The antennas are still at ground level. I just finished the last one yesterday and am in the process of getting the H-frame and boom to mast mounts done. I hope to have the entire VHF/UHF array up by
If all goes well and I get the Larcan wired up today I?ll point the new beams north and try and participate tonight. I have 4 10 element LFAs at 45 feet. Without the amp I only have 25 watts. W
I'm in the process of completing the changes needed for my 220MHz amp. I'm using the Larcan 1KW version and on the original DC power plug there is a wire on one of the small pins that goes to Pin 8,
So, for me 222 night was a bust. I did work one station on SSB, WA3EOQ FM09. I heard no FT8 except one loud burst that did not decode. I also heard parts of several CW calls but my CW is so bad I'd h
I blame most of the weekend on very bad propagation and mostly general lack of participation. This was both, the worst propagation in 30 years I ever remember during a VHF contest. And, it was also m
I sat at the rigs last night chasing some DX on HF thinking that tomorrow night I'll work the 2 meter sprint. Then about 10:30 I saw a Facebook post about it being slow during the 2 meter sprint. Wel
K3SK QSOs = 8 Grids = 8 Score = 64 Propagation south of the Mason Dixon Line was near non-existent except for a couple very brief openings in the last hour of the sprint. I was also quite surprised a
I missed it only because I wrongly assumed it was 7-11PM like the other sprints. At 7PM 1296 was dead quiet and there was nobody active on ON4KST chat page. I was pretty bummed out. Dave K3SK FM07 Mi
I have also voiced my concerns to the ARRL and made a proposal. I disagree with the 3 contacts per station idea in that most guys will work someone, then say switch to the next mode and then the next
Michael, In addition to Dave's detailed response, I'd like to point out that there are also a few of us "DX Stations" down toward the south. We struggle at times to make propagation work for us. Poin
Tonight in FN07 was difficult. Worked 3 stations -- KO4YC (SSB & FT8), K9MRI FT8, VE3ZV SSB. Heard several others just above the noise several times with some CW on .102 and a few SSB on .110 but cou
Thanks for the geography lesson, Dave. Ill make it even more difficult by letting you know that center of my H frame is 44ft above ground. Maybe a wave bending antenna is the answer. Something that n
Another 222 night from way down here in FM07 -- I managed to work 4-1/2 contacts and heard several others at the noise level that weren't identifiable. WZ1V FN31 -- FT8 WA3NUF FN20-- FT8 N2JMH FN12 -
Dave, I've been perfecting the VHF/UHF stuff since the September contest and am almost ready for the January event. Last week I added new W6QPL PG-103 preamps on the tower for each of the 4 bands (2m
Ed et all . . . again, I have a pair of IC-9700s and use the DX Shop PTT interface for independently keying all 3 amplifiers. Its kind of sux to have to buy a 3rd party interface for a 3 band rig, bu
I just completed my first January VHF contest in many, many years. It was also my first real serious VHF contest effort in almost as long. Although I did operate this past September contest, at the t
Ron, Not to bash you since you said you were not an FT8 basher but until you actually work digital modes you will most likely continue to believe that the computers work the contacts. At one time I t
Dave, I plan on trying to be here tonight. I will also be logged onto HB9Q chat page. Moonrise for me is at 00:29z (19:29 local). I have a clear path to the east and should "see" the moon as soon as
I missed 222 night, but I have a hall pass to excuse me. Earlier on Tuesday I lowered my VHF/UHF tower (it was 70º here today) to replace the feedline on 432 & 1296 antennas with new low loss M&P Hyp
This week was a good week. I worked 3 contacts from FM07. This weeks activity ended with WA3EOQ - SSB & WA3NUF - FT8. But the start was great!. I finally managed to work K1WHS, a straight-line distan