09/15/2009 | WB2AMU I was able to put in a decent amount of time this year for the contest, compared to last year. I operated QRP portable from a nearby hill on Long Island (grid FN30) that is up at 250 ASL. As there was no significant winds around, I was able to put my portable three-element Six Meter Yagi up 15 feet and mount my three-element Two Meter Yagi on the roof of my car, which I also used on 432 MHz. I had a mag-mount vertical for 220 MHz FM.
In terms of conditions, Six Meters and Two Meters were in OK shape on Saturday afternoon and I made 432 and 220 MHz QSOs with neighboring grids.
Sunday morning had some bits of tropo working to the south, primarily on Two and Six Meters. I could not make any QSOs on 432 MHz on Sunday morning. I was able to work into FM18 and FM19 grids, however I had to resort to using CW to work SSB stations because of the weaker conditions and my low power.
I had picnic duties to do elsewhere during much of the day and I managed to do another 30 minutes from the hill later on and 432 MHz and Two Meters were doing better. I managed to work N2LBT/rover from FN23 on Two Meters for a nice multiplier to finish out the contact.
It was a good contest but there seemed to be less big stations around to work, compared to previous years. -- WB2AMU