[MAMS] 432 sprint results NE8I/r

Fri Apr 27 10:03:31 EDT 2012

Conditions were very poor. I made 10 QSO's. I worked everyone I heard,
and I did not hear anyone else. All the people I worked were to the
north except for K9MRI near Indy, almost due east of me. Signals were
not as strong as I expected.

I kept pointing my beam in all directions and calling CQ, mostly on
CW. I had 100 watts to a 15 el Yagi up about 12 feet. I don't know if
there was just low activity or if conditions were really that bad. I
worked into the Milwaukee area but could not hear anyone in St. Louis
and they evidently didn't hear me. I know of at least two stations in
the St. Louis area, KB0PE and KO0Z, who were active in the Sprint.

I was operating from a hill in EN50xf. This was the site of my first
early VHF contest operating. I haven't operated from there in several
years. The hill is about 250 feet lower than the one in EN50rl but
it's half the distance away.

73, Zack W9SZ

On 4/27/12, David DeVos <kf8ql at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 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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