[Wswss] 2010 ARRL UHF CONTEST: K6XN SOLP SV SECTION CM99oh

[K6XN]

K6XN SOLP, Sacramento Valley Section, CM99oh

 

BAND           QSOs           GRIDS

 

222                 18                  7

432                 23                  8

902                   8                  3

1296                 5                  2

 

TOTAL            54                  20

 

ESTIMATED RAW SCORE:      4020

 

Team, I ran 8 watts on 902 MHz and 10 watts on 1296 MHz again this year and
less than 100W on 222 MHz and 432 MHz but the new towers and phased antenna
arrays on the southeast side of the mountain made a big difference.  The new
7/8 Heliax feed lines also are an improvement and I could again hear more
stations than I had the transmit power levels to work this weekend. It was
frustrating though hearing rover stations that could not hear me but I will
keep improving antennas and feed lines before I QRO. I do have amplifiers I
am working on for 927.5 MHz and 1296 MHz thanks to KJ6KO but I have not yet
finished the power supplies and T/R relays for them. Maybe in September I
will QRO up to 70W on 927.5 MHz and 1296 MHz before and after the ARRL
September VHF contest to provide people needing CM99 contacts on those bands
with a needed QSO and QSL but I still prefer running low power during these
VHF and UHF contests whenever possible because I can rely on using only
solar power and batteries from my wilderness summer  "cabin" QTH. I do have
generators up at my Sierra QTH but I don't usually use them for low power
VHF and UHF  contesting as I prefer solar and battery power.  Thanks to all
of you whom I was able to work in this contest again this year (you know who
you are) and special thanks to the rover and portable stations and those of
you on 927.5 MHz and on 1296 MHz this weekend who took the special effort
and struggled to work me. I know it wasn't easy especially on 1296 MHz.

 

I used to get frustrated with the very slow pace of this contest (as
compared to HF contesting) but over the years I now look forward to the
"quiet times" between contacts and I plan projects for the "quiet times" .
This year I was actually able to walk my big Siberian Husky "Scout" for many
short range recon patrols to chase (and catch) varmints around the property
(it is 656 acres of forest at 5000 feet) and I was able to tear down one of
my Generac 4000 EXL  4KW generators, pull the head, replace the intake and
exhaust valves, valve springs and retainers, and put it back together during
the contest. (This is one of the generators we use when we occasionally want
to QRO on selected HF contests as a high power participant) :-) The hard
part was taking off my gloves, cleaning my hands and running inside the
cabin to work a "new one" without getting engine grease all over the cabin
door, microphones and rigs!  If I sounded out of breath for some QSOs it was
from taking off my gloves, washing my hands, and running upstairs to the
radio room from outside on the deck where I was working on the generator!
:-)  

 

I very much appreciate the contacts and efforts and 73, Ted, K6XN  

 

PS I didnt lose any Siberian Huskies this trip on unauthorized 18 mile long
range Husky recon patrols in the forest as happened a few weeks ago with
another one of our Siberian Huskies "Tolsona". This time I only took up our
big Siberian Husky  "Scout" and he faithfully returned to the cabin after
every recall. I think the doggie treats and salami rewards upon recalls up
there are working!! :-)  He also really likes cold beer.  Don't tell my XYL,
Laine, K6XXN.