2008 WPX CW Single Op Fight Wide Open As Many Expect Bad Band Conditions Yet Again

By Jamie Dupree NS3T  radio-sport.net 
Posted May 19, 2008

If you're looking for a spot where you might have a chance at victory in the 2008 CQ WPX CW contest, then look no further than the Single Operator High Power category, where last year's winner and 3rd place finisher are already out of the running.

"This year I will work with my friends M/S as 3V8BB," said 2007 High Power winner Hrane Milosevic YT1AD, who will be joined in Tunisia by YT3W, Z32ZM and N2OW.

"After two times SOAB HP 1st in world in last two WPX, now is time for Multi-Single," Milosevic told radio-sport.net.

Also planning to duck back into the Multi-Single ranks will be 2007 SOAB HP third place finisher Harry Booklan RA3AUU, who will be back at P33W in Cyprus.

Booklan told radio-sport.net last weekend at the Dayton Hamvention that his single operator effort in 2007 was unplanned, as his teammate RW3QC was unable to travel to Cyprus for the test.

The Carribean had the advantage in WPX SSB for both SO High Power and Low Power, but North Africa also showed some strength, and there are contenders in all of those spots for this contest as well.

Hall of Famer Jim Neiger N6TJ will be in the Canary Islands as EE8Z, where he'll be going toe-to-toe with Russian Valery Komarov RD3AF as EF8M. Last year Komarov used the same station and call for a resounding victory in the Multi-Two category.

Down in the Carribean, some might expect a big score from John Barcroft K6AM.

"Back to the Carribean as ZF2AM SOAB for yet another attempt to overcome the 2-point land handicap," Barcroft told radio-sport.net.

"We have a new 2-element 80 meter beam at 90 feet that has been working real well. It should pump up the 6 pointers on 80," Barcroft said.

Another top competitor in the high power ranks will be Filipe Lopes CT1ILT told radio-sport.net that he will not be defending his 2007 SOAB LP title.

"My plan for WPX CW is the same as it was for SSB - SOAB," said Lopes, who says his goal is "try to get as many points as I can for WRTC even though my station is not prepared to fight again big stations like M6T OK5R 4O3A .... anyway will be fun..."

One of those competing in low power this year will be 2008 ARRL DX SSB leader Yuri Onipko VE3DZ, who will be in Bermuda for WPX CW.

"I don't know what to expect - I've never been there before," Onipko told radio-sport.net.

"I would do a SOAB HP, but unfortunately power limit on Bermuda is 150 watts and amps are not permitted," he added.

Also on the road again this year is Eric Hall K9GY, who instead of going to the Bahamas, will be back for another contest in Nicaragua.

"I'll be serious the whole 36 hours alloted," said Hall, who finished 6th in 2007 and 7th in 2006 in LP.

"I would hope to beat my score from 2006 since I'll have better antennas in Nicaragua," Hall told radio-sport.net.

In the US and Canada, the top North American scorer from last year has a lot of work to do to repair ice storm damage from the winter, as Ken Widelitz K6LA/VY2TT says he hopes to be ready when the green flag drops.

"I hope to be able to use 15m – 80m by the WPX weekend," Widelitz told radio-sport.net just before leaving for Prince Edward Island.

"I bought a couple of $200 per gallon anti-icing paint that is supposed to reduce ice loading by 80%. All antennas that get repaired will get a coat," said Widelitz.

In the multi ranks, defending multi-single champ P40L will be back on the air, but its crew is still deciding on what category to enter.

"AE6Y, W6LD, KX7M and W0YK are going down to finish the antenna/tower re-build begun after WPX RTTY," said Ed Muns W0YK. "If we get the RFI down, we'll do a M2, otherwise MS."

"The key for us to win is no serious competition from North Africa!" Muns told radio-sport.net.

Already staking out some ground in Multi-Two is David Kopacz 6Y1V, who will have his team try to repeat the 6Y1V North America record-setting performance in the WPX SSB test back in March.

"I don't anticipate conditions being any better than they have been for the past year," Kopacz told radio-sport.net.

"Fortunately, from the Caribbean, propagation isn't too bad even during the bottom of the cycle. The worst part is 10 meters being closed," said Kopacz, echoing a familiar refrain from contesters worldwide.

"I believe our CW team, John K4BAI, Guy N7ZG, Ismael XE1AY and myself have the same enthusiasm and drive as did the SSB team," said Kopacz.

"I believe we can break the NA WPX CW record. We'll certainly know by 2359Z Sunday!"