12/21/2009 | N2YTF I setup the YP-3 portable yagi on a telescoping mast in a parking lot in Harbor Island Park in Westchester, NY.

My contest newbie buddy Patrick, KC2RBE was going to join me later in the contest, but setup was on my own.

While the yp-3 isn't too bad to setup in warm weather, that aluminum really wicks away heat from your fingertips in subfreezing temps.

Finally I setup the beam and extended the mast, put the K3 on in the car and started working.

While it was cold out, the shut down car (radio noise) warmed up in the sun with a nice greenhouse effect, and I worked my first station N8RA almost right out of the box. There was a gap as I waited for my next contact, but N8RA was cranking out the contacts one after the other.

When Patrick joined me later in the contest I noticed N8RA was still cranking out contacts as we puttered along. Finally I gave N8RA a call to ask what he was running just to be sure something on my end wasn't broken or something.....

"1kw to 4, 4 element yagis with a separate 5 element yagi to fill in the gaps"

Well that has got to help! Then we did not feel so bad.

Patrick and I had a great time even though the contacts were sparse and we did not work anything more then 2 states away.

We even had a chance to talk up ham radio when an old sailor walked by and asked what we were doing with the big antenna.

In my opinion a contest is always better when you can share the excitement with someone.

See you next year,
Tom-N2YTF -- N2YTF