ARRL September VHF Contest - 2022
Call: N0URW
Operator(s): N0URW
Station: N0URW
Class: Single Op-Analog HP
QTH: Iowa
Operating Time (hrs): 8
Summary:
Band QSOs Mults
-------------------
6: 16 9
2: 28 15
222: 6 6
432: 14 8
903:
1.2: 1 1
2.3:
3.4:
5.7:
10G:
24G:
-------------------
Total: 65 39 Total Score = 3,432
Club:
Comments:
Very busy so just a part time effort this year both days. Decided to run analog
mode only. (SSB mode) No time for mouse clicker robot mode.
This was a great test of my 4 band setup. I have 50,144, 222, 432 MHz working
now. 1500 watts 50/144 and 1kw on 222/432.
The weather did its normal thing in September and a cold front brought rain here
Saturday night. No 6 meter band openings this time.
Band conditions were ok on 2 meters. 400+ mile contacts were made with very
little effort North and East. Lots of noise to the South and West.
The rest of the bands not so great. Sunday was not good. It rained all night
long on Saturday. Some lightning, but it was all far away.
The rain soaked my 6 meter antenna setup and super high swr (over 3 to 1) kept
me from running the big amp on Sunday.
Everything else was working great, but the bands were in terrible shape. Lots of
noise in all directions!!!
There was not much going on Sunday afternoon so I thought, I have 1296 in one of
my radio's, lets give it a try.
All I had to do was find some good coax and figure out how to mount an antenna.
I decided to try my luck by pointing my 1296 loop yagi antenna out my window.
With just 10 watts of power, while holding my antenna in my hand pointing it out
the window at my pear tree.
I was still able to complete a ssb contact to K2DRH very easy. So that was
awesome !!! (must be (RPE) reflective pear enhancement)
Another high light was working a rover sitting in HRO parking lot in Milwaukee
Wisconsin on 2 meters. 260+ miles away.
To sum up this years September contest.... Once again a lot of stations deaf as
a rock. If I can hear your 50 or 100 watts just fine.
You should have no problem hearing my 1500 watts. Spend some $$$$ and buy some
hardline. At least get a mast mount pre-amp or hearing aid.
I spent most of the time listening for weak signals before calling cq. I could
hear stations East in Indiana/Ohio working North/South. I could hear stations up
North working others to the East. Took a while, but I got their attention. No
contacts from Tennessee or Kentucky this time.
But the noise was way above normal in that direction. The weather played a big
part as always. I wish the band conditions could of been better. Missed a lot of
contacts due to the noise. I checked FT8 to see who was on and where. Then went
to ssb. This was helpful in making some ssb contacts. I figured if they were
paying any attention to their radio waterfall, (those that have that on their
radios) They would see my signal and be curious enough to check it out. I'm
really glad the analog section has been added to these tests. It will catch on
once more of the big guns all go analog only. It seems to me so much more has
been accomplished when you complete a ssb contact vs a computer to computer FT8
contact.
I'm also very surprised at how many just have 2 and 6 meter setups. If I didn't
like 222 and 432 so much I would go to the two bands only setup.
Hope to have my new 4 x 432-9wl antennas up for next June test.
Well it looks like a few sprints to go then put everything away until January.
Cold, snow, ice, freezing rain. I can't wait :(
Until we meet again... 73, de N0URW EN41go....Iowa
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