[NLRS] ARRL UHF K9CVC Multi-Op

[Justin Glasener]

ARRL August UHF QSO Party

Call: K9CVC
Operator(s): K9MU, N9TTX, N0AKC, W9RAY
Station: W0AIH/W0UC

Class: Multi-Op HP
QTH: EN44hr

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
  222:   68    38
  432:   83    39
  903:   10     9
  1.2:   27    19 
  10G:    3     3
-------------------
Total:  191   108  Total Score = 76,788

http://www.cvvhf.org/uhf/

With a good amount of well-equipped rover and fixed stations being QRV
for Rovermania II, we thought a multi-op effort would be a worthwhile
adventure from EN44. This was our first attempt at taking on such a
feat and didn't quite know what to expect. We operated from the
W0AIH/W0UC antenna farm. The weeks previous were spent getting new
432, 902, and 1296 yagis up, running heliax, building amps, and
constructing an azimuth/elevation system for 10 Gig. Thankfully, with
the combined effort of all the operators, we had enough equipment to
have four operating positions. We had problems with our 222 and 432
amps and the 902 and 1296 amplifiers were not yet completed. The 10
Ghz dish and transverter were successfully mounted at 70 feet but we
could not get the elevation rotor to work (K9MU made several trips up
the tower to manually adjust the elevation). By the time we got all
the problems ironed out the contest was in full swing. Signals from
the E/SE got good after 0200z. We found W3WKH EN90, KB9VXQ EM59, K8TQK
EM89, N8AIA EN82, WA8RJF EN91 and K8MD EN82. Things came to a halt at
0500z which gave us time to sleep and try to fix our 902 receive
problem. Tropo activity picked up again at around 1000z Sunday
morning. We worked W9THD EN71, K8TQK EM89, K4TO EM77, W8PGW EN82,
K9MRI EN70, and W8MIL EN74 on both 222 and 432. VE3TFU EN92 and W8GG
EM88 were worked on 222 and we completed 1296 Q's with K8MD and
WA8RJF. Tropo from the E/SE slowly fizzled down and was nonexistent by
1300z. Stations were no longer hearing us on 1296 so we broke out the
Bird meter and gave it a test. There was no output from the
transverter. Now we knew were that strange smell came from. Thankfully
N9TTX had a spare FT-736 with a 1296 module. 88% of all our QSO's
after 1200z were supplied by rovers!

Overall, 42% of our QSO's were with rovers. Our longest rover QSO was
with K0SM/R in EN10 on 432 CW! It would be nice to see rovers on a
more easterly route next year. I'm not sure of the paths from the
cities to IA, SD, and NE but for us in WI and northern MN it is a
difficult path. Perhaps an easterly move would benefit us all? Just a
biased suggestion for Rovermania III!

Our hats off to all the rovers, especially W9FZ/R, on a job well done!
We are pleased with the contest and will be QRV for Rovermania III
next year!


Rovers worked:
W9FZ/R – 30 Q's 8 Grids
W0ZQ/R – 9 Q's 5 Grids
KC0IYT/R – 8 Q's 3 Grids
K9JK/R – 8 Q's 3 Grids
K0MHC/R – 7 Q's 3 Grids
K9AKS/R – 6 Q's 2 Grids (EN51/EN41!)
WA0VPJ/R – 4 Q's 4 Grids (Hope to see you in Sept. with more bands!)
K0SM/R – 3 Q's 3 Grids
N0EDV/R – 2 Q's 2 Grids


Highlights:
Tropo to Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.
Working W9FZ/R 30 times including 3 10 Ghz QSO's!
Working W9FZ/R on 10 Ghz from EN52!!
Working WA8RJF EN91 on 1296 Mhz with only 12 watts
Working 9 different rovers

Lowlights L
Releasing smoke from N0AKC's 222 Mhz AM-6155 amplifier
No 10 Ghz dish elevation
No voice keyers
Water in the 902 heliax run
Having KM0T tell us he is hearing our 6 watts on 902 and we can't hear
his 150w.
Rover's playing out west
Blowing the 1296 transverter

Equipment Breakdown
222: FT-736 350w 18x18 ele
432: FT-736 180w 28 ele
902: IC-746 w/ DEMI verter 6w 33 ele looper
1296: IC-746 w/ DEMI verter and FT-736 12w 55 ele looper
10 Ghz: IC-746 w/ DEMI verter 2w DDS dish

Check out http://www.cvvhf.org/uhf/ for pictures, grid maps, and more
information.

73,

The K9CVC posse