2009 ARRL August UHF Contest
08/05/2009 |
KB2BSL/R
This was one tough contest!
The plan was to leave early Saturday morning (9:30), stop at HRO in DE for a few little things, then continue down to the D.C./Alexandria area and work my way back focusing on working many grids near high population areas. Cities like D.C, Alexandria (FM18), Baltimore (FM19), Philadelphia (from FM29), and from Staten Island (FN20) would be worked on Saturday. Sunday would be FN30, 21, and 31.
I left Staten Island on time, but did not make it into Delaware until about 1:00 in the afternoon. From there the weather (and traffic!!) got worse. It was about 3:00 when I decided to stop for a bit and start in Baltimore. As soon as I found a good place it started raining, so no pole through the sunroof to hold the beams. Trying FM simplex on 223.5, 446.00, and 1296.5 yielded no results whatsoever. OK, I'll catch someone on the way back I thought. It was about 6:30 by time I made it to D.C. The traffic on the 495 loop was so bad, and it was raining so hard, that it did not pay to stop or turn around after I hit FM18. Luckily I heard a station calling on 223.500, and worked him on all three bands I was equipped for. Anyway, wound up in Fredericksburg, had a very nice dinner (no contacts there either) and started to make my traffic free way back, calling CQ all the way. Stopped in Baltimore again, no local contacts (but did get Cape May, NJ). Stopped to try and work Philadelphia area, as soon as I start to set everything up and finally get on SSB, it rains again. No Philadelphia area contacts (but I did work that Cape May, NJ station again). Back home in FN20 I worked a few FM stations.
Sunday morning got up took one look outside and knew it would be worse, as the weather is bad again. Decided to go out and see what I could do. Got into FN30 in Brooklyn and no one is around, headed out to Long Island and worked one station on all three bands, crossed back into FN20 and worked him again on 223.5 and 446.0. At this point I decided to abandon my grand plans, and parked by the water in Staten Island to see what I could get, got another station or two and called it quits.
As soon as the contest ends the clouds part, and we have a nice sunny day!
End result is 5 grids activated, 19 contacts, all FM none on SSB, and 650 miles on the car. -- KB2BSL
The plan was to leave early Saturday morning (9:30), stop at HRO in DE for a few little things, then continue down to the D.C./Alexandria area and work my way back focusing on working many grids near high population areas. Cities like D.C, Alexandria (FM18), Baltimore (FM19), Philadelphia (from FM29), and from Staten Island (FN20) would be worked on Saturday. Sunday would be FN30, 21, and 31.
I left Staten Island on time, but did not make it into Delaware until about 1:00 in the afternoon. From there the weather (and traffic!!) got worse. It was about 3:00 when I decided to stop for a bit and start in Baltimore. As soon as I found a good place it started raining, so no pole through the sunroof to hold the beams. Trying FM simplex on 223.5, 446.00, and 1296.5 yielded no results whatsoever. OK, I'll catch someone on the way back I thought. It was about 6:30 by time I made it to D.C. The traffic on the 495 loop was so bad, and it was raining so hard, that it did not pay to stop or turn around after I hit FM18. Luckily I heard a station calling on 223.500, and worked him on all three bands I was equipped for. Anyway, wound up in Fredericksburg, had a very nice dinner (no contacts there either) and started to make my traffic free way back, calling CQ all the way. Stopped in Baltimore again, no local contacts (but did get Cape May, NJ). Stopped to try and work Philadelphia area, as soon as I start to set everything up and finally get on SSB, it rains again. No Philadelphia area contacts (but I did work that Cape May, NJ station again). Back home in FN20 I worked a few FM stations.
Sunday morning got up took one look outside and knew it would be worse, as the weather is bad again. Decided to go out and see what I could do. Got into FN30 in Brooklyn and no one is around, headed out to Long Island and worked one station on all three bands, crossed back into FN20 and worked him again on 223.5 and 446.0. At this point I decided to abandon my grand plans, and parked by the water in Staten Island to see what I could get, got another station or two and called it quits.
As soon as the contest ends the clouds part, and we have a nice sunny day!
End result is 5 grids activated, 19 contacts, all FM none on SSB, and 650 miles on the car. -- KB2BSL
Photo Gallery
-
I had planned to ...
Back
