[AK-VHF] [PNWVHFS] CQ WW VHF

[Paul Kiesel]

Ed,

Thanks for your report from South Central Alaska. You and the other guys generated some excitement down here by being active on the other end of the sporadic-E opening. If some of the other Alaskans had been using small yagis, at a minimum, more of you likely would have been worked by the guys down here. Something to plan for. DXing on six meters is too much fun! I personally did not have good enough conditions to have QSOs with you all this time, this being due to noise and propagation working against me, along with the Olympic Mountains that are just across the water from me. Next time, though.

Generally, the meteor scatter maximum range is considered to be about 2300 km. The distance between you and me is about 2330 km. I think a ms contact is possible, but it might take a bunch of tries to get it done. You would have a better chance of getting it done quicker by trying with some of the guys in British Columbia, particularly with VE7DAY who lives half way up Vancouver Island in CO70.

I hope the Alaskans who got on with wire antennas this time will put some strong consideration into getting a gain antenna up for 50 MHz. I know conditions in Alaska during the winter will make it necessary to consider snow loads on large antennas, but good planning will make it possible to get at least a few elements in the air. The more elements, the better, though.

BTW, the sporadic-E season is not yet over. The band could open at any time, but it's best to look during evening hours (for us). Looking forward to working you again soon!

73, Paul K7CW



________________________________
 From: Edward R Cole <kl7uw at acsalaska.net>
To: pnwvhfs at googlegroups.com 
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2013 12:48 AM
Subject: [PNWVHFS] CQ WW VHF
 

I had some fun with this contest.  I focused on 6m.

We started out with our usual local VHF Net an hour before the start 
of the contest.  Half way thru we switched from 144.200 to 50.125 so 
everyone
 could test their 6m station.  We had three of us on the 
Kenai Peninsula (BP40) with maximum range of 40-mi and had good 
signals though both NL7OW and KL7XJ were loading HF wires on 
6m.  WL7AK in Eagle River (BP51) about 10-mi north of Anchorage and 
about 70-mi from me was not heard on 6m (he was also loading HF 
antenna and stated, later, that high SWR prevented running much power 
(has new TS-590).

So at 1800z we were back on 144.200 so we gave each other points and 
two grids (logged 3 qso's).  Then all switched to 50.125 where I 
worked NL7OW, KL7XJ in BP40 and KL6M in BP51.  There was calling up 
to about 2100z but resulted in no DX.  I did hear Kevin, KL7KY call 
once but he didn't come back.

The fun resumed at 0445z on July 21 (2045 local) when I came into the 
shack to hear VE7DAY calling very strong.  For the next two hours the 
PNW was in and I worked: VE7JH,
 VE7XF, then tried VE7D/R but never 
copied his grid, worked W7FI, VA7FC, KE7V, heard NX7R but not worked, 
finishing up with KC7I at 0627z.  I heard K7CW about 0530z but could 
not get Paul   long enough to pass grids.  I heard parts of other 
stations on 50.125 and 50.130 but this is all I succeeded working.
6m (16) - 8 grids, 2m (3) - 2 grids, score 190.

Sunday morning offered no signals.  I did try some ms at 1721-1800z 
on 50.260-1st - nada!  125w and 3-elements probably too marginal.  I 
tried later after the contest closed about 0650z, July 22, listening 
on both 50.260 and 50.276 with several modes.  Only detected random 
birdies.  I did not transmit.  I figure most stations were QRT after 
the contest.

Never heard outside of the PNW.

I did accomplish one task Sunday afternoon:  Installed my second 
3-elem 6m yagi at the 22-foot level of my
 tower-2 located at the end 
of the house.  It is end-mounted on one leg and fixed at az=120 
(photos on my website tomorrow).  The coax line is a bit long and 
measured loss at 1.3 dB (93w to antenna) and SWR flat at 1.5 from 
50.000-50.300 MHz.  This puts the antenna about 12-feet higher than 
the one on my back deck (I will take that one down, tomorrow).  I 
will use the new antenna to monitor 6m using my KX3.

Next task will be getting the 6-element 30-foot yagi installed on a 
short tower.  This will be for serious eme/ms and rotatable with a 
Ham-IV.  Give me a month to get this done (we have a 50-foot spruce 
tree to fall to make room).  This location is 55-foot closer than 
where I had the antenna set up, before resulting in lowering loss to 
about 0.45 dB.

W7IV (CO45) e-mailed about trying on 6m, but did not hear back from 
him before this evening.  I'm sure
 we will have some success working 
across the Gulf of AK (805 mi) running one of the digital modes on 
both 6m and 2m.

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
dubususa at gmail.com
"Kits made by KL7UW" 

-- 
~The Voice of the Pacific NorthWest VHF Society~
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