[NLRS] It's not just about the score; June VHF Test (short version)

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

I did hear a couple new central Iowa calls, but looking east and north 
was frustrating from the silence until GHZ showed up Sunday evening.

It could be that VHF and UHF propagation was poor with all the storms 
about. I also suspect the indoor rated duplexor up on the antenna mast 
may be full of water. 432 signals were very poor compared to 2m over 
paths that should have been easily worked.

I tried setting up 2m and 432 amplifiers, had to work in a 2m preramp 
because of the coax loss needed to cut the drive from the FT751A to 
B1016 amplifier. Then a fault in the 751A where closing the key was more 
like holding PTT and it keyed better on CW with PTT. When K0JQA heard me 
on 432 and I didn't hear him, I unhooked the amplifiers and reverted to 
the barefoot FT857 for the rest of the contest. Antenna waork is needed 
and I've started drawing circuits for switching the amplifiers to the 
single VHF/UHF connector of the 857 with relays. I tested the loss of 
the duplexor I used inside and it was about 1/2 dB so that wasn't a 
problem. The D1010 may not pass receive signals, something I have to 
check. This one doesn't have a preamp, but it could well have burned 
relay contacts.

The tripod mounted 2m and 432 antennas are not working as well as they 
used to for TV either so need work or replacement.

Score I've not figured, but looks like 67 Qs on three bands. I heard 
lots of fractional second meteor pings on 6 and a few on 2m and many a 
sporadic E event that lasted only a few seconds. Later I worked out to 
sit on a weak E signal and wait for it to peak and make the Q quick 
before it faded. Sometimes it took two consecutive peaks with a dip in 
between to finish a QSO. There several signals on 6m for quite a while 
after the last ones I worked but all I heard I had worked. There was a 
large contingent from the Denver area, DM79.

73, Jerry, K0CQ

On 6/10/2013 12:32 PM,  Jim Froemke wrote:
>
>
> We left instant gratification behind when we moved off of HF&  repeaters.
> It's difficult for some of us to reset our expectations for operating weak
> signals on the VHF/UHF bands where you usually have to really work for many
> of the contacts. Heck, I still buy frozen walleye from the grocery store so,
> what can I say. While there's only one 1st place in every contest category,
> everyone's a winner when they work new grids on difficult bands under
> challenging conditions.
>
> Talk about level of activity, the upper Midwest is doing much better than
> many areas of the county who would be in hog heaven with the level of
> activity represented here: http://vhf-activity.blogspot.com/
>
> The level of participation (as indicated on the VHF contest spreadsheet) for
> fixed stations (62) *EXCEDEED* both 2011 and 2012! Rover stations (13) was
> up from 2012 and equal to 2011 so, you're making good progress!
> http://tiny.cc/e1kexw
>
>
>
> K0MHC/Rover brief summary:
>
> -        Rover category (4 bands, high power)
>
> -        8 grids activated (EN24, 25, 26, 27&  28; EN14, 15, 16, 17&  18)
>
> -        4 bands operational (OK, my 6 meter amp stopped working so I was
> down 6 dB by running 100W barefoot)
>
> -        158 contacts
>
> Highlights:
>
> -        Eyeball with Matt&  Dave K0BBC/rover team at I29, exit 213 rest
> stop. They've got a good rover set-up and I expect to hear a lot from them
> in the future!
>
> -        Good 6 meter band opening on Sunday afternoon mostly while I was
> driving south on I29 in ND&  SD. while working many of my fellow RMG members
> near Austin, TX
>
> -        NT0V, W0GHZ&  K0AWU seemed to be strong throughout all of the grids
>
> -        Yes, the Canadian stations (led by VE4MA) were very active
>
> -        Great operating vistas on I29 (overpass and rest areas)
>
> -        New configuration of horz. stacked 432 Yagis worked well
>
> Lowlights:
>
> -        6 meter amplifier failure (worked fine at home?)
>
> -        Spending time scouting rather than operating in new grids
>
> -        Getting soaked in the rain setting-up near Fargo (the downfall of
> external, push-up masts)
>
> -        Had to retire early at Crookston, MN due to car turn and brake
> lights not working
>
> -        Had to skip last 4 grid locations (near Winsted) due to car
> battery/generator problem
>
> Then there's the small matter of the "Dunk the Rover" challenge. This ritual
> will be performed into the 55 degree (F) lake this afternoon.
>
> Sorry that I may have missed many of you but, there's always next time. Keep
> up the VHF activity!
>
> 73, Jim
>
> K0MHC/Rover
>
> Lake Miltona, MN
>
> Kerrville, TX
>
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