10/07/2003 | K1NKR Having introduced Dan, W1RDB, to VHF contesting in August (Mt Kearsarge NH), we decided to "do" September. Vacation schedules and business travel conspired to make this contest an abbreviated one, leaving only a half-day Sunday available. We rendesvoused on Mt Agamenticus, in southern Maine.

Without too much effort, we managed to get on 50-1296 (minus 903). We brought the transverters for 903, 2G, 3G, and 10G, but didn't get them set up because of the short time we had. We used an old 'NKR lash-up of single-boom, multi-band yagis. No two elements of the antennas were in the same plane. They worked, though.

Things we learned:
- If you're not ready for June you won't be any more ready for September. The 5GHz rig still isn't tuned up. The PAs and LNAs for all the microwave bands are still on the workbench. And the bandswitcher is still lacking something-or-other...
- In New England at least, if you go to a conveniently accessible site you'll share it with a FB rover/portable. In August N1JEZ elmered us through a couple of tight microwave shots. In September W1BQ showed us what a truly impressive road-worthy antenna farm looks like.
- No matter how rudimentary your equipment or antennas, you work more folks with them than if you had left them at home. (Corollary: You win more contests by submitting logs than by not doing so. I took Rhode Island one year and Canada another by using this tactic.) -- K1NKR