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[VHFcontesting] CQ WW vhf

To: <VHFcontesting@contesting.com>
Subject: [VHFcontesting] CQ WW vhf
From: "Patrick Korten" <patrick.korten@verizon.net>
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:40:59 -0400
List-post: <mailto:vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
I have been a pretty casual contester for a while -- my only accomplishment of 
note was working a "clean sweep" during the 2000 SSB Sweepstakes -- and there 
has been precious little opportunity lately to operate on HF, since the home 
QTH is in VA, and for the past 3 years, I've been spending weekdays and every 
other weekend at a job in New Haven, CT.  The apartment up here doesn't come 
with outside antenna space, but I did find that a 2m loop near the window 
actually allowed contacts of 60 miles or so.  The FT-857D I'd picked up a 
couple of years ago provided me with 6m and 2m CW and SSB capability that I 
hadn't had before (despite being lincensed since 1962!), so I decided to see 
what I could do.  I called HRO and ordered two extremely modest antennas, a 2 
el 6m Yagi, and a 5 el 2m Yagi.  Modest, but very portable, and very quick to 
assemble.  They arrived at 11:00 am Saturday morning. I was in business!

I work at the headquarters of the Knights of Columbus, a 22 story building less 
than a mile from Long Island Sound, with a clear eyeball view of Long Island.  
The rooftop would have been an ideal spot for VHF communications, but I 
couldn't get permission to operate up there.  Next best thing was to try 
operating from the 22nd floor cafeteria, which has floor-to-ceiling windows all 
around (and one heck of a view). I wasn't sure what impact the massive amounts 
of steel above and below would have, though.  I assumed that I'd be able to 
make plenty of 2m contacts, since I had line-of-sight views for many miles in 
any direction, but in the event, I could not work, or even hear, many stations 
on 2.  Every contact there except one was from the home grid square of FN31.  
Thank goodness for K1WHS!

The "magic band" was another story.  I'd never experienced anything like that - 
5 minute openings, a constantly shifting geographical pattern of contacts, and 
openings that ended as abruptly as they began.  I caught the Saturday evening 
activity, snagging contacts in Southern Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, 
Tennessee and Georgia.  Sunday midday brought openings to Chicagoland and Iowa. 
 Overall, only 26 contacts, but enough to whet my appetite for more, next time 
with a little more preparation.  Thanks to all who were so patient with my 
rusty operating technique.

Next year, maybe I'll try roving!

Pat, KE4VH
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