USA CQ WW SSB 2007 - N1UR TRIES TO GRAB FOURTH LOW POWER VICTORY IN A ROW

By Jamie Dupree NS3T, radio-sport.net 

For three straight years Ed Sawyer N1UR (2006 log) has ruled the low power section of CQ WW SSB in the United States and the Vermont ham will be back again this year to see if he can make it four SSB wins in a row.

"I am always altering and refining my decision making in the big DX contests," said Sawyer. "One thing I am always trying to improve is 2nd radio contacts while running at a good clip."

Sawyer has watched his winning scores drop more than half from 2004, when he won US low power with 2.6 million points. In 2005, it was 1.5 million and 2006, 1.19 million.

Getting ready for 2007, Sawyer says he's tried to pick up even more about his competition by reviewing the logs of leading low and high power stations.

"I have learned quite a bit," said Sawyer. "My biggest impression is that people are S&P'ing a lot more than I realized during these low sunspots. Even the top contenders."

Over in the high power section, this year's battle is more wide open, as the US has had four different winners in the last four years.

Richard DiDonna NN3W (2006 log) will try to break that run by defending his 2006 title, as he operates again from the superstation QTH of N3HBX to the northwest of Washington, D.C.

"I found that N3HBX is one hell of a powerful station on the high bands," said DiDonna. "As long as I can find a space to run, I can run all day."

DiDonna though said he did find some areas for improvement as he reviewed his winning log from 2006.

"I really need to work on my low-band performance," said the Virginia contester. "I also found that I need to continue to push all the way to the end of the contest to maximize score."

In second place last year was the 2004 US HP winner Ken Claerbout K4ZW, (2006 log) who lost to NN3W by only 150,000 points.

"I expect it will be even more difficult this year to compete with Rich," said Claerbout. "His skills continue to improve and I just don't have the hardware at home to compete."

Claerbout though will be able to improve that hardware situation in CQ WW CW, as he'll take over the N3HBX station for that contest in November.

As for others with a chance to win this year, don't count out past winner Randy Thompson K5ZD (2006 log.)

Thompson finished third last year and plans a competitive effort in 2007, in part to gain extra qualifying points for the World Radiosport Team Championships in Russia in 2010.

"It will provide some extra motivation to make an effort in WW phone," said Thompson. "CQWW CW is my favorite contest of the year, so I will do it anyway."

Thompson says his game plan for now includes a bit of off time. "For phone, I will sleep both nights. Some time between European sunrise and W1 sunrise."

Out west, Steve London N2IC (2006 log) will be back for another High Power effort after he finished 6th in the US in 2006.

"There's no real secret or magic to making the top-10 from the western USA," says London, "It just takes a willingness to spend many hours dealing with the zoo on 20 meters, taking advantage of 15 meters when it's open, and gutting it out during the wee hours on 40 meters for a mediocre rate to JA."

Located in the southwest corner of New Mexico, London says he does have a slight advantage on 15 and 10 meters over some of his competitors.

"Despite a solar flux of only 74 last year, 15 meters was a major player for me, to both Europe and JA for big QSO numbers, said London. "I even had a short 10 meter JA and Far East run last year."

Another western op to watch is Mitch Mason K7RL, (2006 log) who pushed his way into 9th in the US from the Seattle area.

"It's very challenging," says Mason, "especially during the solar cycle low when the high bands are poor, and the low bands loom large. This scenario tends to heavily favor the East Coast."

But Mason says a little luck with band conditions can give West Coast stations an edge.

"If "El Sol" can bless us with a low A and K index (like last year) allowing us to grab a few of those precious low band EU mults while bulking up the log with JA Qs, we have a fighting chance," said Mason.

Mason's strategy could be a familiar one for many operators around the world this year.

"At this stage of the solar cycle, my strategy is to maximize all 20m runs; it's the money band and deserves my full attention," said Mason. "10m and 15m aren't really runnable, which allows me to quickly scan the bands and pick-up mults without missing any 20m action."

For western ops, Japanese contesters are the wild card.

"A good JA turnout is key," acknowledges Mason. "That said, it still doesn't provide an advantage on any band versus a competitive East coast station; the volume and number of European mults is just too great."

London N2IC says in the end, who gets on from the East Coast will determine whether he can do better this year.

"It's hard to plan on improving on the #6 (in the US) slot," says London. "It all depends on who does a serious SOAB HP effort from the East Coast."