ARRL VHF QSO PARTY -- June 2003
Call: W9SZ
Category: Single Operator Portable
Power: QRP
Band: All Band
Mode: Mixed Mode
State: IL
Grid: EN50xf, on a hilltop
BAND QSO QSO PTS GRIDS
144 10 10 6
222 6 12 4
432 7 14 4
903 3 9 3
1.2 6 18 4
-----------------------------------
Totals 32 63 21 = 1,323
Equipment Description:
Homebrew transverters and antennas:
144 MHz 8 watts to 6-el yagi
222 MHz 8 watts to 8-el yagi
432 MHz 10 watts to 12-el yagi
903 MHz 10 watts to 18-el loop yagi
1296 MHz 10 watts to 24-el loop yagi
HTX-100 and FT-290R as IF rigs
Club Affiliation: Society of Midwest Contesters
This is to certify that in this contest I have operated
my transmitter within the limitations of my license and have
observed fully the rules and regulations of the contest.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Fun contest. Weather was perfect. Equipment was all working
perfectly. But Murphy struck first when I forgot a connector
and couldn't get on 2304. The site I picked was a muddy,
swampy mess from the rains of last week but I went ahead and
set up there anyway. Then, at about 0130Z Monday (8:30 pm
Sunday local time) the base of my antennas slipped in the mud
and they came crashing down. The 144 and 1296 antennas were
seriously damaged and the rest had very minor damage. With
half the elements of the 144 MHz antenna bent up at a 90 degree
angle, I actually made one more QSO with W9ICE on 144 before
going QRT.
Oh well, I have a couple months to fix things and work out a
better antenna mounting system before the next one!
73, Zack W9SZ
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