2006 ARRL November Sweepstakes (Phone)
04/14/2007 |
N1XIH/7
This is my third year for entering the contest. So I'm definitely hooked.
On the flight to LAX I wrote down some targets for this year. These were to work more than 100 stations. Try to make some more contacts on 40 mtrs. Work Alaska. Make sure that I did not make any mistakes on contacts or logging. Have fun!!
Following last years operation I had decided that I would build a better antenna. I chose the OD5CG 3 band hf vertical but had great difficulty getting it to work at home. I suspect that the dimensions are incorrect in the various RSGB Antenna books. In the end after a visit to Fry's and Radio Shack I built a 40 mtrs inverted V fed with a 300 ohm TV ribon cable feed. With a mobile whip on the trunk as back up. The rig is my well used FT817 and a Z100 atu with balun. I also made sure that my rf patch leads were working. Last year a faulty one caused me to loose contacts until I rebuilt the mobile antenna and atu mid contest.
The whole set up fitted on the centre armrest of the car. The inverted V was suspended from the branch of a tree with the 300 ohm feeder wrapped around the trunk and then into the car. The ends of the elements were tied using coloured string for safety.
A number of very helpful articles in both QST and CQ during the year gave advice on correct contest operating and logging proceedure to minimise dupes and penalties. Many people had also read these articles so I found the exchanges less of a challenge. Enabling me to make 105 contacts from Utah.
On Saturday, before the start of the contest, I was able to listen to a number of stations making final checks on air. Alaska was 59 on 20 mtrs. Once the contest had started I found unlike last year most of my contacts were on 20 mtrs and not 15 mtrs. 10 mtrs was very quiet and I did not make any contacts on that band. Later on when 20 mtrs became quiet I tried 40 mtrs. It was starting to get dark. Stations from the East Coast were very strong 59+. However they could not here me over local East Coast stations. In desparation I decided to try 80 mtrs. This was a fantastic band and I made many contacts. 160 mtrs was active with nets but no contesters.
At 9000ft on a clear night the 'Milky Way' and the Leonids meteor shower were impressive. But the 'revellers' had come out and I decided it was time to take the antenna down and go back to my motel for diner and rest.
On Sunday after an early breakfast back to the contest site I headed. With the antenna put up in under 10 mins the contest beckoned. By early afternoon I found myself with nearly 100 contacts making 1 contact every 2 mins. 150 contacts seemed possible.
This was not to be. Being in a National Park you cannot suspend an antenna in a tree however you can in a National Forest which was close by. Also being close to the Thanksgiving holiday people were more sensitive to the many aspects of the hobby. Although I'm sure I could have used the whip antenna on the trunk of the car, with a heavy heart I closed the station down and headed back to the motel.
The ARRL Sweepstakes is a friendly contest and I am most appreciative of the patience that all amateurs showed in contacting my QRP station in Utah. I was disapointed that I had to close the station but I made 105 contacts. I operated on 40 and 80 mtrs. I did not contact Alaska. I was however given some ideas for 2007.
I'm already planning for next years Sweepstakes. At the bottom of the solar cycle 160 mtrs from Utah anyone? -- GW0NVN/N1XIH
On the flight to LAX I wrote down some targets for this year. These were to work more than 100 stations. Try to make some more contacts on 40 mtrs. Work Alaska. Make sure that I did not make any mistakes on contacts or logging. Have fun!!
Following last years operation I had decided that I would build a better antenna. I chose the OD5CG 3 band hf vertical but had great difficulty getting it to work at home. I suspect that the dimensions are incorrect in the various RSGB Antenna books. In the end after a visit to Fry's and Radio Shack I built a 40 mtrs inverted V fed with a 300 ohm TV ribon cable feed. With a mobile whip on the trunk as back up. The rig is my well used FT817 and a Z100 atu with balun. I also made sure that my rf patch leads were working. Last year a faulty one caused me to loose contacts until I rebuilt the mobile antenna and atu mid contest.
The whole set up fitted on the centre armrest of the car. The inverted V was suspended from the branch of a tree with the 300 ohm feeder wrapped around the trunk and then into the car. The ends of the elements were tied using coloured string for safety.
A number of very helpful articles in both QST and CQ during the year gave advice on correct contest operating and logging proceedure to minimise dupes and penalties. Many people had also read these articles so I found the exchanges less of a challenge. Enabling me to make 105 contacts from Utah.
On Saturday, before the start of the contest, I was able to listen to a number of stations making final checks on air. Alaska was 59 on 20 mtrs. Once the contest had started I found unlike last year most of my contacts were on 20 mtrs and not 15 mtrs. 10 mtrs was very quiet and I did not make any contacts on that band. Later on when 20 mtrs became quiet I tried 40 mtrs. It was starting to get dark. Stations from the East Coast were very strong 59+. However they could not here me over local East Coast stations. In desparation I decided to try 80 mtrs. This was a fantastic band and I made many contacts. 160 mtrs was active with nets but no contesters.
At 9000ft on a clear night the 'Milky Way' and the Leonids meteor shower were impressive. But the 'revellers' had come out and I decided it was time to take the antenna down and go back to my motel for diner and rest.
On Sunday after an early breakfast back to the contest site I headed. With the antenna put up in under 10 mins the contest beckoned. By early afternoon I found myself with nearly 100 contacts making 1 contact every 2 mins. 150 contacts seemed possible.
This was not to be. Being in a National Park you cannot suspend an antenna in a tree however you can in a National Forest which was close by. Also being close to the Thanksgiving holiday people were more sensitive to the many aspects of the hobby. Although I'm sure I could have used the whip antenna on the trunk of the car, with a heavy heart I closed the station down and headed back to the motel.
The ARRL Sweepstakes is a friendly contest and I am most appreciative of the patience that all amateurs showed in contacting my QRP station in Utah. I was disapointed that I had to close the station but I made 105 contacts. I operated on 40 and 80 mtrs. I did not contact Alaska. I was however given some ideas for 2007.
I'm already planning for next years Sweepstakes. At the bottom of the solar cycle 160 mtrs from Utah anyone? -- GW0NVN/N1XIH
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