I decided to work the VHF contest running QRP with antennas/masts that I could carry around portable and quickly install, ie Single-Op-Portable.   This really added to the challenge but also add to the enjoyment of the contest.   Doing so in the 100 degree Texas heat with a steady 20 mph wind made things an adventure.  Six meters was unbelievable, and at times made me feel like I was working November Sweeps…  Really had to hold back the urge to call CQ Sweepstakes a few times!   

With the incredible 6 meter opening my little FT817 really got a work out and got a little warm from time to time.   For a 6 meter antenna I used collapsible 3 element 6 meter beam that I put up on 4 stacked 5 foot mast pipes tied with rope to a metal fence post.   Had a rope tied to the front of the beam that I used to spin it around.   Of course the Texas wind kept that aspect of antenna pointing operations interesting.    

My two meter results were pretty dismal, with 5 watts and 4 element beam at 15 feet there were only a few local operators that I could work.  Running two meters with a manually pointed antenna is also a real challenge, and I think I spent more time pointing the antenna then operating.  I did pull out 4 grids with my qrp signal. Even with the few stations that I worked it was good to be back on 2m ssb. Being a single op, most of my operating time was maximized by “ham”mering out contacts through 50 mc pileups.

I didn’t have a portable antenna for 432, but got a shock when late Saturday night I attached a dual band ht ducky to the 817 and worked a few locals on 432.100 by holding the radio sideways.  The YL thought I was crazy running around saying “It worked, it actually worked!”   Just goes to show you what some hams will do to get a signal through.. hi hi.

All in all this was a really fun contest.   Having 6 meters open in a way I haven’t heard it in a decade or more was an absolute treat and perfect timing for qrp contest work.   What made it even better was running a “compromise” station, with portable antennas, armstrong rotator, and 5 watts of battery supplied rf on VHF!    What’s the fun of running 500, 100 or even 20 watts of power when it’s possible to work ‘em with much less? Hi hi