[NLRS] ARRL September VHF W0ZF Rover

[Dave Fugleberg]

Finally got around to entering the paper log into the computer.

Did a rover pack with K0BBC/R and AE0EE/R on Saturday around the Winsted
corner, and with K0BBC/R on Sunday down at the EN34/EN35 border. I had 5
bands along for the first time (50, 144, 222, 432, 1296).
Started late on Saturday when I realized that adding the fifth antenna on
my already closely spaced mast was causing major interaction between 6m and
2m, to the point where neither antenna was usable in that configuration. I
finally opted to remove the 6m Moxon from the stack and bring along a
separate mast for that antenna.

Meeting up with Matt and Bill near the Winsted corner, we ran each other
around the grids, filling out most of the combinations before darkness and
bugs caused us to call it a night. Besides the 'fish in a barrel' contacts
with the other two rover pack participants (mostly on FM), I was able to
work a handful of the regulars on multiple bands. 1.2 GHz was a bit of a
disappointment - the only station I worked on that band was Matt, K0BBC/R.

Sometime on Saturday, the 432 transverter became intermittent, and I was
unable to complete several Qs that should have been easy pickins.  It woke
up enough to work K0SIX, then went dead again. Also had some strange issue
on 222 - upon releasing PTT, reflected power indicated on the cross-needle
wattmeter would jump way up the scale and the system would be 'hung' that
way with no receive until I toggled the power amp off. Almost like some
kind of oscillation going on in the amp. Turning it back on, everything was
normal until the end of the next transmission. Both of those gremlins were
present for the remainder of the contest.

Participation seemed lighter than usual, as was my motivation, so I didn't
invest as much time in this one as I normally do.  Hopefully I can work out
what's going on with 222 and 432, and come up with a better way to mount
antennas to reduce interaction before the next contest.

Thanks to the stations that did track me down - W0UC, W0ZQ, K0SIX, N0AKC,
N0HJZ, KA0RYT, and of course K0BBC/R and AE0EE/R.

       Band   Mode  QSOs     Pts  Grd  Pt/Q
          50  USB     10      10    3   1.0
         144  CW       1       1    0   1.0
         144  FM      19      19    8   1.0
         144  USB     11      10    3   0.9
         222  CW       1       2    1   2.0
         222  FM      19      38    9   2.0
         222  USB     10      20    2   2.0
         420  FM      20      40   14   2.0
         420  USB      4       8    2   2.0
        1240  USB      4      12    3   3.0
       Total  Both    99     160   45   1.6


            Score : 7,200
73 de W0ZF