[NLRS] N0HJZ Single-Op Low Power

[N0HJZ@aol.com]

Hi All -

What a great contest!  I hadn't done a January contest in a few years.  
Thanks to Jon, W0ZQ, I put up a log periodic for 144-222-432 and put up the mighty 
dipole for 6m.  All antennas were at 30 feet with RG8 - ouch!

I only operated about three hours on Sunday morning and three hours on Sunday 
night.  

My observations:

1) There are a lot of guys in NLRS land with a LOT of bands!  The number of 
guys with 50-144-222-432 is huge.  Lots of guys have two, three, four or more 
bands after that!  What a change from years gone by!

2) The rovers were great.  I've roved in the cold and the snow and it can be 
a challenge.  Try peaking an antenna with the car while you watch for the side 
of the road on a snowy night!

3) Activity was more spread out than I remember.  I worked guys on 2M from 
144.140 to 144.265.  Great job guys.  One bad point - guys are now used to 
QSYing to the same freq.  I'd hear all sorts of guys going to 50.150, 432.150 and 
there would already be a QSO going on.

4) I though the bands were only so-so but I really surprised myself at the 
end of the contest.  I worked down to EM39 (350+ miles) with the little log 
periodic at 30 feet!  Signals were S9.  I think I have a better QTH for looking 
east, south and west.  I can see for a mile or so and then I get the shot over 
the river.  I need some real antennas and a real tower!

Everyone - Please make sure you put Northern Lights Radio Society on your log 
and submit it!  I worked 52 stations in our area.  I was only on part time so 
I would bet there were more on.  Can we get the 100 logs?

My score:

50 MHz - 43 x 6
144 MHz - 71 x 15
222 MHz - 28 x 9
432 MHz - 34 x 8
TOTAL - 176 x 38 = 9,044 points

Thanks to ALL who worked me.  A fun contest for the middle of the winter!  
See you all in the Minnesota QSO Party!

Rich N0HJZ