Sun Helps A Little For ARRL DX CW, As RD3A Smashes 18-Year Old Single Op Record From PJ4A

By Jamie Dupree NS3T  radio-sport.net 
Posted February 21, 2011

With more activity that usual in recent years on 10 meters, top scores were up in the 2011 ARRL DX CW Contest, as Valery Komarov RD3A claimed a top score that would smash the 18 year old Single Operator DX record by over a million points.

With over 1500 contacts on 10, 15 and 20 meters, Komarov churned out 7,220 QSO's, as he nabbed 348 mults in all for 7.53 million points.

Komarov, who usually operates from EF8M in the Canary Islands, made his first trip to Bonaire a memorable one, as he easily broke the Single Op record set back in 1993 by Jeff Steinman N5TJ (ex-KR0Y) at VP5F of 6.48 million.

Also edging over that record was John Barcroft K6AM, who ran ZF2AM to 6.664 million from the Cayman Islands.

"10 meters could not have woken up at a better time," Barcroft wrote on 3830, says he was "thrilled to hear the band break open wide to all the US and VE about 10 am Sat."

Barcroft's "personal best" in any contest though couldn't overcome Komarov, who had 59 mults on 15, 20 and 40 meters, 58 mults on 10 and 80 and 55 mults on 160 meters.

Most of the action on 10 meters was on North-South paths, as the band was filled with strong signals from the Carribean and South America, as well as a few from Africa.

Europe though did not see things break wide open on the East-West contest paths of old.

"It was good to hear 10 meters open a bit to NA from here," reported Bob MD0CCE on 3830, "but the promise of only two days before, when it was REALLY open to NA, was not fulfilled.

"Maybe the good old days of 10m are coming back soon?" wondered Eric Hall K9GY, who made six contacts with a whip antenna from a picnic bench at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

While those in the Carribean and South America were able to post big numbers on 10 meters, that just wasn't the case for US & Canadian hams, who must wait another year for a big opening to Europe.

Even the big Multi-ops like Team K3LR could only squeeze 250 QSO's and 75 mults out, while Team Cw5W in Uruguay racked up 1,247 on 10.