[3830] 7QP K7EAR Cnty Exped M/M LP

webform at b4h.net webform at b4h.net
Tue May 6 01:04:59 EDT 2008


                    7th Area QSO Party

Call: K7EAR
Operator(s): W7MCO, N5XNF, K7JEM, N5IA, K7IA, WB7ONJ, N7XEU, AA7NW, KB7CSE, N7QK, K7LON, KB5ZKE
Station: K7EAR

Class: Cnty Exped M/M LP
QTH: AZ GHM/GLE
Operating Time (hrs): 18

Summary:
 Band  CW Qs  Ph Qs
--------------------
  160:             
   80:   434    172
   40:   632    336
   20:   814    804
   15:   112      8
   10:             
    6:             
    2:             
--------------------
Total:  1992   1320  Mults = 64  Total Score = 551,424

Club: 

Comments:

The successful experiment of making a Field Day style outing for the 7QP last
year, as a replacement for FD in the HOT summer, prompted the Eastern AZ
Amateur Radio Society, Inc. (EAARS) to fully support the 7QP this year.  Not
only did EAARS complete a serious field operation, but also voted to support 4
plaques for the deserving out of 7th District participants.

The two county line location searched out and used last year was agreed upon as
the proper location for a 4A FD style deployment.  Even though it was doubtful
if 15 Meters would open enough to be useful, it was decided to install separate
antennas for the CW station on that band.  More stations meant more operating
locations, so a travel trailer was located with 500'separation from the EAARS
communications bus.  This allowed feed lines to be shorter by 50% from what had
been used last year.  An additional 5.5 kW generator was deployed so each
operating location had it's own power source and short AC power cords. 

The installation of the antennas on the tower trailer and portable towers all
went very well.  Time was expended to assemble two new antennas.  The wind was
the only weather factor, but fortunately was only 25-35 MPH vs the 40-50 MPH
stuff we experienced last year.  It has been VERY dry in the southwest and our
area is no exception.  With the low humidity (single digits in the daytime and
only into the teens at night) the temperature variation was in the 45-50 degree
range.  Temperatures at sunup were in the mid 30's and the afternoons were in
the high 70's to low 80's.

N1MM was used as the logging program and a 5.8 gHz wireless link was installed
to connect the LAN between the two operating locations.  A 2.4 gHz wireless
link was operated to provide Internet access from an access point 12 miles
distant in New Mexico.

The CW stations started on 75 Meters and 40 Meters but 20 opened shortly
thereafter.  The networked PCs at the CW operating location showed no Qs being
made by the SSB stations.  Soon it was known that Murphy had made his first
appearance.

EAARS had invested in two MicroKeyer II units for their voice keyer
capabilities on the SSB stations.  Interfacing, programming and testing in the
shack at home had shown no problems.  But, in the FD environment with no real
grounding, there was RF feedback into the Heil boom mics feeding the
MicroKeyers.  The recorded voices were A-OK, but the mics had extreme RF
feedback.  An hour and a half was lost while a trip was made to secure the Heil
to Yaesu adaptors.

Twenty Meters again turned out to be the money band, but not nearly as good as
last year.  Most noticeable was the lack of DX.  Some good runs were made with
the rate meter on the SSB station hovering near 300 for short periods.  The CW
station achieved near 200 for short periods.  Not bad for the long two county
exchange.  But those bursts were very short.  For the most part 20 played the
roller coaster routine.

15 Meters just barely opened for the CW station and signals were good for the
few stations that actually showed up on that band.  The SSB station just CQed
into an empty band for the most part.

20 closed before sundown, nearly two hours before it did last year.  40 Meters
shut down at 0500 Z.  80 Meters was good all evening for the CW station, but
the 75 Meter station had tough sledding until the last couple of hours.  At the
time the contest ended at 0700, 75 Meters sounded like 2 Meter FM;  nothing but
loud stations on a nearly total quited band.  That was a drastic contrast to
last year when the big storm in the middle of the country made 40 and 75 nearly
unuseable the last 3-4 hours.

The PCs, radios and gensets were shut down in that order immediately after
midnight ending time.  Everyone was up and ready for teardown at ~6:30 AM. 
Everything was disassembled, packed and everyone was headed for home shortly
after 12 noon.

The EAARS group really enjoyed this outing and want to thank the 7QP organizers
for providing the opportunity to compete FD style this time of the year.  Thanks
also to all the stations that called our stations.  And a big thanks to all the
mobiles who really helped the Q count.

One thing we noticed was the appearance of at least 3 mobile stations in
Greenlee County.  Greenlee is the least populated county in AZ (by a BIG
margin) and usually in not too well represented.  Coupled with the EAARS
operation and one local station in the Duncan area, Greenlee appears to have
been better represented than any other county in AZ with the exception of
Maricopa (Phoenix, etc.).

EAARS looks forward to next year and an advancing solar cycle with some
sunspots to make 15 and even 10 Meters useable.  73 for this year.

Milt, N5IA, Chairman
EAARS 7QP Multi-Multi Two County Expediton


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