2008 ARRL June VHF Contest
06/17/2008 |
K4WY/R
Ah the thrill of Roving! I was ready this year with my 6, 144, and 432 Mhz yagis high atop 30 foot push up poles, the SUV fully unpacked, setup and ready to activate FM28 from the highest point on the local horizon of the ultra flat Delaware beaches! I was ready to bring it for the full contest period beaming west. Only to be interrupted by the deep, loud rumble of thunder coming from a blackish-purple line of thunderstorms barreling out of the west right toward me, with all my metal on the highest point. Yahoo !!!!
Talk about a fast decision. I quickly slipped the masts down as low as possible, secured them, unhooked cables and drove away from the antennas to a low point to wait it out in the vehcile. The wind came up so fast and so hard I could not get the 432 mast straight enough to lower it or manuever the mast so I left it as is. Unluckily, it took a proximity strike to the 432 LNA system as it was out there like a hanging curve ball over the plate for old mother nature. Everything else survived intact. So several hours later when it was just raining, I regrouped and headed back to local terriory of FM18 while doing some run and gun along the way.
As we approach Field Day and other opportunites to go portable I highly encourage everyone to have a contingency plan in their back pocket. We only get T-storms back here in the East but if you are in tornado alley --- heads up! It pays to be prepared.
I managed 16 contacts from FM28 and the balance of 54 total QSOs from FM18. Best "DX" was K5MV in EM20, otherwise mostly all local stuff. It was harrowing at times but a lot of fun too. Next time? You bet!
73
K4WY/R -- K4WY
Talk about a fast decision. I quickly slipped the masts down as low as possible, secured them, unhooked cables and drove away from the antennas to a low point to wait it out in the vehcile. The wind came up so fast and so hard I could not get the 432 mast straight enough to lower it or manuever the mast so I left it as is. Unluckily, it took a proximity strike to the 432 LNA system as it was out there like a hanging curve ball over the plate for old mother nature. Everything else survived intact. So several hours later when it was just raining, I regrouped and headed back to local terriory of FM18 while doing some run and gun along the way.
As we approach Field Day and other opportunites to go portable I highly encourage everyone to have a contingency plan in their back pocket. We only get T-storms back here in the East but if you are in tornado alley --- heads up! It pays to be prepared.
I managed 16 contacts from FM28 and the balance of 54 total QSOs from FM18. Best "DX" was K5MV in EM20, otherwise mostly all local stuff. It was harrowing at times but a lot of fun too. Next time? You bet!
73
K4WY/R -- K4WY
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