12/12/2005 | KF9US Conditions this year seemed better than last year; at least there was an opening from Wisconsin to Africa (5U, 6W and EA8) on Sunday. Last year, all I could hear was Florida; this year I struggled to make a couple of QSOs to that state. However, there was plenty of opportunity to work stations elsewhere in the Southeast. Between about 2100Z and 2330Z on Saturday, the propagation beacons from NC were screaming S9+ into Wausau, so I managed to work a bunch of stations in NC, SC, VA, DC, WV and MD.

It seems like the toughest states were the ones next door; I never heard a peep out of MI and IL. The Caribbean stations were few and far between. Plenty of really loud signals from California and TX, though. All told, 215 QSOs and 56 mults for 24080...better than last year!

As always, this is my favorite contest and I'll be back next year! 73, Phil -- KF9US