07/08/2003 | W0IS/R & KC0OIA/R The OM/XYL Team of W0IS and KC0OIA activated twelve grids in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, using an FT-817, running into dipoles for 6, 2, and 432 on a PVC mast on top of the car. We also had 2M FM into a 5/8 wave on the trunk, and a 220 handheld into a quarter-wave mag mount.

We suffered a catastrophic antenna failure early in the contest, as the PVC mast couldn't quite handle the wind resistance. We stopped at the nearest Home Depot for inspiration on how to effect a repair, and left the store with a small toilet plunger and a large roll of duct tape.

We stopped at home, cut the mast down to about two feet to avoid further wind problems, and firmly duct taped it to the plunger. This we attached to the roof, "like a mag mount," as one contact queried us, and then firmly duct taped the plunger to the car top carrier. This held quite well for the approximately 1000 mile rove.

The next contest will probably see us using a PVC pyramid holding the antennas, but the plunger and duct tape will probably be loaded in the trunk just in case. -- W0IS