[Fourlanders] Sept vhf plans on the mountain

[Jim Worsham]

My 2 cents.  Back when there were rovers with 1296 (and higher) there was a lot of value.  Without rovers there are probably one or two dozen fixed stations with that band that we can work.  Not trying to discourage just setting expectations.  It is up to Johnny and the team to decide if the extra work is worth that one or two dozen Qs.  Definitely agree that if we do it we should enter as unlimited.  That having all been said, if the band opens with tropo up the east coast or west to Texas you can work a lot of stations.  We have done if from Mile High in the past.

 

We have always run 1 kw or there about on most bands mostly because we have the capability and it is consistent with our image as a major multiop VHF contest station.  In recent years we have moderated that a bit because of EMI/RFI concerns.  Up to the band captains to run what power they believe is prudent.  I am also curious.  Is your reference to an FPGA failure what happened to your Flex in June and did Flex say that it was caused by RFI/EMI from high power 1kw TX?  By the way, did you get the 7300 back and what was the failure mode there?

 

Some good news for the 6M station.  Gerry at SSB called today and said that the 6M Beko checked out and he shipped it today.  900 Watts with 30 Watts drive.  Not sure what got him finally moving.  Maybe me calling him for a status update every other day for the past month had something to do with it…

 

73

Jim, W4KXY

 

From: Fourlanders <fourlanders-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Bill Pence
Sent: Wednesday, August 1, 2018 4:16 PM
To: John Kludt <johnnykludt at earthlink.net>
Cc: Fourlanders <fourlanders at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Fourlanders] Sept vhf plans on the mountain

 

you are not the short puller. Kos is out of town this time.

 

we can do 1296. I thik we enter unlimited anyway...

 

I don't think the fpga is in dnger from the various RF. was that the failure before?

I thought it was voltage reg?

 

 

 

On Wed, Aug 1, 2018 at 4:07 PM Johnny <johnnykludt at earthlink.net <mailto:johnnykludt at earthlink.net> > wrote:

Bill,

 

Am I the "puller short"?  If so, I can probably pull something but not Great White.

 

As far as bands go, if it suits the team, I can get us on 1296 with 150 watts.  That would throw us into unlimited which we may or may not want to do.  I don't like the idea of going to all of the work to set up 1296 and the not report it.  Seems a real waste of time and energy.  What is the utility of 1296 on the mountain?

 

Having said that, to me doing the same thing every time with the only variable being propagation over which we have no control can get rather boring. We will have new rigs for 2m and 6m.  Which 6m rig depends a bit on the decision on 1296.  If we do 1296 I will use the Flex 6700 as it would double as the IF for the 1296 band.  If the decision is that 1296 is more trouble than it is worth I will base 6m on the IC 7300.

 

Some of the other things to consider with 1296 include where to place the antennas and the feedlines to be used.  At 1296 every 30 feet of LMR 600 costs us 1dB so we are back into 7/8 or larger Hardline.  Bob says we have lots of Hardline laying around.  As far antennas go my current thought is 2, 45 element loopers.  Given previous adventures I am a little sensitive to close by kw stations.  A FPGA is not cheap to replace!

 

Which brings up a whine of mine - why do we run a kw other than we can?  Do we have an agreement to run 600 to 700 watts output unless we get into a situation where we are clearly hearing people who are not hearing us?  Given the geography on the mountain the extra power probably just makes problems for us to little benefit.

 

Anyway, please advise.

 

Johnny

 

Sent from my Verizon Motorola Smartphone

On Aug 1, 2018 10:06 AM, Bill Pence <pence.bill at gmail.com <mailto:pence.bill at gmail.com> > wrote:

Greetings all.

I hope this email finds you well.

 

we need to begin making preparations for the trip to the mountain for the September contest.

Please reply so I can know who is able to attend and pull.

we are currently down one pulling vehicle so we are looking to substitute and make sure that we have all the trailers covered.

 

please reply back to me if you're able to attend and what the timing will be so we can begin planning pullers and meals.

 

as usual we'll meet at Bob's Friday morning and pull out from there stopping at Subway before the final pull to the top of the mountain.

Then we'll break down and head back Monday arriving back at Bob's Monday afternoon.

 

Currently will have the  bottom 4 bands (6 to 2 222 and 432) on the air from Soco Bald at Mile high campground.

 

Thanks and hope to see you in September on the mountain.

 

KI4US

bill

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