If 1995 was the year that got me seriously hooked on contesting, 1996 was the beginning of the real transformation of the station and of me as a contester. I finished a new tower with real antennas in early 1996 that allowed me to put out a much more effective signal. I was unable to truly compete with the big guns with high power, but I was very pleased with the performance of the new antennas. This just goes to prove the old advice whereby if you had money to invest in your station, invest it in antennas first! I had my first big victory this year when I broke the old Carbon County record in the PA QSO Party. In the following several years, I broke a number of records in this contest either as a single operator or as part of the K3II and W3HA muti-multi efforts.

This was also the year of the vanity call program's first mad rush. A lot of call signs changed this year, including mine. K3PP appeared on the scene and continued to expand in contesting and DXing circles. The phone version of ARRL Sweepstakes was full of new and unusual call signs, as this was the first contest weekend after the initial release of new calls!

Month Contest Submitted Score Final Score QSOs Class
Mode
Call More Information
Jan
North American QSO Party 5,917 97 SO
SSB
N3BDA
Feb
ARRL International DX Contest 35,607 143 SOLP
CW
N3BDA
Feb
CQ 160m Contest 8,959 134 SOLP
SSB
N3BDA
Mar
ARRL International DX Contest 1,074,450 1,103 M/2
SSB
K3II Ops: K3II, WB3ESS, N3BDA
Mar
CQ Worldwide WPX Contest 94,864 211 SOLP
SSB
N3BDA
Jun
Field Day 4,120 1,285 2A
Mixed
K3II Carbon ARC
Jul
IARU HF World Championships 82,810 318 SOLP
Mixed
N3BDA
Jul
Islands on the Air 16,375 ? SOLP 20m
SSB
N3BDA
Aug
North American QSO Party 49,440 412 SO
SSB
N3BDA
Sep
CQWW DX Contest 37,990 132 SOLP
RTTY
N3BDA
Oct
Pennsylvania QSO Party 80,588 642 SOMP
Mixed
N3BDA County record!
Oct
CQ Worldwide DX Contest 2,119,649 ? M/M
SSB
K3II Ops: K3II, WB3ESS, N3BDA
Nov
CQ WE Contest 67 SO
Mixed
N3BDA
Nov
ARRL Sweepstakes 60,528 388 SOLP
SSB
K3PP
Nov
CQ Worldwide DX Contest 156,704 251 SOLP
CW
K3PP
Dec
ARRL 160m Contest 5,070 83 SOLP
CW
K3PP
Dec
ARRL 10m Contest 36,108 215 SOLP
Mixed
K3PP

Highlights:

  • Score Contest Results
    1,074,450 ARRL International DX Phone Contest Operating with the excellent K3II team
    4,120 Field Day With the Carbon ARC atop Blue Mt. Ski Area
    80,588 Pennsylvania QSO Party New Carbon County Single-Op Record (Set in 1991 by KO3M) 
    WINNER! - Carbon Amateur Radio Club
    2,119,649 CQ Worldwide DX Phone Contest Operating with the excellent K3II team
  • Last updated: 04-Nov-2007 by K3PP