[ILQSO] Illinois QSO Party

Tue Sep 6 23:39:37 EDT 2011

Keep in mind if you are primarily interested in working IL, keeping the
dipole *low* to the ground may work surprisingly well.  We tried this last
year, with a 40/80 meter homebrew wire dipole 12-15 feet off the ground
on purpose testing the "NVIS" technique.  It worked very well and all IL
stations were booming in.

Jarrod
WX9JC

On Tue, Sep 6, 2011 at 6:55 PM, Jim Funk <jfunk at fossna.com> wrote:

> Frank, you might want to take both the vertical and a dipole, since you
> already have a vertical.  My recommendation regarding the dipole stems from
> the fact that a lot of your contacts (and multipliers) will be from in-state
> and nearby-state stations.  You will simply be louder to those stations if
> you have a higher angle of radiation from a dipole antenna. You may find you
> have more success with the vertical with stations farther away.  Of course
> if the dipole is very close to the ground, you are going to have a VERY high
> angle of radiation, which is why I specified "as high as possible".  That
> usually means no more than 40' unless you have very tall trees and a good
> launcher.
>
> As for power, can you borrow a generator?  You are going to be more
> successful and less frustrated if you can run 100 watts at all times, but
> you may not be able to do this if you have to depend on batteries the entire
> time.  I simply don't know what to tell you without having tried it with
> that configuration.
>
> "Your mileage may vary".
>
> 73, Jim N9JF
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
> On Behalf Of Frank KC9IDX
> Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 6:33 PM
> To: ILQSO
> Subject: Re: [ILQSO] Illinois QSO Party
>
> Jim, Thanks for the info
>
> You suggested using a dipole. I have a Super Antenna MP-1. Which is a
> portable multiband vertical antenna. Would it be better to use a horizontal
> dipole over a vertical antenna?
>
> My rig will be a Yaesu FT-857D coupled with a LDG YT-100 autotuner. I do
> not have any power for the radio. 100 watts will be the max output.
>
> My thoughts were to start at low power and work up, depending on contacts
> and band conditions.
>
> I will power the equipment with some LiPo batteries, which I have been
> testing for performance, and a 45amp hour deep cycle battery for backup.
>
> I look forward to your comments.
>
> Thanks! 73!
> Frank KC9IDX
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Funk <jfunk at fossna.com>
> Sender: ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2011 20:49:25
> To: Illinois QSO Party<ilqso at mailman.qth.net>
> Reply-To: Illinois QSO Party <ilqso at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [ILQSO] Illinois QSO Party
>
> Put up a wire dipole, one that will allow you to work at least 20 and 40
> meters, as high as you can get it.
>
> Test it ahead of time. Make sure it loads properly.  Be sure you haven't
> selected a location with high line noise.
>
> Call CQ a lot. Announce yourself as "portable in rare Cass County
> Illinois."  If you can also work 75 meters, ask stations to move there from
> 40 meters and work you again.
>
> Listen for weak mobiles calling.  Stand by for "mobiles only" once in
> awhile.  They will usually be a multiplier for you, and they are not going
> to stick around long if you ignore them under a stream of louder fixed
> stations.
>
> Spin the dial once in awhile and "cherry-pick" the loud stations who are
> also CQing.  Dig a bit for the mobiles who might be audacious enough to try
> CQing....
>
> If you have an amplifier, use it.
>
> Be prepared to be "interrupted" by questions from passersby.  Give them the
> time they need to ask questions.  This is partly "contest" and partly "PR".
>  Get some promotional materials from ARRL and/or your local club to pass
> out.
>
> If you can work CW *at all*, take along the equipment to do so.  You will
> vastly increase your score if all you do is call the stations that are easy
> to work on CW. Call at the speed that's comfortable for you. Almost all of
> them will slow down.
>
> Have fun!
> 73, Jim N9JF
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
> On Behalf Of Frank Anderson KC9IDX
> Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 4:26 PM
> To: Illinois QSO Party
> Subject: Re: [ILQSO] Illinois QSO Party
>
> Add me "KC9IDX" to the list for Cass County. My plan is to work portable
> from Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Park.
>
> This will be my first real attempt at a contest. Any pointers would be
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks! 73!
> Frank Anderson "KC9IDX"
> Emergency Coordinator
> Amateur Radio Emergency Services "A.R.E.S."
> for Cass, Morgan and Scott Counties in Illinois
> Frank at KC9IDX.com Info at K9JX.com www.K9JX.com
> (217) 248-4101
>
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