ARRL SEPTEMBER VHF QSO CONTEST
Rear mounted yagis for 23 cm, 70 cm, 1.25 m and 2 m.
Finally, I decided to stop procrastinating and I took some steps to turn my Silverado into a more serious rover. I've roved before with Herbert AF4JF and Harry WA0CNS to grid squares EM48 and EM49, but those outings were more portable set-ups. They involved going to location and setting up, tear down and resetting up at another location. I wanted to get more serious about roving.
I wanted to minimize set-up time. I have end mounted yagi antennas which require a mast with a good base. My past, portable set-ups varied in quality and overall were not that good. This time I purchased a tripod with a steel mast and bolted it down to a plywood sheet. I then put a heavy weight on the plywood and the antenna system stood up to highway speeds.
On the other hand, I found out the hard way, my folding bed cover needs to be strapped down. On Sunday, while traveling up Interstate 55, heard a "boom" as the wind blew my cover backwards against the antenna mast. The cover blocked my rear window vision. I've done this before and never had a problem. Then again, I wasn't traveling over 60 mph. One lesson learned.
I also need to get an antenna switch and longer coax runs. I fed my coax through the passenger side of the truck. For the January contest, I plan to use foam rubber to fill in the air gap between the window and the coax.
This turned out to be a good trial run. Debbie KC9ULA and I decided to not make this contest a "full-press effort." On Sunday, we wanted to be back in time to view the KC Chief's vs. Eagles football game. KC lost BTW...drats.... This decision limited our contest time, but this was a trial run.
The weekend of September 13-14 was hot (at times 100 F on my truck's thermometer). We were under the influence of an weaker, omega, high pressure system. Humidity levels were way down and so was propagation. Many of the ops we worked noticed poor, propagation on 6 and 2 meters. 70 cm had better conditions it seemed.
On Saturday, Debbie and I started off at the park near St. Charles Community College, near Cottleville, MO EM48. We made contacts with Herbert AF4JF, Mel K0PFX and Jeff K9KLD in Maryville, IL EM58. From there we went to Foley, MO EM49 and worked Herbert, Jeff. Not a bad start for our first day. Herbert convinced us to try again on Sunday.
Sunday, September 14
I'm glad we decided to go. This was going to be a busy, full day in that we wanted to be back in time for the Chief's. We were on the road by 9:30 am and we worked Mel, K0PFX, en route to EM 58 from EM 48 (I-270). Our first stop was at a park in Troy, MO, EM58. I couldn't hear Herbert AF4JF in EM48 or Warren WD9EXD in EM57, but we did work Jeff K9KLD from the park. Jeff is only a few miles away. I don't think we'll use that park again, too many trees and houses nearby.
From there we went to Staunton, Il in EM59. We parked at a dental office located on a hill. This turned out to be a very good spot. I worked Warren WD9EXD, Jeff K9KLD, Tony KG9AP, and Gordan N9HYC. We did some band running.
On our way back home, we stopped again in EM58 at a higher location near SIUE. I was able to work Herbert, Tony, John KE9CIP and Jeff from that location.
STATS
Debbie and I activated 4 grids, EM48, EM49, EM58 and EM59. We drove 300 miles on this weekend triip. We worked 3 grids EM48, EM58 and EM59. We made 37 Qs, 55 QSO points, 19 mults for a claimed score of 1,045 points.
