2008 ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes
05/03/2008 |
W6DWI
I ran QRP portable again this year on 6M, 2M, 222MHZ, 70CM, and 1.2 GHZ. I used just a loop for 6m and M2 beams with 10-14FT. booms on the other bands. Everything was mounted on a single hand aimed mast. New for this year, I ran FSJ4 feed line on all bands.
I had wanted to operate from the top of Goat Mt. CM89 but the snow drifts were more than I felt like dealing with. I enacted plan B, Pacific ridge on the south side of Goat Mt. I didnt go all the way to the top of the ridge because again the drifts were a little deep. I didnt feel like putting on the chains just to get to the contest site, and figured Id save those for the trip home, if needed. I ended up at a compromised site without a clear shot to the Bay area; that hurt on the higher bands. I set most everything up Friday night. The tent was on snow. My younger brother, who came along for the ride, informed me that he forgot the 100 bucks worth of cold weather gear I had bought him the previous day. He ended up spending extra time in his bag, as I told him we would leave unless it got dangerous cold, and if he felt chilled to drink some hot tea. The drinking water didnt even freeze solid in the tent.
My results were not is good as I would have liked, but I did keep all 5 bands going for nearly the whole contest. I packed up and went home about 7p on Sunday to avoid having to break down in the approaching storm. I did end up using the chains to get out, as the snow was hard and slick. I didnt want to slide on the down grade and end up off the road.
I didnt find as many stations on 2m as I would have liked, 1.2G was just ok, and I didnt have any real DX above 6m. I left the site a bit disappointed. When I got home and added things up I found that I had my best VHF+ contest results since June05; go figure!
Highlights- Getting a call on 2m from CN82 when I was pointed the opposite direction.
Trying hard to work CM87 on 6m and suddenly receiving a call from CN87 before finally completing with the CM87 station. -- W6DWI
I had wanted to operate from the top of Goat Mt. CM89 but the snow drifts were more than I felt like dealing with. I enacted plan B, Pacific ridge on the south side of Goat Mt. I didnt go all the way to the top of the ridge because again the drifts were a little deep. I didnt feel like putting on the chains just to get to the contest site, and figured Id save those for the trip home, if needed. I ended up at a compromised site without a clear shot to the Bay area; that hurt on the higher bands. I set most everything up Friday night. The tent was on snow. My younger brother, who came along for the ride, informed me that he forgot the 100 bucks worth of cold weather gear I had bought him the previous day. He ended up spending extra time in his bag, as I told him we would leave unless it got dangerous cold, and if he felt chilled to drink some hot tea. The drinking water didnt even freeze solid in the tent.
My results were not is good as I would have liked, but I did keep all 5 bands going for nearly the whole contest. I packed up and went home about 7p on Sunday to avoid having to break down in the approaching storm. I did end up using the chains to get out, as the snow was hard and slick. I didnt want to slide on the down grade and end up off the road.
I didnt find as many stations on 2m as I would have liked, 1.2G was just ok, and I didnt have any real DX above 6m. I left the site a bit disappointed. When I got home and added things up I found that I had my best VHF+ contest results since June05; go figure!
Highlights- Getting a call on 2m from CN82 when I was pointed the opposite direction.
Trying hard to work CM87 on 6m and suddenly receiving a call from CN87 before finally completing with the CM87 station. -- W6DWI
Back
