[NLRS] June VHF contest report KF0Q/0 (long)

[kf0q@arrl.net]

Still a bit tired from the weekend but perhaps better than last year. 
 First of all thanks for all the contacts.. always nice to work some 
of the familiar folks and meet new ones too.  (not that long ago I 
felt kinda new).  Sorry I don't have too many tales this time out .. 
I think murphy was around but have been used to that - hi.  Thought I 
would try my same setup as last year except some bigger antennas on a 
few bands.  My plans fit pretty well this year .. setup at the farm 
in EN43dw as last September trying to be ready in time.  It seems as 
though three-forths of all my possessions are needed up at the 
contest site.  Load after load required to get the job done.  Any way 
things went well only one problem with a big wind saturday AM that 
almost took the 50,144,222 array down (actually am getting used to 
that).  Didn't get on the air until about 2015Z due to the last 
minute 3456 project again.. (Last Minute Microwave Contest Club 
..kind of has a ring to it -).  Missed the first opening on six and 
the rest seemed to be fits and starts until sunday night (as has been 
reported earlier).  Used WriteLog for logging this time out .. did OK 
just hate to see 420000 and 1240000 on the screen - will have to fix 
that for next time.  Contacts on 222, 902, 1296 way down from 2001 .. 
contacts on 144 and 432 were up.  Grids were really weird.. tons of 
qso's from EN51 through 55 (never worked EN55 before .. worked 2 
stations there on FM this year!)  Contacts from EN34,35 also way down 
from last year - First time I worked as many rovers too: K0NY/R, 
K0PG,K9ILT/R N0DQS/R, W0GC/R, W0AMT/R, K8DXN/R,   (thanks a bunch!)  
First time I worked EN03 and 01 in the June contest thanks to Gene, 
N0DQS and first time for EN46 thanks to Clare, K0NY/R.  You guys kept 
me busy the last few hours!

Other highlights/lowlights -
Good:
Getting the EN55 multiplier from an old friend in Merrill (haven't 
talked to in 25 years) on FM.
Big signal from Gene, N0DQS in EN01!
Working Clare, K0NY/R in EN46 (just a few miles from my Grandpa's 
place in Hayward)
Working some storm chasers from IL on their way back from the Dakotas 
in a couple of grids as they passed by on the interstate
Working a few distant stations like W9ICE on 222, and N0PB for a 
sweep on ssb.
Big opening to the northwest at the end (really going to help my 
States above numbers.. First time for WA,OR on six.

Not so Good:
Missing some qso's on 2304 (again)
Running out of generator fuel just as K0CJ was calling me on 1296.
Running out of generator fuel again as six opened up an hour later.
BIG noise (QRN?)  on 144.220 just as Clare pulled into EN45.
Other BIG noise any time my antenna was pointed to 310 degrees.
Manually changing the frequency/mode (in WriteLog) almost every time 
I qsy'd.

That's about it.  289 qso's 119 mults, 7 bands (no 3456 qso's) a bit 
less than last year total score.  Expected better this time with 
higher power, but the openings on six happened in some lower 
populated areas this year .. may have worked every active station in 
MT .. who knows.  Thanks for the bandwidth here.  Looking forward to 
seeing everyone in Milwaukee next month.

73,
Matt
KF0Q