Hello VHFers,
Well, hiking up to the shack was a chore. The snow was fairly deep and
windblown, with a crust from some melting. By the time I got up to the
shack, I was over heated and my glasses had fogged up. I started the gen
set and got the place running. I had to shovel a bunch of snow to clear
the doorways of snow. I was sorta ready by 23:45 UT and started cqing. I
worked KC3BVL with great signals along with KA2ENE and others. Going
from memory I worked WA3NUF, KA1OJ, WA4YA, WW1Z, WB2VVV from his FN43
address near Campton NH. Also nabbed GB WZ1V, N1ROZ, N1YCQ, WA1MBA,
N1SV, W1GHZ, VE2XX, VE2GBD, both in FN25, and missed WA1RKS who went
QRT early. I heard his last QSO and called him but got no answer. Later
on, I worked W1XIV signing as W1AW/1 in Vermont. I got a kick out of his
handle being Hiram! The Moon rose at about 00:30 UT, and I started
making noise towards the Moon at about 01:30 UT. PJ4MM was on with great
signals and we worked easily. After 0200 UT, The Moon was rising in
Texas, and WQ5S was there trying to contact PJ4MM. Brad WQ5S has a
single yagi and came very close to working PJ4MM. Faraday Rotation
changed and things degraded. One of these days it will all "click" and
they will complete the contact. KA2ENE was monitoring from FN13 but
never copied any lunar path signals. KK4MA was there and did copy me as
well as PJ4MM for his first taste of 222 EME. Neither PJ4MM or myself
copied KK4MA. Faraday was evident as K3SK was locked out and heard very
little. I never heard Dave from FM07. I did work K9MRI and WQ5S. W5EME
and N0AKC were on but hearing nothing. It was a frustrating night for many!
I noted lots of activity well beyond my range. AJ6T near Nashville was
working people in the Midwest and down to the South as well. I was
relieved to get news that the big ice storms down South did not destroy
any 222 antennas in that area that I am aware. W5EME got all iced up,
but was far enough south to avoid the heavy buildup in Northern
Louisiana. I think that the K5QE station was also in the light icing
area as well. K5RUS got hammered but his antennas survived. When I shut
down at about 03:40 UT or so, the clouds had thinned out and the almost
full Moon gave me some nice light to walk home. I strapped on my snow
shoes and had a nice trip home in the Moon light. I saw all sorts of
deer tracks. They are all busy looking for food. The snow and cold must
be rough on them. Of course, I managed to lose my memory stick, so I
could not download my log file and bring it home. I know I missed a few
stations. I also was bummed that I finally got my HP freq counter
running well and had no way to drag it up to the shack. It was a K1FMS
Special and has a decent time base and can be phase locked. I have been
testing it and it does very well on its own after 15 minutes of warmup
time. I can be within 0ne or two tenths of a Hertz at 222 MHz. That is
good enough for me. My HF exciter is a K3 but is not ref locked and does
not have a high stability LO. The counter will help me set my TX freq
so that I am closer when running MS or EME skeds.
I am waiting for warmer weather. I have a few ideas for antennas this
summer!
73
Dave K1WHS
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