The 2012 10 GHz & Up Contest is in the log, and I had a great time as usual!! I started the contest at Point Gratiot Park, NY (FN02hl). It was a pleasure to finally meet K2LDU, Charlie. I arrived early and was set up and ready to go for the 6 am start. Stations were loud on 2 meters, but when I keyed the rig, everything went dead. I later found that my battery charger wasn't working. All was not lost though, I tore down and moved to the parking lot, and used the car battery for power. By the time I was set up again, conditions had changed. I worked VE3SMA, VE3KH, and VE3MSC in short order and then WA3TTS, and K8WW. By this time things slowed down, as it was probably lunch time. I decided to pack up and use a small horn antenna as I roved along the shore of Lake Erie. I made three other stops but couldn't find anyone except the guys in Canada.

     Sunday of the 1st weekend, I operated from my favorite spot along Lake Erie. I went to Perry Township Park, Ohio (EN91kt). This time I had the battery charged and I was able to work everyone I heard. The highlights were working K2YAZ, Bob (EN74av), a 520.3 km QSO!! I also worked VE3NPB, Murray (FN03rx) 320.1 km, K8JA, Jack (EN82em) 221 km!! 

     The second weekend I started out near Altoona, PA (FN00sn). I got to the site around 5:30 am, where it was cold, foggy, and windy. I decided to set up to be ready for the start. Signals on 2 meters were loud. After setting up I went to the car to warm up for a few minutes, and watched disaster strike. My Prodelin 1 Meter dish and Hercules Tripod suddenly went flying through the air, with the greatest of ease. They crashed into the guard rail and as luck would have it, the clamshell feed support was shattered. A short piece of waveguide was bent and the flange was broken off of the 24 GHz transverter. This was before I could work a single station. I packed up the whole mess, and waited for WA3TTS, Mike to get to Blue Knob Ski Area, PA (FN00rg). I wanted to test my 10 GHz transverter using a small horn antenna. I was able to work WA3TTS, Mike very easily!  I was very happy the 10 GHz transverter wasn't damaged. Then I drove to Blue Knob Ski Area, PA (FN00rg) and worked W8ZN, Terry (FM19bb) using the horn. 146 km, QSO isn't bad for a little horn sticking out of the sunroof!

     Sunday of the second weekend, I went back to Perry Park. The temps were very comfortable, but it was very windy. I used my MA/COM 2 foot dish with shepherd hook feed. This dish works great, and doesn't tend to fly away : ) Later in the day WA8RJF, Tony stopped by and operated from here the rest of the day! I heard WA3PTV, and W3HMS on 2 Meters from FM09, but my puny station just couldn't punch through. The highlights were working VE3ZV, Steve (FN04qa) 319 km, WW8M, Don (EN72xf) 246 km, VE3SMA, Steve (FN03ib) 205 km, and VE3MSC, Colin (FN02ku) 201 km!!!

     Thanks for all the QSO's! Already looking forward to next year. I've posted some video on my youtube channel: www.youtube.com/user/kb8vao  

and pictures on my webpage:

www.qsl.net/kb8vao

73 de KB8VAO, Steve