[NLRS] KC9BQA QRT -- Main rotor dying tonight

[Todd Sprinkmann]

  It's late and it's becoming clear that my main rotor is failing.  It pulled this slowing down act last winter and after a fix, it's now happening again.  So I think it's time to admit defeat (for now) and pull the plug.  I don't think asking a CATS RD-1800 to spin 20sq ft of beams and H-frame is asking too much.  Craig has always impressed me, but perhaps I'm too hard on rotors.  I'll have to consult some more with him.  If anybody has any feedback about the RD-1800 and my 20-22 sq. ft, please share it with me.

  So I guess a contest wrapup is in order.  Doubt the main rotor is going to magically start behaving tomorrow morning.

  I had hoped to have 903 and 1296 working FB.  Those new beams are up on a 2nd tower.  Everything was twirling fine until about 10pm last night, when the digital control box suddenly stopped lighting up.  That meant I was fixed to the south only on 903 and 1296.  I'm sure everything will be fine there when a replacement control box is sent out.  Look forward to 902, 1296 and 2304 for the September contest.

  But my main rotor slowly grinding between 270/300 QTF right now is enough to make me say "Murphy Wins".  So here's the numbers first, with comments and highlights below.

  Total score:  366 QSO pts X 61 grids == 22,326
  Band breakdown:
  222:  42 Q's and 24 grids
  432:  52 Q's and 26 grids
  903:  6 Q's and 6 grids
  1296:  8 Q's and 6 grids .... even with 903 and 1296 fixed to the south.  Not bad.  

  Highlights....

  Activity in general seemed much higher this August than last.  Grateful for that.  Things really kept hopping and it was fun.

  Working WB8TGY on 432 and on 222 FM with his 1 watt to a handheld in EN74 and EN75.  Mark really had to work to find a spot in EN75.  Thanks to K2YAZ for having such a big signal that I could copy him no matter where my beams were.

  Some decent tropo while the 222/432 beams were slowly grinding to a halt.  Worked N0HJZ, K0CJ,KA0PQW,W0GHZ and N0KP out of NLRS land on both 222 and 432.  Caught W0ZQ/R in EN32 @2045Z.  Ran into KM0T in EN13 @0329Z on 432.  Best DX was WA8RJF in EN91 and K0SM/R out in EN10 @0441Z.

  Got nice rover points from NE8I in Lower Michigan, W9FZ, K9JK and WB8BZK.  Thanks for getting out, guys.

  Asked a variety of stations how much rover activity they were hearing from the Rovermaniacs.  Many stations remarked that they hadn't heard too much.  I hope that means Murphy wasn't running rampant out in 0-land.  Perhaps things improved later in the evening, with the enhancement.  Perhaps cx's will be good in the morning and lots of Q's will be worked.  I still think Rovermania is a great, great thing.  It definitely increases activity.  

  My hat's off to K9MU and the K9CVC contest station up in EN44.  Justin (and probably others) have put a lot of work into sprucing that great location up.  Good strong signals from EN44 are on the air -- be aware of their presence up their in CVVHF land.  I hope you guys rack up the points tomorrow (later today, I mean)

  Also, big thanks to W9GA for taking several hours to get everything on 903/1296 up and running this week.  

  We'll get the issues here at KC9BQA with the rotor and the control box squared away and be back better than ever for September.  Prepare for the Sept contest now -- make it the best ever.  And take a little time to send those logs in.  ARRL still needs to see the proof of our activity so this contest can stay on the calendar.

  73,
  Todd  KC9BQA  EN63ao