[NLRS] Contest Report KF0Q

[Matt Burt - KF0Q]

First vhf test attempted at my home qth - as most of you probably know I live
deep in the valley - can't even bring up a couple of the local FM repeaters
from
here - but generally is a nice place to live.  My six meter beam is just above
the roof and a skyline locus - (had a 13B2 there as well but had to move it
since the tree grew). 

Have done a few HF contests from here - missed one section for SS fone and no
TVI complaints so I figured why not try.  The bluffs rise up 300+ feet directly
to my west and east just a few lots away from our house.  All said my spot is
probably the worst location for a serious vhf effort.  Only saving grace is
that I have a window to the N and NE that has been helpful working stations in
EauClaire and AU contacts.  South is just open enough to grab some 50 Mhz DX.

Just decided that a non-serious effort might be fun - quickly threw a couple
rover antennas and the 13B2 on the roof to see what could happen.  (Didn’t take
long to get 5 bands going  - my gear was still lying all over from the uhf
test).  Was nice to get back in the cool basement shack for a contest on a warm
Saturday afternoon.  Was really happy to sweep N0AKC on all 5 bands – surprised
how good 1296 was from here.  Made several qso’s and ran into Bruce, W9FZ/R
shortly after he arrived in EN44.  Throughout the evening I managed to get
sweeps with Bruce on all 5 bands from 3 grids – even while pointing directly
into the hill to the west! :)  Even worked W9RAY/R and KC0P/R in EN34 later
saturday (tnx guys!).  Was nice to work K2RDH on a couple of bands as well.

On Sunday things started out ok hearing several of you work some DX (DX to me)
on 144.  I started getting some more q’s in the log looking forward to Tim,
K0PG/R and Pat, K9ILT/R arriving to my west where Bruce was the nite before.  I
hooked up with Bill, K0AWU on 144.  Shortly after we qsy’d to 222 then the phone
rang.  Neighbor next door said I was qrm’ing the computer, TV, Stereo, his
son’s guitar amp, and the smoke alarm!  He was very polite about it and I was
the same – I asked him a few more questions and pulled the switch.  Apparently
the 3KW ERP 30 ft from their house was a bit much to handle, so I worked on a
few projects around here and didn’t operate until the last couple of hours. 
Later Sunday hooked up with Clare, K0NY/R on a few bands from two grids but 10G
was tough.  We finally got one qso in the log on 10G ssb .  Lots of work for
both of us – tnx Clare for the effort!  Tnx to all the rovers out there -
probably never attempt a contest from home again.  Will look at some roving
myself when I feel up to it -  Not much of a score to report - but it was fun
for the few hours I operated!

Call: KF0Q SOLP     EN44

Band            QSOs    QSO Pts   Mult
50               11      11        4
144              18      18        7 
222              12      24        5        
432               9      18        4       
1296              7      21        3        
10368             1       4        1         

Total 
All Bands        58      96       24 

CLAIMED SCORE:   2304 

Club: Northern Lights Radio Society

Tnx for the BW -
73,
Matt
KF0Q