11/27/2005 | N3CA This was the first real test for my new Force 12 C3E beam at 50ft and resonant
dipoles on 40 and 80 to replace my G5RV. It was an interesting contest - I
discovered that I have audio feedback on 80m when my laptop is attached to my
radio, so I was without the voice keyer for a lot of the time. My voice is now
very sore. This was my second time doing Sweepstakes, but it was the first time doing it both as a single op and competitively.

I was surprised that I was able to get a clean sweep running low power. I s/p'd
for the first hour or two combined with short bursts of running. 10m was open to
the west coast at the start of the contest. I got all sections by 3pm Sunday,
the last being Hawaii which I found on 15m. Surprisingly, some of the last
sections I needed were Oklahoma, Santa Barbara, and Mississippi.

It was also good to hear other young ops on the air. I am 17, and I also heard
young hams KB0VVT, KC0INX, W3MTC (op W3ADX), K3ASK, KB1LQC, N4CV, and KC2NMZ in the
contest. I'm looking for young hams to join a youth team for the next North
American QSO Party. We've had two incarnations so far. Send an email my way if interested. -- N3CA