[NLRS] K0VG Jan VHF

[Vern Goble]

Was up at the cabin in EN27 this weekend to try the contest. Had limited
time to be on. Problems started with high SWR and was able to get only 25w
out to a 5el 2m/432 yagi up 25 ft surrounded by trees. Didn't hear any
stations so I let the radio scan the lower part of 144. Found some RG8x I
had for a dipole and swapped out the feedline and got the swr below 2:1. A
couple stations from EN35 popped up but when I entered a call into the log
program I got the blue screen of death. I fought with the computer as the
stations quickly faded. After wasting a couple hours I changed the baud rate
and the computer  was happy again. I had set up and tested everything the
weekend before and didn't have any problems at the home QTH. I had to leave
and get back to Detroit Lakes to go out with the in-laws for supper. 
I was able to try again for a few hours on Sunday. 6M seemed dead and heard
no activity on 2M. Finally I heard K0AWU coming in strong and had a nice
QSO.  I heard him a little later and conditions had dropped a lot. I had to
wrap things up by 3:00 to pick up the wife and run into Fargo to meet some
friends.
I had expected to do poorly in the contest but not this bad. I thought I
would pick up a couple of points on 6M and a couple of mobiles as they went
by in nearby counties.
I hope to try this again with better feedline and a pair of beams on 2M and
440 again.
 
1 log and 1 point for NLRS.
 
73 Vern K0VG.