[TVARC] ARRL June VHF K2PS SO 3Band LP

[K2PS Pete Stafford]

Well, this year's version of the ARRL June VHF Contest was way different
from last.  My setup was somewhat different in that I added a 2 meter
capability with a new (used) TR-751A I picked up from the club's inventory
clearance.  Added a 3-element 2M yagi, placed atop my usual temporary setup
of a 5-element 6M beam, up about 25 feet on a telescoping, rotatable mast.

I figured on having the 2M radio tuned to the 144.200 simplex SSB frequency
and see what might turn up.  That ended up good for a total of four QSOs for
the whole contest.  But then I had the brilliant idea of trying the FM
National Simplex Frequency of 146.52 and inviting all those TVARCers with
handys to call in (this is actually legal).  And they did!  Thanks to NZ1D,
K2DM, K4ZDM, K8CAG, N4FP, WA3EWK, WB2ART, K3ZGA, NP2B, K9IA, W9XYL, W2TR,
KA1AF (from two different grids!), WB2RBS, K4ZI, and KB4RJS.  A couple of
these might have just been locals who happened onto the frequency.

I also qualified for the Worked All Couples Award, with N4FP/N4GL,
K2DM/K4ZDM, and K9IA/W9XYL calling in on 6 or 2.

The contest itself is an interesting one, although conditions didn't favor
Florida as they did last year (663 QSOs in 141 grids on 6M only).  But we
were allowed to use three different modes: CW, SSB, and Digital (which meant
FT8).  The combination of N1MM+ and WSJT-X now allows N1MM to take in
contacts from either source and dupe check, but it's still a bit clunky in
that it required two differently configured N1MMs.  So changing from CW/SSB
to the FT8 and back took a bit of clicking, and it was necessary to do often
in order to be on the mode with the greatest potential for Qs.  QSO rates on
SSB are generally much faster than FT8, although that propagation was
limited this year.  Instead, it seemed that most of the time FT8 was the
only mode possible, in that it was designed for weak signals.  Switching
modes back and forth on 6M, and then monitoring 2 meters, going from 144.200
SSB to 146.520 FM occupied my time since I sure wasn't making a whole lot of
contacts.

The thunderstorms were also an issue, of course, as I had to disconnect two
antennas and a rotator every time the XYL warned she heard thunder.

Attached are pics of the antenna and the plaque from last year (won't happen
this go 'round).

73, Pete, K2PS

                    ARRL June VHF Contest - 2019

Call: K2PS
Operator(s): K2PS
Station: K2PS

Class: SO 3Band LP
QTH: NFL
Operating Time (hrs): 14

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
    6:  185    76
    2:   22     7
  222:           
  432:           
  903:           
  1.2:           
  2.3:           
  3.4:           
  5.7:           
  10G:           
  24G:           
-------------------
Total:  207    83  Total Score = 17,181

Club: The Villages Amateur Radio Club

Comments:




Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/
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