[HIham] 6 meter Feb 17 at 1900W

[John Buck]

I am located 4 miles east of Kamuela on the Big Island.

To support the suggested 50.125 mHz SSB test, I connected my K2 to a 
TenTec 1208 6 Meter Transverter with about 8 watts out, to a Comet 10 
foot vertical for 6,2 and 440, on top of my mast at about 45 foot above 
ground.  I also used my 17 meter beam with 3 to 1 swr for horizontal.  
The station is at 3000 ft elevation.

I was on from 1900 to 1930W and worked N8MCD/KH6 on a cruise ship off 
Kailua Kona.  He was running 5 watts with a 6 meter rubber duck.  The 
contact was interesting but signal was too weak for traffic.  The 
distance was about 40 miles with a 4000 foot ridge between us.  Vertical 
sort of worked, Horizontal did not.

NH7UA activated the NHCH Hospital on 6 meters at about 0930W and we made 
contact with excellent signals.
I am only about 5 miles from him but a ridge between us definitely hurts 
2 meter contacts on that path.

At about 0900W today I also worked KD6QAI/KH6.  He is located about 20 
miles south of Hilo.  I was able to contact him with the vertical to his 
horizontal beam.  But it was tough copy both ways so I switched to the 
F12-5ba beam using the 17 meter band connection with about 3 to 1 SWR.  
The contact became 54 or 55 good copy.

I never did hear anything from the military camp.  I do not know if they 
were on.  I did call CQ quite a few times on the scheduled frequency.

So this was an interesting ham radio day.

Aloha,
John KH7T