[3830] ARRL Sep VHF W5ZN Single Op HP

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                    ARRL September VHF Contest - 2020

Call: W5ZN
Operator(s): W5ZN
Station: W5ZN

Class: Single Op HP
QTH: AR
Operating Time (hrs): 30
Radios: SO2R

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
    6:  132    74
    2:  173   103
  222:   28    18
  432:   33    18
  903:   18    13
  1.2:   17    13
  2.3:           
  3.4:           
  5.7:           
  10G:           
  24G:           
-------------------
Total:  401   239  Total Score = 127,148

Club: Zilla Contest Group

Comments:

I'm very pleased with the W5ZN effort in this contest despite some Covid-19
restrictions still complicating rover activity. I love Rovers! Out here in
“fly-over country” they are the only way activity is generated from several
surrounding grids where no activity exists or is only activated on one band by
local radio amateurs. AG4V/R, W5VY/R, K5ND/R and WB5IGF/R were outstanding super
stars in providing additional Q’s and mults. Darin & Mason, the NC5AX/R
crew, are still working through some limitations however we expect to have them
back to full operation through 1296 MHz for the January test (barring winter WX
issues!). My local club always helps out with several FM contacts. It gives the
club an activity to work on. They don’t care about contests beyond Field Day
(yea I know its not a contest….yea right!) and they don’t want to send in a
log however I believe that’s all good because the most important and main
focus is it gets them on the air and generates activity! 

Digital modes dominated the bands. Complain all you want about the influx of FT8
however if it were not for the excitement it has generated the bands would have
been DEAD this weekend and most likely half or more of the Q’s would not have
been made here at W5ZN due to lack of activity. It is a lot less stressful on me
physically by not having to wear headphones all weekend long listening for weak
(some VERY weak) signals! Don’t misinterpret my comment because I still very
much love and prefer CW and can’t wait for SS, CQWW and ARRL DX CW contests, I
just love the increased activity and new stations that have become active on the
VHF bands because of the new digital modes.

The W5ZN station performed admirably. A few tweaks are needing to be performed
from this weekend’s notes but hey!; do you ever not stop tweaking?? Its what
passionate radio amateur’s do regardless of your interest.

W5ZN VHF contest station details:
50 MHz:
2 Elecraft K3’s; one on SSB/CW one on digital modes
Icom IC-7300
Flex Power Genius XL amplifier
6M9KHW @ 130 ft; 7x7x7 6M7JHV @ 27’, 52’, 77’; two DS LVA’s fixed NE
& W centered at 25’ and 30’; 6M7JHV @ 55’ fixed SE

144 MHz:
Elecraft K3/DEMI Xvtr, Icom IC-9700
Lunar Link amplifier
2M18xxx @ 135 ft; 4x17 EME

222 MHz:
Elecraft K3/DEMI Xvtr
Lunar Link amplifier
2xFO16 @ 85 ft; 2xFO16 EME

432 MHz:
Elecraft K3/DEMI Xvtr
Lunar Link amplifier
4xFO25 @ 90 ft

902 MHz:
Elecraft K3/DEMI Xvtr
DS 19 element loop yagi @ 85 ft

1296 MHz:
Elecraft K3/DEMI Xvtr
DS 25 element loop yagi @ 85 ft.

Always a BIG THANK you to the W5ZN tower and antenna ground crew (I still
perform all of the “on the tower” work) N5QS, N5QT, WA5YSD, KB5RFF and
AC5AV. One of the most important safety aspects of tower work is to have a
competent and reliable ground crew. I put my life, literally, in their hands!

W5ZN QSO details:

  Band    Mode  QSOs   Pts  Grid  
    50    FT8    77    77    35   
    50    MSK    49    49    35   
    50    USB     6     6     4   
   144    FM     35    35     0   
   144    FT8    71    71    43   
   144    JT65   55    55    51   
   144    MSK     3     3     3   
   144    USB     9     9     6   
   222    FM      1     2     0   
   222    FT8     3     6     3   
   222    JT65    1     2     1   
   222    USB    23    46    14   
   420    FM      5    10     0   
   420    FT8     6    12     4   
   420    USB    22    44    14   
   902    CW      4    12     3   
   902    FM      2     6     1   
   902    USB    12    36     9   
  1296    CW      5    15     4   
  1296    USB    12    36     9   
 Total          401   532   239   
Score: 127,148

Many thanks to everyone for all the Q’s. If you called W5ZN and I missed you
during the contest please accept my apologies and I will look harder for you in
the next one.

GL es DX, GL in the contest OM!

73 Joel W5ZN


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