08/10/2006 | W1AUV/R The August UHF contest is always a challenge but I always have a good time. This year I operated from three different grids trying to maximize my operating time. I started in FN22 just west of Cairo NY. I moved around 2200 UTC to FN32 operating from both Lenox, MA and the Town of Washington, MA. A few hours sleep and I left early Sunday morning for Mount Wachusett in FN42 where I operated until the end of the contest.

I have a lot of noise from the inverter to run the rotor. Ill have to fix that as it gives me a lot of noise in my IF rig. Also, Ill need to use a stronger mast on the van because I bent the current mast on the way to Wachusett. I missed a 1296 QSO because I was aiming into space!

Also, a mistake in calibration of the aiming of the 10 GHz rig caused one missed contact and another that took forever until I discovered the problem. I was fooled into thinking I was aiming at the Mt. Greylock beacon when I was really just getting a false peak off of a steel structure on the mountain. Needless to say, I was aiming somewhere other than where I wanted.

I could always use more bands and power. I doubled my score over last year though. Not bad for 4 bands.

Thanks to all who worked me and especially to those who hung in there while I fumbled.

73
Tommy -- W1AUV