Some Sunspots Deliver Up and Down Conditions for 2009 IARU; VY2ZM (K1ZM) Grabs Lead

By Jamie Dupree NS3T  radio-sport.net 
Posted July 12, 2009

While the sunspot numbers over the IARU 2009 weekend were nothing spectacular, there was more than enough activity to keep the bands active, as even 10 meters showed some life at times.

"The recent increase in sunspots really helped the propagation," said Gary Senesac AL9A.

"Great activity in the middle of Summer," said Paul Newberry N4PN in his 3830. "20 meters was open all night to somewhere."

20 meters did have some good offerings which may have even siphoned some operators away from the low bands during the night.

Early top scores included another big effort from Prince Edward Island in Canada, as Jeff Briggs K1ZM powered his VY2ZM station to 2.73 million points from 2,526 contacts in the Single Op CW category. One of those moving into the high power category this year was Bob Barden MD0CCE, who could be heard running furiously on 20 meters from the USA.

Barden won the Low Power Mixed title in 2008, and a year later, he claimed a solid score of 1.7 million points.

"6 HQ Stations worked on all bands and 6 of those on both modes on all bands," Barden reported on 3830.

This year's contest featured four groups of operators testing out the Field Day style setups for the 2010 World Radiosport Team Championships in Russia, where competitors will use similar stations and just 100 watts.

"I never heard any of the Russian WRTC-style stations, so you competitors really have your work cut out for you next year," said Kirk Pickering K4RO, who came close to a million points this year in his own CW High Power entry from Tennessee.

10 meters was open at times, as some found the band in better shape than 15 meters at points, but extended openings were rare, as not enough stations were venturing down to 10 during the test.

For most ops of course, the top scores weren't a possibility, as they tried to add new DXCC or better their scores from a previous year.

Down in Texas, that's exactly what Jim George N3BB was up to, as he clocked in with a best ever score of 1.3 million in SO CW HP.

"It was a PR (personal record) for me in this contest," George wrote on 3830, "and it's always a thrill to be in there with the best CW operators all over the world. "