August 2006
2006 August UHF Contest Report
The Preparation:
After the June contest debacle we set our sites on preparation for the September contest. But as August appeared, we already had our new Antenna Mast up complete with a new motorized winch. Most of the equipment was set up and running including 6m and 2m. Dave suggested that we finish up a few loose ends, finish setting up the equipment, and just head out for a mini rove. The floor of the RV was a mess with cables running back and forth but, it all worked and was ready to go! We were once again hooked. This would be the Maiden Voyage for the new rover. It would be a shake down cruise to prepare us for September.
The Equipment:
| Radios |
|---|
| TS-2000x (144/222/432/1296 Primary) |
| TS-2000x (50 Primary, 144 Secondary) |
| IC-706MK2G (903) |
| DEM 222-28 for 222 Mhz |
| DEM 902-28 FOR 903 Mhz |
| TE Systems 1452G (144 Mhz – 350 watts) |
| TE System 4452G (432 Mhz – 175 watts) |
| Mirage C211G (222 Mhz – 110 watts) |
| Power System |
|---|
| 2 – West Mountain Super Pwrgate’s |
| 2 – 115 AH Deep Cycle Batteries (Radios) 1 – 115 AH Deep Cycle Battery (Amps) |
| 600 watt Power Inverter (RFI Quiet) |
| 1 – Astron SS-30 Switching Supply |
| 1 – Astron RS-30m |
| 1 – Astron RS-70m (Amps) |
| Onan 2800 watt Generator |
The Configuration:
| Band | Power | Antenna |
|---|---|---|
| 6 meters | 100W | PAR Stressed Moxon |
| 2 meters | 350W | Directive Systems DS144-6RS |
| 1 1/4 meters | 110W | Cushcraft 11 Element |
| 70cm (432) | 175W | Directive Systems DSFO432-15RS |
| 33cm (903) | 30W | Directive Systems 3333LY 33 Element Looper |
| 23cm (1296) | 10W | Directive Systems 2345LY 45 Element Looper |
The Trip:
As this was just to be a Saturday mini rove we planed a trip to Hogback Mountain, FM08us and then to Sideling Hill FM09??.
Departure was well before the start of the contest but the trip to Hogback seemed excessively long. By the time we finally got there anticipation was running high. We eat a short lunch and at 2:00 we got on the air. Right off the bat we ran the bands with Dave K1RZ FM19. He was as strong on 1296 as when we are just down the street from him! From there in a 10 minute period we caught Gene W3ZZ FM19, Jeff K1TEO FN31, Joe WA3PTV FN10, John W3HMS FN10, Owen K3CB FM28, and Russ N3EMF FM19 all in a row! After that it was just a constant flow of activity until it was time to head up the road. At one point we heard this really weak female voice frantically calling K3LFO Rover. It was My XYL N3MZM calling on the mobile rig and dual band vertical FM antenna at home in FM19! I think the best contact was with Dave , K1WHS in FN43. YES, we exceeded our goal of 90 minutes in a grid. So What? It was fun!
It took about 3 1/2 hours to get up to Sideling Hill in FM09. By then activity had dropped off so we only operated about an hour before heading for home.
The next morning the temptation was too great. Before starting up the lawn mower and getting busy on my chores for the day, I got on and worked many of the same stations from my drive way. I even snagged W2SZ/1 FN32 on 222 and 432 as well as working Jeff K1TEO FN31 again on 222 and 432. K4QI in FM06 was in there as well. We managed to catch up with Brian N3IQ FM09 from all 3 grids.
Summary:
All in all, for a half hearted effort, spur of the moment effort we did everything we set out to do. The only real problem we experienced was with the bad N connectors on the coax between the RIG and the TE Systems 432 amp. The Rover systems, although not yet completely installed, functioned well. The power systems proved to be easy to manage and the radios and antennas all stayed together and performed better than expected.
The Results:
2006 ARRL August UHF Contest K3LFO
ROVER MDC Section
Operators: K3LFO, W3DIO
Band QSOs QSO pts. Mults.
--------------------------------------------
222 29 87 12
432 35 105 12
903 16 96 7
1296 21 126 8
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TOTALS 101 414 39 + 3 = 42
Claimed score = 17,388
