[PVRCNC] CQWW160 SSB K4TMC SOLP

[Henry Pollock - K4TMC]

 CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB - 2020

Call: K4TMC
Operator(s): K4TMC
Station: K4TMC

Class: Single Op LP
QTH: NC - FM14PQ
Operating Time (hrs): 10

Summary:
Total:  QSOs = 263  State/Prov = 37  Countries = 3  Total Score = 23,160

Club: Potomac Valley Radio Club

Comments:

I now have a real appreciation for what DXpedition and portable operators
go through to make their efforts successful.  After 3-hour drive from Cary,
NC, arrived at Atlantic Beach, NC (FM14PQ) site on Wednesday late afternoon.
Too tired after unloading all the gear to do any antenna work.  Thursday
was dedicated to getting new kitchen cabinets installed by local contractor.
It was windy and raining all day, temp in mid 40’s.  Did as much prep
inside as I could.  Friday morning was dry but even windier and temps in
low 30’s.  Got guy anchors installed, guy lines rolled out, 35.5 ft carbon
fiber pole assembled, antenna wire (Wireman #534) fed through tip eyelet,
SG-237 tuner installed on deck railing and cables through window opening.  By
this time my hands were numb from the cold, wind chill probably had it
closer to temp of 0.  After a warm-up inside, it was back outside to attach
guy ring and guy lines to pole and fix the tripod (Blue Sky Mast AL1/2) to
the upper deck surface (three 38 lb concrete blocks) such that it will not
tip over while setting pole inside.  The pole is not telescopic, it uses
stackable tapered sections.  So, you have to fully assemble and then
tilt-up.  Trying to tilt up with antenna wire and guy lines flying in the
wind is quite the ordeal.  Winds were constant 25 to 40 mph all day!  On
top of that is the turbulence created by surrounding homes and the fact
that the house sits on top of a treeless ancient 20 ft sand dune.  The wind
load on the pole is almost unmanageable by one person.  Around contest
start time, the winds finally died down and I was able to get the 35.5 ft
pole up.  The antenna started as a 145 ft long wire, with base of pole on
deck at 9 ft above ground.  The lot was not deep enough to get the
horizontal leg straight out.  So, out came a 32 ft fiberglass telescopic
pole which I was able to support off the stern end of the boat in the
corner back yard.   Antenna looks like a crooked Inverted-L, 30 ft
vertical, 60 ft horizontal to 32 ft pole, then (left turn) 45 ft tail end
sloping down to 8 ft above ground with 3 - 100 ft raised radials (8 to 3 ft
supported by wooden fence and shrubs).  Found that the SG-237 did not like
a 145 ft wire, SWR ranged between 3 – 8 across the band.  Did S&P Friday
evening averaging around 25W out of the K3.  Worked 69 stations via S&P
east of the Mississippi including ZF and KP4.  Some early Saturday morning
contacts, and I was outside playing with the antenna again.  After
shortening the end by about 10 ft, I finally had resonance at the low end
of 160M.  Further shortening and the SG-237 was able to keep the K3 happy
at 100W across the band.  Early Saturday evening was great, worked
everything I could hear, even my only Europe contact, MI5K.  Spent several
hours running near the upper end of band.
Thanks for all of the PVRC contacts!

73,
Henry - K4TMC