116 1212 18138 VK6VZ AA4NN EM95 L S 218 118 1178 7605 KH7R N2ED FN20 L S 173 99 1152 8001 KH7R KJ9C EM69 L S 238 119 1114 7011 KH7R K0EJ EM66 L S 202 110 1078 7053 KH7R N4DU EM71 L S 191 109 1068 3618 W7RM K4WX EM66 L S 219 119 1060 3208 W7AWA K2WI FN20 L S 154 100 1058 18549 VK6VZ WJ0M EN36 L S 154 99 1044 6486 KH7R VE7SL CN88 L S 123 86 1040 8098 JA5DQH K9MMS EN51 L S 193 115 1038 6821 KH7R K4IQ EM97 L S 221 108 1018 3620 N6FF N6CMF DM14 L S 103 73 1010 15128 VK6HD N8AA EN91 L S 209 111 1008 7484 KH7R KT4ZX EM78 L S 205 120 1002 3252 N6FF N6HC DM13 L S 99 66 986 15097 VK6HD OM3TZQ JN98 L S 122 97 982 13113 VK6VZ K3JT EM99 L S 207 108 944 7522 KH7R W1TO FN32 L S 156 91 914 8112 KH7R AA4Z EM92 L S 157 99 896 7675 KH7R G4VGO JO02 L S 97 77 860 14670 VK6HD W9RE EM69 L S 149 94 784 3775 DL2GG/YV5 WA7LNW DM37 L S 135 81 772 9184 JA0AWQ K4LDR EL88 L S 118 82 750 7588 KH7R K4RO EM66 L S 155 87 696 2899 AD6C WA8WV EM98 L S 161 88 692 7541 KH7R WA7BNM DM04 L S 82 54 652 14849 VK6VZ K5KA EM26 L S 113 86 648 2834 VE1ZZ N6AA DM04 L S 77 51 618 9243 JA5DQH K9AA EN62 L S 150 78 612 1947 VE1ZZ VE7VV CN88 L S 86 62 598 8098 JA5DQH W9YS EN52 L S 117 79 562 6813 KH7R KE0FT EN41 L S 118 76 536 2680 N6FF N8BJQ EN80 L S 97 65 524 17968 VK6VZ K8VT EN82 L S 116 75 524 7304 KH7R WT9U EN61 L S 125 71 508 1808 N5RZ K8MR EN91 L S 106 75 500 3501 N6FF WO1N FN42 L S 74 51 496 6503 S57M KG9N EN50 L S 102 69 490 2865 N6FF AA1SU FN34 L S 94 58 474 8060 KH7R KQ6ES DM13 L S 82 52 474 9457 JA5DQH JE1SPY PM95 L S 14 13 470 10097 N5UL K3SV FN10 L S 86 65 458 3855 N6FF AF4OD EM72 L S 78 65 452 3628 W7AWA VE7BS CO80 L S 48 38 444 7984 JA5DQH W3CP FM19 L S 118 72 440 1985 N5LZ N1KWF FN32 L S 71 51 436 6635 S57M W8RU EN82 L S 102 64 424 3025 K6NDV N0AT EN34 L S 72 54 402 6483 KH7R VE6JY DO33 L S 55 42 398 5255 KH7R W2TX FN13 L S 94 57 384 1780 NA5B KT4U FM07 L S 86 59 364 7735 KH7R KJ5WX EM46 L S 77 61 356 2850 W7RM NM7M CN88 L S 52 42 332 4377 KH7R K0INT DM04 L S 66 44 326 4159 KH7R N0AX CN87 L S 57 42 312 3699 W4ZV K1TO EL87 L S 46 36 296 2750 N7DD K0UK DM59 L S 54 47 296 3802 VE1ZZ N6OU DM04 L S 49 36 288 9243 JA5DQH HB9ARF JN36 L S 66 48 278 2918 4X4NJ WK5K EM13 L S 50 40 270 2586 W7RM G3SXW IO91 L S 39 33 256 5277 NB1B KN4Y EL79 L S 56 47 244 2737 N7JW KD6WW CM98 L S 40 30 230 8426 FO0EEN WM9M EM40 L S 37 32 216 2485 K6NDV N7FF CM97 L S 53 31 212 4053 KH7R VE2AWR FN46 L S 40 28 200 3726 N7DD KE6QR CM88 L S 45 25 186 2229 VE7ZO K2YW FN03 L S 52 39 184 1359 WD5R W4TDB EM66 L S 49 40 182 1577 N5RZ K4VV FM18 L S 44 37 180 2409 N2IC N7LOX CN87 L S 41 28 176 4322 KH7R EW8OS KO52 L S 32 29 176 2420 GW3JXN K1RO FN31 L S 51 35 174 1502 W0AIH N5KB EM12 L S 25 23 156 2657 K7RAT N7WA CN87 L S 34 24 154 3102 K5XR W3KM FN20 L S 40 34 152 2397 ZF2NT K4TW EM73 L S 35 30 150 1601 ZF2NT YU1RA KN04 L S 28 26 140 2008 GW3TMP KR2Q FN20 L S 33 27 124 1683 W0FLS SM6CNS JO67 L S 27 24 124 1363 9A5Y G6QQ JO02 L S 29 26 122 2081 OH8LAE W6RKC CM98 L S 15 14 92 4383 ZF2NT YO3APJ KN34 L S 14 14 86 2502 GW3JXN SM7BHM JO76 L S 19 19 80 1372 RK3AWE SK6AW JO67 L S 9 9 52 2864 5B4ADA YC0LOW OI33 L S 2 3 8 3757 VQ9DX
QRP single op scores:
Call Grid Power Cat QSOs Grids Score Best DX with (distance in km) K7CA DM37 Q S 166 109 2928 15557 VK6HD N7GP DM52 Q S 165 120 2592 10106 JA5DQH N0TT EM29 Q S 202 123 2428 17139 VK6HD W3GH FN00 Q S 225 120 2340 7669 KH7R AA8U EN72 Q S 218 104 1948 7141 KH7R K3WW FN20 Q S 177 81 1460 8001 KH7R N7IR DM43 Q S 100 64 1328 9892 JA5DQH W0HW EN35 Q S 114 80 1260 3088 ZF2NT N4ROA EM86 Q S 144 78 1164 7407 KH7R K0RI DM78 Q S 69 54 976 5456 KH7R KI0G DM69 Q S 62 52 856 9720 JA5DQH K8CV EN82 Q S 95 59 716 1799 N5LZ K7TQ DN16 Q S 42 28 336 1425 AE7H N8XA EM79 Q S 44 34 316 1918 N5DO HB9IAL JN36 Q S 25 24 168 1650 8S5X DL1LAW JN59 Q S 11 11 76 1981 OH8LAE K2TOP FN20 Q S 1 1 68 8001 KH7R
Multi op scores:
Call Grid Power Cat QSOs Grids Score Best DX with (distance in km) KH7R BL01 H M 249 138 3167 14247 VQ9DX KE9I EN61 L M 329 147 1856 17786 VK6HD NA5B EM25 L M 253 145 1670 17116 VK6HD K7RAT CN85 H M 285 164 1636 14878 VK6HD K6NDV DM15 H M 259 155 1414 15158 VK6HD W8TOP EN72 H M 301 149 969 17916 VK6HD N0MJ EN27 H M 191 122 579 2833 KS7R K5IUA EL29 H M 86 63 320 3022 W7RM