07/27/2007 | K4LF The 20m band was simply amazing at our E. TN location. This operator, K4LF, kept reminding my son, the junior op, KR4USA, that the 20m band wouldnt stay open all Saturday evening and overnight, and that we would have to switch bands. But it did and we didnt, as the band was open the whole contest period. The skip distance and location kept periodically changing so that there were a new cast of characters to fill the log and not the dupe list. We operated a low-budget, low-key solar powered setup with an HF rig (100W) and a separate 6 & 2 station (80w and 30W respectively) with minimalist antennas: a G5RV for HF, a Moxon for 6 and a 4-el homebrew yagi for 2 (both using an Armstrong rotator). As much as 20m delighted, 6m disappointedno opening and even the locals were difficult to work. The 2-battery, 3 solar panel power system worked great and we achieved the desired publicity with a nice post-FD article in the LaFollette (TN) Press. One memorable moment was when my son heard OL0R; unfortunately, we did not work him before he announced he was going QRT. This father-son team was definitely bitten by the bug.
Charlie, K4LF -- K4LF