12/12/2005 | N3PAQ I really enjoyed my first contest, even though I only managed thirteen contacts, four states, and two countries. Since Im new to HF, my first cross country contacts were quite exciting, and even more exciting was working Venezuela and Aruba. My antenna, a wire out the window, was a limiting factor, as was spending eight or more hours calling CQ on CW between 28.15 and 28.19, I didnt manage a single CW QSO, I found out later that most of the activity on the Novice bands was between 28.10 and 28.13. Next year, Ill have a general license and my code speed will be much improved, and Ill have an actual 10 meter antenna built. N3PAQ -- N3PAQ