THIS is the type of posting I like to see here!
Since I've been Single-Op Portable in almost every VHF+ contest,
I've designed my station for setup that is as quick and easy as I can make
it. My Yagi antennas are all designed and built so they can be transported
with the elements off the booms and fastened alongside the booms for
transport. It doesn't take me long to put them together in the field.
(Loopers, of course, have to be carried assembled.) I built a tilt-over
base with a length of 2X6 and one of those Radio Shack tilting bases, as
recommended to me by K9PW. Guy ropes with anchors hold the array up. Somehow
a 20 ft mast with 4 beams on it managed to stay up during the horrible winds
I experienced in the January VHF contest. I don't think I'll have such winds
in June.
WA9O has an interesting setup for antennas. He has a small car like mine (I
have a Toyota Corolla). I never thought I'd be able to use it as a Rover
until I saw Jerry's setup. He has one of those clamp-on top-mounting luggage
carriers. Not cheap but seems to work well. He's attached to that a
square loop of PVC pipe with several PVC T's on it. The T's allow him to put
pipes in them as masts for Yagis. I believe he has six T's, one in front and
back and two on each side. I just might try that some day.
Still have some prep to do for the June contest. My 903 MHz preamp is blown
...
73, Zack W9SZ
On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 10:27 PM, frank bechdoldt <k3uhf@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Mounting antennas depends on your strategy. If you are leaving them up
> against the wind of the highway, then double nut them with a wrench. If you
> are going on back roads, carry extra nuts.
> Check your antennas periodically.
> Measure the size of your elements and keep spares, such as 4 foot AL. rods
> from Home Depot.
> Tighten your elements before you go, they will loosen.
> Put dabs of paint on your elements while assembled correctly so when (not
> if) you have to re align something it will be marked in paint. No tape
> measures or instruction sheets.
> Carry a goop pair of dykes.
> Carry at least one spare piece of coax the length of your longest piece in
> use.
> Using amps carry spare jumpers.
> Take a swr meter and carry it in a box.
> Get coax adapters and keep em in a tackle box with some of this other stuff
> if needed.
> Get topo maps and put them in a case. Or something similar.
> Carry lots of pens, you will loose them.
> Carry a second cheap keyer.
> Scratch paper lots of it.
> Toilet paper, in case nature calls.
> Don’t eat the greasy food or you will need the above.
> Hemorrhoid pillow? You make the call….
> If you are using a laptop, buy a ram mount so you won’t trash your lap top
> when you apply the brakes.
> Cushion your gear to some degree.
> Make it easy to see and operate. When you get up to 6 bands you will know
> what I mean.
> If you can find some poor soul to go with you, take them. But tell them
> they can’t go home until you’re done.
> Sleep in your car, leave the radio on.
> 2nd driver/ op and a laptop? Consider WSJT while underway. (Use loops for
> this)
> Plan your route around the squares. IE don’t go 100 miles in a square to
> get to a spot and travel back down the same square to go back.
> Tywrap everything that’s loose.
>
> Check out n7cfo’s web page, just google his call
> _________________________________________________________________
> Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®.
>
> http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd1_052009
> _______________________________________________
> VHFcontesting mailing list
> VHFcontesting@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
>
_______________________________________________
VHFcontesting mailing list
VHFcontesting@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
|