[Fourlanders] 222 in June Contest

Fri Jun 20 20:55:19 EDT 2003

Here are some of my thoughts on your list Brian.

Item 2 - Check with Bob, K4SZ.  He has a great method for moding the DEMI transverters with power poles for the power connection.  I plan to do it with all of my transverters someday.

Item 7 - Samlex switching power supplies.  Don't go contesting without them.  I bought mine on sale at Tech America when they were still around but I believe you can still get them at HRO.  My only complaint is they are only 22 Amps.  I wish they made a 30-35 Amp version.

Item 10 - I bought that shelving unit from a guy at the Huntsville Hamfest last year just for contesting.  He sells different sizes for different rigs.  Mine is the FT-1000MP size.  I have his busines card or he may be at Huntsville again this year.  Bob, K4SZ also mentioned that you can buy a shoe storage rack someplace that is almost the same thing.  Ask Bob about that.

Item 12 - I want to do the same thing with my 432 transverter.  I will talk to Steve Kostro about it next week and let you know what he says.

73
Jim W4KXY

> 
> From: Brian McCarthy <rfacres at akorn.net>
> Date: 2003/06/20 Fri AM 09:49:57 EDT
> To: k5and at adelphia.net
> CC: "fourlanders at contesting.com" <fourlanders at contesting.com>
> Subject: [Fourlanders] 222 in June Contest
> 
> To all,
> 
> This started out as a direct and private response to Dick about how 222 
> played in the contest. This email started to take a life of it's own as 
> I thought through the question and started to analyze the situation. I 
> am now copying the "List" so that everyone can read it and comment if 
> they wish. Please pardon the length.
> 
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Funny you should ask about how 222 did...from a raw QSO's standpoint, it 
> is a bit disappointing given all the new hardware and the increase in 
> power (which was only 500-600 watts). If I include the cost of the 
> truck, trailer, Command amp, Lunar-Link amp, K2, DEMI transverter and 
> misc. things like the wiring for the trailer - I am still above $1k/qso 
> at 48 qso's and 22 grids. I believe the EME guys use a goo/qso formula 
> that would make this about 1/2 goo per q'.
> 
> On the other hand - If I consider that many of the significant single 
> op's spent a lot more time on 6m and that conditions on everything else 
> above 6m just stunk, it played very very well. In past years there have 
> been a number of passes made to 222 that were not completed, or that 
> took a LOT of time and concentrated effort to complete. Most passes this 
> year were simple and I was able to get the station passed onto 432 
> easily. I think there were only two failed passes, but I find only one 
> in Writelog. I guess we picked up the other one later or it was not 
> passed via the sked feature. We missed K1BO in EM95 on a pass to 222, we 
> also never worked him on 432, but both bands did work EM95.
> 
> Another thing that has happened in past years is that we have heard more 
> on 222 than we have worked. This did not happen this year. 
> Unfortunately, I never did hear K3YTL and others in that distance range 
> on either evening like I have in the past. Again, conditions were lowsy.
> 
> Excluding the Sept. 2001 contest with its exceptional conditions all up 
> and down the east coast, the score on 222 has been 46-53 q's with 22-26 
> grids. In Sept. 2001 we did 65 q's and 34 grids on 222. The comparison 
> numbers for 144 are 203-218 q's and 49-55 grids. The 432 numbers for the 
> same dates are 65-84 q's and 23-29 grids. Their Sept. 2001 exceptional 
> conditions numbers are 249/65 for 144 and 89/36 for 432, so 144 really 
> got the benefit in 2001 to the loss of 6m and 432 stayed about the same. 
> This year 144 took a hit from the 6m activity and conditions at 158/41 
> for a 20-25% drop.
> 
> If one were to ask what I will want to change for September, here are 
> the specific items on my list for the 222 station:
> 
> 1) Install a better method of connecting the RF-input of the Lunar-Link 
> amplifier. I had a couple of adapters inline due to a clearance issue 
> and the inset BNC connector on the Lunar-Link. This cost me about 1-2 
> watts of drive power.
> 
> 2) Make better DC power cords for the DEMI transverter and sequencer. I 
> lost 1-2 watts of drive by Y-adapting  the 12VDC line to them with a 
> cable that limited the current. I ran out of time. I may change my 
> connections to Power-Poles.
> 
> 3) Automate the keying change-over on the K2 from SSB to CW. Currently 
> one must unplug the PTT line on the microphone connector for the key 
> line in back to function correctly. (They are actually paralleled, and 
> it is a known limitation of the K2.) I am not sure if this a change I 
> need to make to the keying/PTT cable and Writelog parameters or if this 
> is something that can be modified in the K2.
> 
> 4) Use a shorter single piece of feedline for 222 with no adapters or 
> extensions.
> 
> 5) Jacks, jack stands and steps for the trailer to make it more stable 
> and safer.
> 
> 6) Run the stacked pair of antennas with modified feeds and the driven 
> element connections all cleaned up.
> 
> 7) Use a lighter 12VDC power supply.
> 
> 8) Remember to bring the 12VDC power cord for the 222 FM radio and set 
> it up with either a Teletec amp or an interlocked/failsafed changeover 
> switch to put the FM radio into the Lunar-Link. Iff the Lunar-Link is 
> used for FM, then an antenna switch for vertical or horizontal 
> antenna(s) is also appropriate.
> 
> 9) Build a rotating telescoping mast onto the front of my trailer for 
> the 222 station with racks on top for antennas and a platform to stand 
> on for antenna work.
> 
> 10) Build or buy at least a small shelving unit like what was used on 
> the 432 station to cleanup the operating position. The real solution is 
> to make a vertical rolling rack unit similar in concept to Bob's 
> microwave coffin. The rack would have wheels on the bottom and one side 
> for easy movement and fold out table leaves that allow it to become a 
> self contained single band operating position.
> 
> 11) Build a more conventional HV supply for my Lunar-Link so that I am 
> no longer using the HF amp for its power supply.
> 
> 12) Modify the DEMI transverter with an additional transmit module to 
> allow for 40-50 watts of drive into the Lunar-Link to give 1500w out.
> 
> 13) Remember to bring the software installation CD's including the time 
> synchronizer, grid/direction calculator, VHF+ stations database, W4NH 
> signs for the operating positions, extra grid maps, previous results and 
> Fourlanders Writelog setup checklist.
> 
> 14) Get packet cluster access nailed and working reliably from the 
> mountain. If that includes internet access, so much the better.
> 
> 15) Make some skeds ahead of time, advertise our operation, try WSJT 
> and/or other AFSK modes.
> 
> 16) Make a QSO off the moon!
> 
> Ok, I'll admit, this is an ambitious list. I really want to make most of 
> it happen. I am fired up and ready to go.
> 
> Is everyone with me?!?! What do your lists look like?!?!?! Think about 
> it, the September contest has already started!
> 
> C'est la guerre!
> Brian
> NX9O
> 
> 
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