[ILQSO] KF9D/M Contest Story

Thu Oct 27 02:06:59 EDT 2005

What a great writeup, Roger.  Thanks!

73,

Hal W1NN

PS:  Hope I can make it next year.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roger E Scott" <kf9d at sbcglobal.net>
To: <ilqso at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 12:07 PM
Subject: [ILQSO] KF9D/M Contest Story

> Here's the scoop on the KF9D mobile IQP experience. 
> For us (KF9D and W9HB), the 
> contest activities essentially start on Saturday after
> lunch.  At that time, we start to load 
> all the equipment to transform the family van into a
> contest station for the weekend.  
> Here comes the understatement of the year; it is so
> much easier to find and fix the 
> problems while sitting in your driveway ahead of time
> than to fix them on the side of the 
> road in a panicked-state during the middle of the
> contest.  So, Saturday afternoon after 
> loading all the equipment, we are busy testing -
> looking for anything we can possibly find 
> before the contest starts.  Using the final
> configuration, we go through all the bands 
> checking for any interference, rfi, hash, or whatever
> else that may slow progress during 
> the contest.
> 
> So what does the equipment list look like for KF9D/M? 
> Here is the rundown, with a lot 
> of redundancy in case of equipment failure.  
> HF Transmitting rig: TS450S with autotuner.
> Back-up HF rig/spotting receiver: TS430S.  If you
> think it is fun trying to get the 
> interference down at field day because of too many
> close transmitters, try doing it in one 
> vehicle with antennas and rigs 3 feet apart all
> operating from the same power source.  
> That is what it takes to get a spotting receiver to
> work next to the transmitter.
> Computers: two identical IBM Thinkpads configured
> identically with 12 to 16 volt 
> inverter supplies, one for logging and one for
> APRS/navigation with GPS receiver.  They 
> can be quickly interchanged in case of failure.
> Antennas: Homebrew antenna number 1 allows
> simultaneous operation on 3 bands, either 
> 40/20/15/10 meters.  Subscribing to the theory that
> size does matter, homebrew antenna 
> number 2 is a trailer hitch mounted monster for 40 or
> 80 meters.  This antenna gets really 
> strange looks while on the highway, all part of the
> fun, right?  I noted one passing car 
> taking our picture as we motored down the interstate! 
> A coax switch arrangement 
> connects the proper antenna to the proper rig.  Band
> changes are instantaneous with the 
> flip of a switch.  Backup antenna: multiband Outbacker
> with roof magmount.
> 2 Meters: Dual-band HT with 60 watt amp to 5/8 wave
> roof mounted antenna.
> 
> Sunday morning arrives.  The van engine starts at 6:50
> am, and is never turned off until 
> safely back in the driveway at 9:30 pm.  With the high
> gas prices we decide to forgo the 
> extra expense of an overnight stay, instead opting for
> a marathon day on the road. With 
> 275 miles to the start, we turn on the 2-meter APRS
> station.  The pre-contest trip 
> progresses, and turning down the final one-lane gravel
> road while carefully watching the 
> low-hanging branches, the GPS navigation and computer
> mapping come in handy to 
> confirm the starting 3-county corner.  About a mile
> from the start, we come to a sign that 
> reads At Grade Crossing.  What does that mean? Well,
> it means that we are about to cross 
> a creek without a bridge!  Luckily in October, the
> creek is dry.  As we approach the start 
> point, there are no signs at all indicating a county
> change.  This is rural!  (See the IQP 
> photo area for this location)  After we transmit a
> couple of spots on our starting point, we 
> turn off the APRS transmitter for the contest period.
> 
> As the contest begins, conditions seem a little
> different that I had expected.  The bands 
> are good with several strong signals, but the
> propagation seems spotty.  Forty meters is 
> super all day long, although our log indicates fewer
> in-state stations than I expect.  
> Twenty is quite long with Europeans present, but not
> too strong to my mobile ears.  The 
> spotty propagation does not diminish the activity
> level.  It is super, and we are able to run 
> great rates while mobile.  Several times I note the
> rate meter above 150 QSOs per hour on 
> CW.  That is about as much fun as one can have while
> flying down the highway.  The 
> great rates have a slight down side, if you want to
> call it that.  It is nearly impossible to 
> break away from the pile-ups to search for
> multipliers.  Even with the spotting receiver, 
> there are many times that I elect to stay with the
> pile-up and not chase the good multiplier 
> that is found.  
> 
> The route is well planned ahead of time.  Partner W9HB
> is a wizard at preparing a written 
> route with simple turn-by-turn direction along with
> miles, times, and landmarks to the 
> next county line.  He has this down to a science,
> taking the uncertainty out of the course.  
> Completing the operation from the 21 planned-counties
> on schedule with no equipment 
> issues and no wrong turns, we discuss our contest
> observations as we finish the drive 
> home.  The RTTY contest was really a problem on 40
> meters late in the afternoon 
> because, although in great shape, we spent less time
> on the band than desired due to the 
> severe RTTY congestion.  The one hour earlier contest
> finish this year meant an extra 
> hour of overlap with the RTTY guys.  Also, the earlier
> finish meant less time on 80 
> meters, which, even from the mobile, was producing
> good rates during the low sun spots.  
> We continue to muse about how popular the contest has
> become.  Perhaps this is the time 
> to include some additional categories so that further
> recognition is possible, such as a 
> Rover category.  As envisioned, the Rover would just
> do county line operation, while a 
> mobile would be in-motion the whole time.   A properly
> sized bonus for each county 
> activated could provide further incentive for the
> mobile operator to cover as many 
> counties as possible, and isn't that the whole idea
> behind the contest?  
> 
> Completing the drive home, the odometer logs 676 miles
> for the day.  Forty-five minutes 
> later, the radios, cables, computers, and antennas are
> all removed, and the contest vehicle 
> is returned to family van status so my teenage
> daughter can ride in it the next day without 
> being embarrassed to tears.
> 
> Here is the claimed breakdown summary on the KF9D/M
> effort.
> Counties Operated From: 21
> 80m 187 QSOs
> 40m 678 QSOs
> 20m 173 QSOs
> 2 m  15 QSOs
> TOTAL  1053 QSOs
> 
> CW QSOs 1035
> PH QSOs   18
> 
> Counties 45
> S&P      37
> DX        4
> TOTAL Mult 86
> 
> A huge thanks to the RAMS group and Jim, N9JF, for
> their collective efforts to make this 
> event successful.  Also, a big thanks to the many
> in-state and out-of-state stations that 
> chased and worked us repeatedly as we changed
> counties.  I can't think of a more 
> enjoyable way to spend an October day.
> 
> 73, Roger KF9D
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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