01/22/2007 | N8CMZ This was a fun contest on a cold and snowy weekend in northeast Ohio. I operated 144 SSB for the first time in my 40 year ham radio career and made 4 contacts!!!. No openings noted on either 50 or 144. I worked only stations close to the home QTH, no skip to anywhere. Ran QRP with 5 watts from a Yaesu FT-817 to an 3db gain 6/2 meter combination vertical up 20 feet high. Locals don't work well with vertical to horizontal propogation differences, that's for sure. I only wish the vhf bands were as active outside contest weekends.

I will be retiring in March, and hope to have a much better station for the June VHF Contest in place with better antennas and more power.

Bob Hajdak -- N8CMZ