2005 ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes
02/21/2005 |
N9TF
N9TF/KC9ETU JANUARY 2005 VHF SWEEPSTAKES NOTES
What a difference a year makes, especially when you add just one more mode to a four-band operation. Even though band conditions this year were much worse than last year, especially Saturday, we were able to improve on last years score by almost 70%! By adding 222 SSB back into the arsenal, and my son Mike, KC9ETU being a bit more seasoned at contesting this time around, we made the best out of poor band conditions.
There was a little added incentive for us, as just 4 days before the contest we received in the mail, our contest award from last years VHF SWEEPSTAKES for FIRST PLACE LIMITED MULTIOPERATOR ILLINOIS SECTION. We definitely had to do better!!
As always, the curse was in again, as Friday night there was a short teaser of a 6-meter band opening to the SE into the EL grids. I knew we were doomed! Six remained closed after that opening faded!
By the time the contest began Saturday afternoon, we were in the middle of the backside of a major snowstorm, with winds of 35 mph and heavy lake effect snows off of Lake Michigan. The noise level on six and two was annoyingly high, and signals were way down from normal. I didnt really know how bad things were until I worked Bob, K2DRH in EN41, and had NO signal strength on him. Bob usually puts in a S9 minimum signal on two meters at all times. I worked Bob later on six meters and that was just as bad as two. We QSYed to 222 SSB, and I was surprised to hear him much louder than on two or six. I only have 4 elements on 222, which is tucked in between my low band tribander below and the 6 meter 3 element above, with only 15 of total separation, compared to 13 elements on 2 meters. Then we QSYed to 432, where I had the best signal strength of all the bands. (19 elements)
I noticed throughout the contest, signals were much better on 222 and 432, and the noise seemed less on those two bands. This was very evident when N9DG, Duane up in the western end of EN53, called me on two meters. Once again I thought there was something wrong with one of our stations, as the copy was so week. Once we moved up to 222 and 432, Duane was much stronger, almost enhanced stronger on the higher frequencies. By Sunday afternoon, Duanes signal on two meters had recovered nicely.
Saturday night the snow ended, but the wind and blowing snow continued, so we made an early night of it. The Rx noise was giving me a headache.
Sunday morning, around 1300-1400 UTC, started out hopeful as I was hearing signals from the east on 6 meters via what appeared to be some sporadic E. For at least 5 minutes continuous, I heard K3EAR calling CQ and working stations west in the EN82 area and out to DM98, and at one time, I heard a station sign DM98 back to K3EAR. I tried until I could no longer hear him, but no luck on my end.
It wasnt until Sunday before I finally heard stations in the east grids of EN71, W9THD and EN73, K8EB on two meters. K8EB is usually a no problem contact on any band. We had to work each other CW on 222 and 432. Although, I could have worked him on SSB, he was having a difficult time with his noise level.
By Sunday afternoon, I had lost my sidekick KC9ETU to a local football game in 12 of snow, and then to a church group snow days games. Mike did miss the better conditions of the contest, as Sunday propagation consistently improved throughout the day. Although, Mike did return just in time to help me with the last half hour of the contest. Not much of rush at the end though. Usually there are several rovers in this area for the last couple of hours, roving around the EN52-EN62-EN61 and EN51 grids to help everyone fill in needed multipliers. Not so this year. Tim, K0PG and Pat, K9ILT had a must go to event Saturday night which kept them from roving, and I guess the weather played a major roll in the rest of the rover activity. N9UM, Mark was out and about roving in the local area between EN52 and and EN62 on FM, as well as WB8BZK/R on a much limited rover operation from past rover outings, on only two SSB and 223 FM.
It was hard to work K0PG and not sign rover at the end. It is so automatic.
As I mentioned in the beginning, we improved our score by almost 70% over last year with less activity, especially by rovers, and poor band conditions. For the past few contests, I have operated without 222 SSB, only 223 FM. FM had been OK for working local rovers, but there were a lot of missed Qs and multipliers on SSB. After a quick search in November, I found a good friend, N9EMC Joe, looking to part with his FT-736R, which happen to have a 222mhz module in it. ( XYL not happy) On a chilly day in December, I made my way up the tower to mount a 224WB 4 element. I am glad I made the investment (although I am still making it up to my XYL!) as it made the difference.
Improvements for next year ( once my XYL is smiling again), is to put up a longer boom 222 beam, and add 160 watt bricks on 222 and 432.
I was blessed again this year to have my oldest son Mike, KC9ETU operate with me. His plans changed drastically from last year, as we thought he would be signing up for military service. He decided to pursue a different direction in his life, and I hope we will have many more operating times together.
CU all in the June contest!
73s Gene, N9TF
73s Mike, KC9ETU
Operating conditions:
50 MHZ SSB Kenwood TS-2000 100 watts, 3 elements at 38
144mhz SSB, Kenwood TS-2000 100watts, 13 elements at 41
146MHZ FM, Icom IC-228A 25 watts, triband vertical at 46
222MHZ SSB/FM FT-736R 25 watts, 224WB at 37, triband vertical at 46
432MHZ SSB FT-736R 25 watts, 19 elements at 43
440MHZ FM Kenwood TS-2000, 50 watts, triband vertical at 46 -- N9TF
What a difference a year makes, especially when you add just one more mode to a four-band operation. Even though band conditions this year were much worse than last year, especially Saturday, we were able to improve on last years score by almost 70%! By adding 222 SSB back into the arsenal, and my son Mike, KC9ETU being a bit more seasoned at contesting this time around, we made the best out of poor band conditions.
There was a little added incentive for us, as just 4 days before the contest we received in the mail, our contest award from last years VHF SWEEPSTAKES for FIRST PLACE LIMITED MULTIOPERATOR ILLINOIS SECTION. We definitely had to do better!!
As always, the curse was in again, as Friday night there was a short teaser of a 6-meter band opening to the SE into the EL grids. I knew we were doomed! Six remained closed after that opening faded!
By the time the contest began Saturday afternoon, we were in the middle of the backside of a major snowstorm, with winds of 35 mph and heavy lake effect snows off of Lake Michigan. The noise level on six and two was annoyingly high, and signals were way down from normal. I didnt really know how bad things were until I worked Bob, K2DRH in EN41, and had NO signal strength on him. Bob usually puts in a S9 minimum signal on two meters at all times. I worked Bob later on six meters and that was just as bad as two. We QSYed to 222 SSB, and I was surprised to hear him much louder than on two or six. I only have 4 elements on 222, which is tucked in between my low band tribander below and the 6 meter 3 element above, with only 15 of total separation, compared to 13 elements on 2 meters. Then we QSYed to 432, where I had the best signal strength of all the bands. (19 elements)
I noticed throughout the contest, signals were much better on 222 and 432, and the noise seemed less on those two bands. This was very evident when N9DG, Duane up in the western end of EN53, called me on two meters. Once again I thought there was something wrong with one of our stations, as the copy was so week. Once we moved up to 222 and 432, Duane was much stronger, almost enhanced stronger on the higher frequencies. By Sunday afternoon, Duanes signal on two meters had recovered nicely.
Saturday night the snow ended, but the wind and blowing snow continued, so we made an early night of it. The Rx noise was giving me a headache.
Sunday morning, around 1300-1400 UTC, started out hopeful as I was hearing signals from the east on 6 meters via what appeared to be some sporadic E. For at least 5 minutes continuous, I heard K3EAR calling CQ and working stations west in the EN82 area and out to DM98, and at one time, I heard a station sign DM98 back to K3EAR. I tried until I could no longer hear him, but no luck on my end.
It wasnt until Sunday before I finally heard stations in the east grids of EN71, W9THD and EN73, K8EB on two meters. K8EB is usually a no problem contact on any band. We had to work each other CW on 222 and 432. Although, I could have worked him on SSB, he was having a difficult time with his noise level.
By Sunday afternoon, I had lost my sidekick KC9ETU to a local football game in 12 of snow, and then to a church group snow days games. Mike did miss the better conditions of the contest, as Sunday propagation consistently improved throughout the day. Although, Mike did return just in time to help me with the last half hour of the contest. Not much of rush at the end though. Usually there are several rovers in this area for the last couple of hours, roving around the EN52-EN62-EN61 and EN51 grids to help everyone fill in needed multipliers. Not so this year. Tim, K0PG and Pat, K9ILT had a must go to event Saturday night which kept them from roving, and I guess the weather played a major roll in the rest of the rover activity. N9UM, Mark was out and about roving in the local area between EN52 and and EN62 on FM, as well as WB8BZK/R on a much limited rover operation from past rover outings, on only two SSB and 223 FM.
It was hard to work K0PG and not sign rover at the end. It is so automatic.
As I mentioned in the beginning, we improved our score by almost 70% over last year with less activity, especially by rovers, and poor band conditions. For the past few contests, I have operated without 222 SSB, only 223 FM. FM had been OK for working local rovers, but there were a lot of missed Qs and multipliers on SSB. After a quick search in November, I found a good friend, N9EMC Joe, looking to part with his FT-736R, which happen to have a 222mhz module in it. ( XYL not happy) On a chilly day in December, I made my way up the tower to mount a 224WB 4 element. I am glad I made the investment (although I am still making it up to my XYL!) as it made the difference.
Improvements for next year ( once my XYL is smiling again), is to put up a longer boom 222 beam, and add 160 watt bricks on 222 and 432.
I was blessed again this year to have my oldest son Mike, KC9ETU operate with me. His plans changed drastically from last year, as we thought he would be signing up for military service. He decided to pursue a different direction in his life, and I hope we will have many more operating times together.
CU all in the June contest!
73s Gene, N9TF
73s Mike, KC9ETU
Operating conditions:
50 MHZ SSB Kenwood TS-2000 100 watts, 3 elements at 38
144mhz SSB, Kenwood TS-2000 100watts, 13 elements at 41
146MHZ FM, Icom IC-228A 25 watts, triband vertical at 46
222MHZ SSB/FM FT-736R 25 watts, 224WB at 37, triband vertical at 46
432MHZ SSB FT-736R 25 watts, 19 elements at 43
440MHZ FM Kenwood TS-2000, 50 watts, triband vertical at 46 -- N9TF
Photo Gallery
-
KC9ETU, Mike, bac...
-
The consolidated ...
Back
