06/19/2008 | K0MHC What started out as a test of station upgrades soon escalated into a wild and memorable contest event. I was finally ready to turn on the transceiver at 2300Z only to discover that it was near the end of an aurora opening. I picked up 5 AU stations via CW & SSB on 6 & 2 meters before the AU quieted down here by 2335Z. Another discovery was that 6 meters was wide open; sometimes to both coasts at the same time.
Sunday morning started out at 1141Z with a wide open 6 meters again. Was it open all night? Mike (KM0T) was another early bird so we ran the bands through 3456 MHz with good signals in both directions. I ran into Bill (K0AWU) at 1226Z and we were able to punch through his terrestrial features (hills and trees) to complete both 902 and 1296 MHz contacts.
Then in the middle of the ongoing 6 meter opening at 1444Z 2 meters was invaded with very strong signals from EL, EM and DN land. Somehow during the ensuing chaos I was able to pick up 10 new grids that I never expected to work during the contest. Considering the strength of K5LLL and W5UWB there was a good chance that we could have worked on 222 and perhaps 432 had these bands been ready. It was back to 6 meters for another run at both coasts until 0133Z when things quieted down. From then until I retired at 0235Z there were a few locals around the 144.200 watering hole.

HIGHLIGHTS:
- Early AU opening on Saturday
- Almost continuous 6 meter openings
- Wild 2 meter opening on Sunday
- Multiple microwave contacts with W0AWQ, KM0T, W0ZQ, N0KP, KC0IYT/R and K9TTX/R
- Satisfactory operation of the upgrades on 50, 144 and 902-3456 MHz

CHALLENGES:
- Relatively poor local propagation (and noise levels)
- Missing many of the local NLRS stations
- 222 and 432 MHz operation on the tower
- 5.7 and 10 GHz operation on the tower

WORK IN PROGRESS:
- More experience with the VHF LOG operation (first time for me)
- High SWR due to water in the 6 meter transmission line (9913)
- Replacing the 902-3456 IF transceiver (currently IC-840H)
- Raising the 432/222 shared H frame

EQUIPMENT:
- 50 MHz 200W into an M2 6M7 at 120 with FT-847 transceiver
- 144 MHz 200W into stacked M2 2M5WLs at 120 (average) with FT-847 transceiver
- 902 3456 MHz 10W into stacked Directive System 12 loopers at 112 (average)

I hope everyone else had a great time in spite of the poor local propagation conditions (which may have been the reason for limited NLRS participation). The distant propagation openings were exciting to say the least!

SINGLE-OP ALL LOW MN Section from EN26ha, Claimed score = 70,641, ARRL Affiliated Club: NLRS

Thanks to all the participants (especially the rovers)! -- K0MHC