[NLRS] 2011 432 MHz Fall Sprint report - K9JK/R

[John (JK) Kalenowsky, K9JK]

For a third Fall Sprint attempt in the CoROVERolla, it turned
out be another positive experience. Equipment was my old
faithful FT-100D driving a TE Systems Brick to a KU4AB 432 MHz 
Loop -OR- to an Diamond 10-element yagi atop a painter's pole 
that extended to about 16 feet when I was stopped.

An different equipment challenge occurred that the Brick was not 
reliably keying and folks were not hearing me unless the Brick 
was keyed. RX Sensitivity seemed a bit down, too.

Since I had a spare BNC-BNC cable, I initially tried replacing 
the cable between Transceiver and Brick but no difference. Later 
I noticed that the positioning of that cable seemed to make a 
difference, especially at the Brick 'end' of that cable AND I 
realized that I had 'spare' BNC to N adapters with me so I 
swapped that on the Brick...and Voila! solid keying of the 
Brick. NOW to be sure that I remember to MARK that adapter as 
bad! (Probably ought to just toss it.)

The air temperature was great and winds very light but the 
atmosphere was very dry, not conducive to any enhancement so 
I'll call it "flat".

Even though I made 46 QSOs (2 MORE than in last week's 222 
Sprint), SIXTEEN were from doing the full set of Rover-Rover 
possible QSOs with WB8BZK/R leaving 30 QSOs with fixed 
stations...last week's 44 QSOs on 222 only included EIGHT 
Rover-Rover so more QSOs (36) were made with fixed stations on 
222 than on 432.

I think this was  "record" for the number of stations that found 
me from all 4 Grids I visited - K0PG, KC9BQA, KO9A, N9LB, N9UM 
and W9GA. Mike, WB8BZK/R and I made 16 QSOs as we traversed the 
Grids so it WAS a full grid dance between us and it again 
appears that we were the only stations on FROM EN51 and EN62. 
Double QSOs were completed with K2DRH and WB9WOZ and single QSOs 
were completed with K9IJ and N9QZD (probably my best DX from the 
EN61ax stop).

Eight different Grid Squares were contacted (also lower than the
15 worked in the 144 Sprint and the 10 worked in the 222) - 
EN41, EN51, EN52,
EN53, EN54, EN61, EN62 and EN63. It was either 6 or 7
grids worked from the individual stops, though.

Scoring Summary:
Grid    Qs    Ms  Grid Score (with 2 Points per QSO on 432 MHz)
EN62    11    6    132
EN52    11    7    154
EN51    11    7    154
EN61    13    7    182
Total   46    27   622

Individual Grid Scores comparably balanced to the 222 MHz 
Sprint.

Thanks to ALL who were on but especially to those who did the
'heavy lifting' with their antennas to hear my mostly
non-directive (or minimally focussed, a.k.a. "weak") signal and
to the Southeast VHF Society for their continued sponsorship of
the Fall Sprints.

Two weeks from this coming weekend for the Microwave Fall 
Sprint, 73, JK