Bob Mantell, K4ESA is quickly becoming a force in VHF here in the Southeast!
Just prior to the contest, he tested a new antenna for 432, which sounded
great. Can't wait to work you during the August UHF contest, Bob! It's great
to have someone else nearby who is passionate about weak signal work.
I am honored by his description of N1LF as a "real" rover. Don't think that
I qualify, considering that the CQ VHF contest was only my second effort.
And Bob easily beat my score with his limited operating time! So, please do
send it that log Bob, I think you may have the best rover score in "Four"
land.
This marked only my 10th VHF/UHF contest and my second CQ VHF event, so I
don't have the experience to judge conditions compared to years past, but
they were poor in North Florida. Conditions on Saturday were "dead calm".
In fact, I was speculating that there might even be something like "Negative
Tropo" in effect, since stations that had been easy pickings on Thursday and
Friday night were difficult or impossible to work on Saturday.
Sunday morning saw a weak 6 Meter opening, but with lots of QSB. Search &
Pounce was the only practical tactic for the rover, since CQ's netted no
responses during the event. Bob has the right idea with bigger beams!
Call: N1LF/R
Operator(s): N1LF
Station: N1LF
Class: Rover LP
QTH: EL88, EL89, and EM80
Operating Time (hrs): 16 Hours
Summary:
Band QSOs Mults
-------------------
6: 31 26
2: 15 12
-------------------
Total: 46 38 Total Score = 2318
Club: Alabama Contest Group
Comments:
Planned to activate seven grids in the event, but a sick relative caused
that to go astray. Bands were "dead calm" on Saturday with no propagation at
all. Weak opening on 6M during Sunday morning, but lots of QSB. Fun, but
certainly nothing memorable!
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Bob Mantell" <k4esa@yahoo.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 11:36 PM
To: <VHFcontesting@contesting.com>; <vhf@w6yx.stanford.edu>; "lxpeds"
<LxPeditionsAtlanta@yahoogroups.com>; <fourlanders@contesting.com>; "NFARL"
<nfarl@yahoogroups.com>; "6meter" <6meter@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: <K4JFF@aol.com>; "Melvin Dishong k4JFF" <radioman30152@yahoo.com>; "Vic"
<wb4slm@cox.net>; "jim" <w4amp@charter.net>
Subject: [VHF] K4ESA/R Report CQWW VHF Event
> Plans changed at last minute, and I was only able to work from two grids,
> EM74
> and EM73. I worked on picking up and building my new tower for the house
> rather than setting up the RoverMobile.
>
> Only two DX grids on 6M for me, FK68 and FM72 , missed the Sunday morning
> action during setup at Pine Mt Cobb County Ga site in EM73
>
> Counts
>
> EM74 37 Qs Sat: 6M 26/9 grids 2M 11/5 grids
> EM73 31 Qs Sun: 6M 16/8 grids 2M 15/8 grids
>
> Log says 2820 Pt's Not sure how that stacks up for this contest as it was
> my
> first time.
>
> Bummers:
>
> Missed Sunday opening to VEs and Northeast.
>
> Worked no stations to/from NE from either site after hearing K1TOL, K1WHS
> and
> others for big parts of the 18 hours I worked the contest........Yes, that
> was
> me calling you guys last night and this morning. I guess I'm going to need
> a
> bigger antenna! And more power!
>
> Did not get to work any real rovers like N1LF.
>
> Did not get to stop by the W4NH site to see how the the folks that have
> been
> at it a while operate, and why they can contact K1TOL and K1WHS :-)
> (Yes, I know the answer is higher antenna+better feedline+more gain+ legal
> limit output)
>
>
> High points of contest:
>
> Setting up at Mel's place with my 857 and Yagis, and getting raisin
> pancakes
> for brunch.
>
> Working 2 meters on Sunday with W4AMP, K1KC, W4QWZ, K4SME and others. Lots
> of
> fun making contacts around 144.200+/- SSB.
>
> Plus the EM70 QSO with Ken, AC4TO on 6 M. This is still new enough to me
> that
> a 253 mile chat on 6m anytime you want to is thrilling and fun! Note: I
> am
> only running 100 watts and 5 elements on a 13 foot boom on 6. I am glad
> Ken
> has good equipment!
>
> Worked EM80 from both grids on 6M plus 2M from EM73, a 270+ mile contact
> with
> 40-50 watts on 2. Should have got them on both bands both days but the 6
> meter
> op did not understand I wanted to move up to 2m the first time.
>
> And I had a 200+ miler to EM66 on 2 meter that moved down to 6!. I am
> very
> happy with those contacts on my "doesnotreallyworkforssb" CC13Boomer yagi,
> under not the best band conditions.
>
>
> IF we just had some six and two meter SSB nets near north GA so we could
> use
> our VHF gear more.
>
> Good news is I now have 48 feet of tower bolted together in the yard and a
> 31
> element 432 to go on top......Looking forward to Aug UHF event
>
>
> Maybe I could find a 222 SSB transverter in time...... or get some 1296
> gear........and.....
>
>
>
> 73 de Bob,
>
> K4ESA EM74qc
>
> Bob Mantell
> k4esa@yahoo.com
>
> ------
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