09/17/2009 | N5QYC From the hills of the Arkansas Ozarks in EM36 to exotic calls such as W8ULC in EM 79 at 540 miles and K2DRH in EN41 at 347 miles. These being my farthest contacts on 2 meters ssb. The lack of 6 mtr e'skip made my work that much harder to make a decent score for my efforts. But working around the compass netted me some interesting contacts. Average distance from my QTH turned out to be between 150 to 200 miles. Not bad for an Ice storm damaged antenna array. With my elevation of 2175 ASL and a 40 foot tower that has seen quite a few Ice loads in the past. I feel good about my efforts under these conditions. My most fun contacts were with N4JQQ in EM 55 at 189 miles. He and I worked a clean sweep on my available bands 144,222,432. I also had my first experience at following a Rover around the grids. AG4V/R and I worked a three band sweep from EM54 then as he was mobile from EM55,EM56 on 144 ssb. I did manage to snag some of the locals on 6 mtr ssb with my best contact on that band to K0VUI out about 180 miles to EM 48. So my efforts paid off with a very fun September for me. I wonder how I would have done with new antennas. Hummmmm maybe next year. Now I'm looking forward to the January contest in 2010. So hope to hear you on the air. 73 and gud hunting. Joe -- N5QYC