What an absolute blast! Six meters was phenomenal again this year!   After great VHF contest in June 2010 running QRP (Single-Op-Portable), I just had to have another crack at it in 2011.  Learning from some of the mistakes and shortcomings I had last year, I planned out my attack, pre-contest.  I improved my antennas on all bands but still kept them portable and quick to setup.  The 6 meter beam was bumped up to a 5 element, 2 meters was bumped to 8 elements, and 432 was improved from a rubber ducky to an 11 element beam. I also added 10 feet to my mast which put the top antenna at 30 feet.    These improvements made a large impact on my score which I more than doubled.  As a bonus, after loading my log into LOTW I also found out I had earned VUCC-6M and did it QRP! 

This year the temperature and wind cooperated a bit better with temps in the mid 90s , and the wind stayed below 20mph for most of the contest.   I was glad the wind stayed down with the added mast height and arm-strong rotator.    

I was a little worried at the beginning of the contest with six meters open but struggling.  Running QRP, you need good solid band conditions.   However, true to its nature, six meters showed up in a big way later in the day and even better on Sunday.   Again this year’s contest, six meters had the feel of November sweeps.  In fact this year my six meter qso count exceeded my maximum sweepstakes qso counts in years past for Sweepstakes!  With a solid six meter opening my FT-817 got toasty in the Texas heat but kept right on working ‘em. 

Two meters was still a tough go, with only 5 watts to work with, but the added antenna elements and height help me pull out a few more stations/grids this year.   Most of my two meter work was done in the late evenings or when six meters was down.   I could hear a lot of stations, but they couldn’t hear me.  However, each one I was able to work just added to the excitement of the chase.   I was blessed with a local enhancement on Sunday morning and got a few grids further out with my low wattage signal.

Having a Yagi on 432 this year help me pull a few more stations and grids out over last year’s 432 score.  However, having only 5 watts and running 9913 coax made 432 contacts much beyond local impossible.  Again I could hear more stations then I could work, but it was still lots of fun working 432 qrp. 

Even with extra metal in the air this year, I just couldn’t complete the contest without working someone on a rubber ducky. Hi hi   Sunday afternoon I heard several stations on 2m ssb QSYing to 223.500 for a contact.  So I fired up my Kenwood F6 HT and had to stand on a step ladder but I worked ‘em for a new grid, multi, and band!   The things we will do for a multiplier!

This is a really fun contest.  Running it as Single-Op-Portable is kind of like working field day but for VHF and up.   With the great band opening on six meters it was perfect conditions for QRP contest work.   It is truly awesome to run a “compromise” station, portable antennas, arm-strong rotator, and 5 watts of power and make boatloads of contacts.   As I always say, what fun is running a kilowatt when it’s possible to work ‘em with much much less?  Hi Hi

--KJ5RM