08/23/2002 | K2DH While I didn't have my best results ever for the first weekend of a 10GHz+ Cumulative Contest, I sure had a lot of fun! The day started out with an attempt to take my gear to the top of the Mt. Albion Firemen's Memorial Tower (FN03wf), which I had forgotten was very dark inside with a set of ever narrowing circular stairs. No way could I carry all my gear up there- it's a great spot, but only for people who can carry their gear in one hand or a backpack. The attached photo shows that I clearly didn't fit that description! So, with the help of Jim N2JMH, we went out to a couple of spots near the "Four Corners" area of Western NY- the Grid corners of FN03, 13, 02, and 12. There are some good spots there for local QSO's up to 80-100km or so. The picture was taken in FN02wv, a site we know as Buckman Road. It has a great view to the East and Southeast, so working some of the other Rochester VHF Group gang out that way was easy. However, a good-sized thunderstorm put an early end to Saturday and that was that after only 5 QSO's. Sunday morning, Jim and I went down to Gannett Hill (FN12hr), which has a GREAT view to the East and South- I swear, if the guys on Mt. Greylock had bright enough lights, you could see them- it's that good. But, Sunday was not a great day due to high heat/humidity and fog. I did manage a QSO with KA1UAG on Mt. Kearsarge (FN43bj) at 453km, but he was the only success that far out. There's only one other RVHFG member currently on 24GHz narrowband besides me and we never got a chance to give a QSO a try. With the weather not cooperating and poor propagation on 10GHz, it was useless to even consider trying 24GHz. I ended the first weekend with 12 QSO's (2 on 24GHz WBFM), a best DX of 453km, and total points of 1769. But, wait till the second weekend- I'm planning a bigger adventure- going down to North Carolina on the coast to try to take advantage of any coastal tropo that might occur and possibly work into New England and/or Florida on 10GHz. I'll keep everybody informed of my plans. The picture shows my 1W/2'dish 10GHz station and my 1W/13" dish 24GHz station in this case (but not always) powered by batteries. The IF rig is an IC-202 and of course I carry 2m liaison. I can also run high power on 10GHz using a 40W TWTA. Give me a shout- I'd love to run with you, contest or not, and I can be ready to go in minutes. 73 Dave -- K2DH