[MAMS] 432 sprint results NE8I/r

[David DeVos]

Lloyd,

Sorry I wasn't on - I could have given you some contacts.  I had a gig, so that 
kind of ruled it out.

Hope to work with you on the 902 and up.  
 Dave
http://www.davedevos.com 



----- Original Message ----
From: Lloyd Ellsworth <l10368r1 at gmail.com>
Sent: Thu, April 26, 2012 1:11:37 PM
Subject: [MAMS] 432 sprint results NE8I/r

So far, I have kept to the mimal fuel for 3 grids. US127 Harrison to
St Johns, EN74/73/72. Set up, was the 18 element M2, and 200W amp.
Adjusted for about 150W. Set up, continue testing all cables for loss,
etc. Been finding too many bad jumpers, and water hoses. I have been
pitching them into the local recycle. Before I left, looked at WX
forecast, radar. Noticed all the rain. Had a bad feeling about lack of
activity, but went ahead. Remembered the CW key and all. Got to my
EN74 rover spot N of Harrison in EN74oa start of contest. Only station
heard, K9MRI. Could not work. Not even on CW. Left early, heading
South. Tried  EN73ou. Now hearing K9EA also. Nada. Started raining at
Mount Pleasant. Rained for the rest of the sprint. First 90 minutes,
no contacts.

Got down to St John's Marsh. Finally heard, worked WB8TGY. With no
GPS, nice to have someone with maps, familiar with the area, to give
me the 6 digits to where I am. Even if I had a GPS, the problem is,
taking eyes off the road while driving. Even for a second. Not a good
thing. Log, is a steno pad, done blind, one hand, and a tape recorder.
Tape recorders, don't work as well as one might like or expect. Not to
mention RFI issues. Really need that full time driver.

Finally at St Johns, EN72xr. Found stations to work. With the rain,
got to explore the effects, and sounds of rain scatter distortion on
432 signals. Had my digital processor along, to try and fight through.
Many stations were on CW, and I was sort of in the middle. They were
not hearing each other. That from comments made. Rain, ruined many of
the paths. Made them much more difficult. And I figure many stations
did not get on because of it. Then at 9:30 moved up to EN73ra. 7
minutes away. After 10 PM, drove home. Nothing more heard.

Claimed score: 14 contacts, 9 grids and 2 grids activated. 222 was
25-11-3 and 144 was 9-4-3

To drive to a 4 corners. The best QSO producers, are for me,
Coopersville, and Lenon. Both are in the 2 hours drive one way, and a
major increase in the fuel budget.

Plans for the 6M sprint, are still up in the air. Depends on the WX.
Likely will be again, North South drive, most grids. 4 corners would
be nice. Will see.

Plans for the 902+ sprint are still up in the air. Along with the SBMS
test. Again, WX is the primary concern. Tustin Knob would be my first
choice, but it is not open yet. Most likely, I will be looking at a
low fuel budget route/place, and activity. With SBMS, activity above
2.3 GHz. So, likely that will not be decided until the evening before.
Likely choices. Ludington SP or Muskegon on Lake Michigan, GP Hill
Near Milford and Lenon 4 corners alternative.

One tool I have used often, is a series of Aircraft maps, with some
countor information. Many of my guesses are made from that. Lots of
good information.

Next project, will be to try and figure out how to submit a written
contest submission. Currently, no home internet, and the public
library here, no mass media of any kind.

73, Lloyd NE8I/r
EN73 etc
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