01/10/2006 | KD1ZX This was my first contest of ANY kind. I really didn't know what to expect. I spent some time weeks in advance getting set up, reading the rules, making sure the equipment, computer, software and interface all played nice together.

I was a nervous wreck by the time 1:00 pm Saturday (est) rolled around. It was intense for me. The contest went well after I got rolling and got the hang of it.

My meager shack: Kenwood ts440s, Gap Titan DX, 100 watts power, homebrewed amd 2400+, bux comm interface adapted for use with the fsk & aux jacks at the back of the radio.

I will definitely do this again. after I got over my apprehensions, I had a ball.

Rookie stats:
411 qso's, 78 multipliers, 32058 claimed score
worked 40 out of 50 states, 5 Canadian provinces, 34 countries.

I was pretty happy with those results.

The highlight of the event was working pj2t on 10M. My one and ONLY 10M contact of the contest. I really had to work to get that one with the band in the condition it was. -- KD1ZX