09/18/2003 | W5AC N5GQB and N5PYK traveled to Texas A&M University (W5AC) to participate in the September VHF contest. We were fortunate to have equipment to activate every band from 6m to 3cm. This was the first time, that we are aware of, that W5AC was active on the bands from 902 - 10368.

While tropo propagation was decent, a little help was needed to reach the DFW metroplex (170mi) on Sunday morning. Thus, with the MCS (mesoscale convective system) moving through central Texas, we took advantage of rain scatter propagation, an underutilized mode on microwave, to complete on 2.3, 3.4, 5.7, and 10 GHz. While signals gradually became weaker on the lower bands, even 2.3 GHz provided good copy on CW. In hindsight, we should have tried 1296 as well, but we'll leave that for another contest.

Overall, it was an enjoyable contest even though propagation was not particularly great.

Learn more about W5AC at http://w5ac.tamu.edu

73,
Joe -- N5PYK