07/04/2005 | W0AH/4 On the Monday before the test I had our newly bought acre lot on Windmill Hill, EM85wb, in South Carolina (10 miles south of NC border and 15 miles NNW of Spartanburg) partailly cleared. On Wednesday, I put up two sections of Rohn BX tower for 16' of tower with an old RIW 16' el beam at 22', a Cushcraft 10 el beam for 144 at 20', and a 5 el Cushcraft 50 MHz beam at 17'. The rig was an FT-817 barefoot (5W) on 50 Mhz, and bricks with 80W out on 144 and 432. It was with great anticipation to operate a VHF contest again from the east coast after those many years of operating from W2CRS (NY) and K1UGQ (ME), 1957-1988. So this was the small beginning to what I hope will become a competitive VHF SO station in a couple of years when we move from CO to SC. Unfortuately, the top of the hill was 15'-20' higher than my antennas at only 100 yards to the W, NW, N to NNE. In other directions we had an HAAT of 100'-200' but a jungle of trees to work through. Almost no Es- only 2 six meter Es contacts, and my 5W would raise anyone on AU Sunday evening. Highlight of the contest was working K2TXB on 144 CW at 522 miles. Good ears Russ! Worked K3EAR on 144 SSB. Best DX on 50 Mhz was K4IY. Best DX on 432 was probably K8GP or KN4SM. Heard W3CCX (553 mi), K3YTL, W3SO, W3DOG, and K1RZ whenever they had their 144 beams pointed my way, but the most I could get from them was an occasional QRZ.
For the September test, I hope to return for another portable operation and put up 50' of tower so as to get over the top of the hill and some of the trees. Will probably use same simple antennas, but will add 222 MHz and maybe 1296 MHz. Thanks for the Q's and renewal of acquaintances.
Doug W0AH W0AH@AOL.COM ex-W2CRS, K1UGQ, W3IFA, KN8BAJ -- W0AH