Hi Dave and all.. I'd suggest putting back up just one of the quad arrays on
432. It can go on a 3 ft mast and all the antennas are easily accessible from
the top of the tower.. no more shinnying up a bent 2" mast to service those top
4 Yagis. just 3dB less gain and WZ1V could probably still work 43 grids!!
I'm gonna try to be on for the Sprint from the rovermobile FN55ia at the start
of the contest.. Then somewhere close to there in FN54 after that. Running 8
elements and 200 watts, also carrying 222,432 if per chance anyone needs the
grid..
bill, K1DY/R
> From: k1whs@metrocast.net
> To: newsvhf@mailman.qth.net; VHFcontesting@contesting.com
> Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2015 19:16:49 +0000
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] 144 MHz sprint tonight 7-11 PM local
>
> On Saturday, I had seven spots in the road to my shack that were blocked by
> snowdrifts. Today, I walked up with a bag loaded with my 144 MHz radio and
> panadaptor. I encountered no big drifts. They have all been severely melted
> back in just over a day!! Also much of the road has dried out so I feel
> that I can actually drive up and bring a few more items needed for the
> Sprint. I am not sure if the antennas are working, but I did hook up my new
> K3 10 watt radio on 144 and heard noise and made some CW power, so I am
> hopeful that I can be QRV this evening from FN43MJ. (that's Mumbo Jumbo) At
> the least I will have 80 watts, and if the genset starts and the amp works I
> can have 1500 watts output.
> I hope to hear Cathy N5WVR near Barre VT, but possibly the mountain in
> her backyard may be a problem. I will aim the antenna there often in hopes
> of an initial QSO.
> I have my work cut out on 432. The big 432 array took a beating this
> past winter. Everything takes a beating on that ridgeline, but this year was
> worse than normal. The 432 high strength mast bent, and the top yagi seems
> to have been yanked so hard by the wind that it broke the 2" u-bolts and now
> the topmost yagi is dangling up there out of reach. As I see it, I have two
> options... #1 is to shimmy up the 2" mast and repair it. I tried that before
> and chickened out a few years ago. Option #2 is to disassemble the array and
> reduce the size to something that a normal human being can manage. Maybe
> just a single yagi. I really loved that array as it was a killer working
> 432 DX if you knew where to point it. I think Ron WZ1V had the record with
> 46 grids worked with it under poor condx with rain back in the Sept 2008 VHF
> contest. That won't happen again with a single yagi!!
> Anyway, point your antenners NE toward Maine if you get the chance
> tonite. I hope to be in there calling.
>
> Dave K1WHS
>
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