06/14/2007 | AB0RX ABX operated the June VHF QSO party from Taum Sauk in grid EM47 this year. Several station improvements were recently made including improved antennas for 2 meters and 70cm, low loss coax cable, and the addition of 222 MHz.

Six meters was not good on Saturday. I did briefly hear short openings to EL97, but not long enough to complete a QSO. Six did open up to the northeast Sunday and several grids were worked. Activity on 2 meters was good.

I had to go QRT Sunday afternoon when a thunderstorm came through. More thunderstorms were predicted so I packed up early and headed home.

Overall I had a good time, worked several new grid squares, and enjoyed handing out one of the rarer grid square multipiers. I received a visit from Steve, WB5MFI on Saturday who provided me the EM47 multiplier on three bands.

All antennas are homebrew:

6M - 3 El. Yagi @ 28';
2M - 11 El. Yagi @ 28';
1.25M - 9 El. Yagi @ 34';
70 cm - 23 El. Yagi @ 34'

Station located on close to the highest point in Missouri. I'm pretty sure they all antennas cleared the high point, but not the trees. I was fortunate to find a good spot to erect both masts and be able to fully rotate the 15 foot booms of the 2 meter and 70 cm antennas.

This was a Field Day type operation with 100% operation on battery power. -- AB0RX