The first thing I did when I got to the shack was to shine a light up on
the 222 antenna to make sure it was there. With all the wind we have
gotten lately, I was checking everything out. The antenna was still
there, so I fired everything up. My first contact was KA2ENE and we
worked on FT8 and then went to CW. CW signals were steady at 549 to 559.
I don't have the log in front of me so I am going on memory. Other
stations worked on FT8 include KA3FQS in FN20 and WA4YA in FN42. CW
contacts included WA3NUF FN20, K1TEO FN31, WB2VVV FN41, and KA2ENE FN13
(QSO #2), On SSB I worked WA1MBA FN51, VE2XX FN25, W1AIM FN34, W1GHZ
FN34, WW1Z FN42, W9KXI FN12, W2TMA FN30, K2AEP FN32, K1PXE FN31, WZ1V
FN31, K1FMS FN32, WA3NUF (2nd QSO) and KC2SGV in FM29. I tried an
MSK144 sked with K9MRI EN70, and we wanted to keep it at ten minutes. We
managed to complete the QSO and I transmitted a bit longer so that Joe
could compare his tropo antenna with his EME array at 20 ft. He copied
me on both antennas. A bit after 0200 UT WA3EOQ in FM09 showed up and
we ran a CW sked on 222.090. I heard him right away and sent RR and my
grid square, and was greeted by some RRs and then 73 for a quick (but
weak) QSO. Howard was getting heavy rain with a bit of snow trying to
mix in. He was surprised that we worked so quickly. I ended up with 22
stations worked for 24 QSOs and I was happy with how the repaired
antenna performed. The VSWR is pretty close to what it was back in March
or April when I replaced a few jumper cables up on the tower for the
rotor loop and the jumper from the preamp box to the array power
divider. Now that the 222 antenna is fixed I am hoping I can get a
little work done on the new ten meter tower replacement. I am running
out of good weather. Most days are cold and windy. I still have a few
10 ft sections to add to the tower. (five actually!) Thanks for all the
activity on 222 and All the FB qsos.
73
Dave K1WHS FN43mj
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