06/11/2007 | WB2AMU After the great opening during the first four hours of the June VHF contest event in 2006, it was inevitable that there would be a letdown in 2007 with a drop in Sporadic-E propagation. However, there were some nice moments for me during my QRP portable effort from a hill in Long Island in Grid FN30.

On Saturday, we were able to work 4U1UN on Six Meters using CW despite the high noise level on their end as well as no directional antenna there. Surprisingly, we were able to work some DX on Sunday morning on Six Meters when Sporadic-E propagation brought in NP4A and VP5KE. This was the first contest where I worked this many DXCC (W, 4U1, NP4 and VP5).

Two Meters had some moments on Sunday morning with minor tropo working down to Maryland area from Long Island. 432 and 220 were not too good for us during this contest.

Here is one funny story about the hill where I operate from: I was setting up at 6:15 AM on the hill which is a public park and a taxi cab driver was parked nearby. He came out while I was setting up the antennas and asked if I needed help putting my bike together. I told him no thanks and then he saw it was antennas and he drove away.

73

KEN WB2AMU -- WB2AMU