[NLRS] June contest report KF0Q (long)

Wed Jun 16 20:12:23 EDT 2004

  2004 ARRL VHF QSO PARTY

     Call used: KF0Q                                         Location: EN44

     Category: Multi Operator             Mode: MIXED            Power: HIGH

     Callsign of Operator(s): KF0Q,  KB0THN                                     

     Exchanged Information: KF0Q EN44

     Hours of Operation: 22:30

     band      QSOs      points    mults

      50         77          77      40
     144         69          69      26
     222         39          78      18
     432         47          94      21
     903         16          48       9
     1.2         20          60      10

     TOTAL      268         426     124      SCORE: 52,824

     Club or Team Name: Northern Lights Radio Society     

  Comments:

Another June contest has come and gone.  I was originally hoping to get the
rover out but have been too busy this spring to do much of any thing.  Just a
week ago Jim, KB0THN asked what if any plans were for the contest we decided
that the best thing to do would be a set up a station on the ridge here with 6
or fewer bands – so seven days ago the KF0Q unlimited multiop was created.  The
rain has been terrible here (like most other places) so we had a tough time
getting the antennas up prior to contest Saturday.  The WX however seemed to
shape up just in time and I was able to get 222 through 1296 up along with the
operating tent, 3 transceivers, 5 bricks, 2 rotators and 2 networked pc’s
Saturday morning!

I got started up and running by myself almost an hour late.  Things seemed to be
going well as I worked the first bunch in Eau Claire on 144 when I had a big
problem.  Without warning the big stack tipped over and crashed into the front
of the tent about 3:00PM after a quick burst of wind yanked out one of the
earth anchors!  Luckily I was spared (by inches!) but the 6MX5 on top of the
36-foot mast in all its glory was history!

Just minutes after the incident Jim showed up for assistance (and a rare photo
op) with the problem.  Luckily, the 16LBX and ‘FO 222-16 were hardly bent.  I
removed the 6MX5, replaced it with my Par moxon, replaced the short earth
anchors with some 2 footers, and shortly we were back on the air after lifting
the whole setup back in position.  From here on out things went OK.  Of course
we missed some of the opening on six, and rover activity, but everything else
was working fine.  Even though I felt compromised on 50MHz we were still able
to work most stations on the band and was quite happy to get ZF1DC in the log
as well as VE5UF later on with the moxon!

Many other highlights for the weekend – working: K0PG/R, K9ILT/R, W0AMT/R,
W9FZ/R (many thanks to all the Rovers!).  Missed Gene, N0DQS/R this time out
(sorry Gene!  I pointed west many times!).  Also missed some of the usual crowd
in EN52,53 and even EN34,35 (guess there was other things going on besides the
contest!).  Really enjoyed the first ever sweep with Bill, K0AWU (loud here on
1296!).  Sweeps with W0AMT/R and Bruce, W9FZ/R from EN55 and 54!!!  Would have
to say that ‘902/3 was the most surprising band of the contest!  Also managed
to snag K8EB from EN73 on 3 bands (all CW) for some badly needed mults!

Well enough bandwidth here – hope everyone had a good time – always nice to hear
you folks.  I was very impressed by the Rover stations this time and impressed
by so many stations running the high bands that actually worked!  Should be fun
in August!  In all I would say that the contest effort for us was a success –
much better than the last time we tried a multiop in Winona!  If we could have
got some more grids on six things would be significantly better  - (always next
time I guess).  Many thanks to Jim, KB0THN for the help  - 
Hope to see many of you next month in Toronto!
73,
Matt
KF0Q

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