Hello Jeff and fellow Sprinters!
Things sure seemed different here in Maine as compared to K1TEO's results.
There was darn little evidence that the band was up at all. The good news
was that it was not down much. The W3CCX beacon sounded normal from Philly.
(about S2-3) There was a slight wind from the Southwest, and at 7 PM it was
partly cloudy with some low clouds from the approaching front. A few of our
contest group up here decided to exercise the rigs and practice some roving
for the evening. The plan was to energize a few rare grids up here in
Northern New England. The plan was as follows: WW1M/R was going to FN43,
FN53, and FN44. K1DY/R was hitting FN54, FN44, and FN53. WA3ETD was going
to be perched on Mt Equinox in FN33, and W1MRQ was hilltopping in western
FN43 at Weare, NH (Where?) . It would be nice to have some activity in the
empty grids for a change. K1DY/R and WW1M/R did a fine job representing
their grids. WA3ETD and W1MRQ never showed up!! So we all know what they
are......A BUNCH OF BUMS! It was fun to work N2CQM in FN20 too. Great
signals Patrick! The rover rig is sounding good.
I had e mailed WF4R prior to the contest and told him I would be calling
CQ on his heading quite often in hopes of working something down that way in
North Carolina. That is very far away, but I hoped that, with two stations
beamed at each other, we might have a chance. When the contest began, I
made a point to park on a 215 degree heading and call some CQs often during
the evening. One of my first Sprint QSOs was with WX1V in FN54. How cool
was that? A real station in FN54 on 432!! In the first half hour, besides
the Northern group, I had worked a few FN20 stations and one FM29, K2ZRJ.
The band looked pretty quiet & dead here. I made much noise to the West with
no luck whatsoever. I mean nothing! Before the Sprint started, I heard
KA2LIM in FN12 calling CQ on CW. I even heard him off the back of my beam
while I chatting with WW1M/R up North. When the Sprint began at 7 PM, I
never ever heard KA2LIM again. After several different attempts of serious
calls to the West that night, I figured that something was not helping me on
that path. That was across the oncoming frontal boundary. I should have
heard KA2LIM though. I think Ken must have been abducted by aliens at about
7 o'clock. I sure hope they drop him off before departing our galaxy. We
need the FN12 activity.
My efforts to the South resulted in some weird results. I never heard
anyone in FM19, 18 or 28. I did work N3RN in FN11 with 5X9 signals, and
heard him often enough, so I am inclined to believe that the FM19 stations
never pointed their beams at Maine long enough to attract my attention. I
suspect lack of serious activity of high power stations. I can't work simple
gear guys at 450 miles unless the band is wide open (Like it was for the 144
Sprint!) I did beat the bushes and eventually attracted KN4SM in FM16, to
one of my CQs. He was calling QRZ while I was calling QRZ. Signals were very
weak. Eventually, we picked out each others' calls and completed a real nice
CW contact for a 540 mile QSO. It was so darn weak that I would have to say
there was no enhancement to speak of. If I had not been burning a hole in
the 215 degree heading, I doubt that we would have hooked up at all. My
only QSO to the North was VE2XX in FN25 at about the same time. The
illustrious duo of W1AIM and K1LPS were notably absent from my log. Thanks
to Stu for getting on and making a few contacts.
At 0030, it was raining lightly. Fifteen minutes after working KN4SM,
and while still burning a hole in that 215 degree heading, I heard another
station calling on SSB. It would come and go. At one point I heard plain as
day "K1MAP FM14" one time only, but thought it was someone else calling
him. How could I hear him and his small beam way up here in Maine? Some
more endless QRZs and a switch to CW and then back to SSB produced K1MAP
again on SSB for the best contact of the night. The signals were very weak.
The contact took awhile, but I'll take a 650 mile QSO anytime. Shortly
afterward, I made my only upstate NY grid QSO with KC2IRO/R in FN22. In
fact it was a run of new grids right in a row! 0026 K1DY/R in FN44, KN4SM
in FM16, K1MAP at 0051 in FM14, K2OVS in FN30, and KC2IRO/R in FN22. Wow!
activity sure must have been bad when FN32 is rare. NC1I and WA1RKS were my
only FN32 QSOs. Ditto for K2OVS in FN30, and K1KT in FN41. I worked two
stations in FM29. I actually worked three guys in FN54 and two FN44
stations, which must be some kind of record. I sure wish we could get some
more activity going on these bands. The activity level is bordering on
pitiful. I guess the problem is that many locations are just not good for
VHF and UHF, so why invest the bucks for such meager returns. Still, I wish
it was better!!
I hung around waiting to see if W4SHG/R would show up from Skyline
Drive, Hogback Mountain in VA. Sure enough, at 0233 UT I heard him call CQ
on 432.108 and he came right back for a quick and easy QSO. Steve peaked at
about S8 over the 500+ mile path at one point, and settled down to about S4
or so on SSB. Then he disappeared as he pointed in other directions, I
guess, and I heard no one after that with the exception of K3TUF in FN10,
calling CQ right up to the end of the Sprint. I ended up with 42 QSOs in 18
grids. Missed "close & easy" grids include: FN45, FN55, FN35, FN34, FN33
(Did I mention that WA3ETD is a BUM?) FN24, FN23, FN21, FN12, FN13, and
FM19. I usually work FN02 and FN03 if there is activity there. I suspect
conditions that way were bad due to the weather front. Still activity seemed
poor out West. The only bright spot was directly along the coast. Signals
were very weak to KN4SM and K1MAP, but at least they were there!! My only
regret was never hearing WF4R!! It was not for lack of trying.
I sure had a good time. Thanks to the SE VHF Society for sponsoring the
Sprints. Keep an ear peeled for good conditions Saturday night and Sunday
night. I better fill the diesel tank now, and polish my yagi elements, so
I'll be ready for all the tropo DX that is going to be rolling in on all the
bands. I will have the 5 and 10 GHz stuff all warmed up!! It may be an all
nighter! Check the Hepburn website and prepare to drool!
73
Dave K1WHS
----- Original Message -----
From: <wa2teo@aol.com>
To: <vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Cc: <vhf@w6yx.stanford.edu>
Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 12:21 PM
Subject: [VHFcontesting] 432 Sprint - K1TEO
> 62 X 28 grids. Nice sigs from K1MAP in FM14. Heard Mark many times
> throughout - at times even with the beam 90 degs off of him! AA3ID in FM25
> was also in, and KN4SM had a good signal from FM16. Probably some slight
> coastal enhancement before a major cold front moved through. Otherwise
> best DX to the SW was FM06. Tnx to K1DY and WW1M picked up some nice grids
> to the NE - FN54, FN53 and FN44. Nothing at all to the north and not much
> to the west though K8TVD had a very good signal from EN91. Tnx for the Q's
> and to the sponsors. 73, Jeff K1TEO FN31
> ________________________________________________________________________
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