[Fourlanders] W4NH 2024 January VHF Contest Summary

[Bob Lear]

We think things turned out pretty good for the contest.  No great 
propagation but we got some short 6m openings here and there.  The other 
bands seemed about normal and also participation was good. The weather 
was bitter cold so the shack with heat stayed crowded as it was just too 
much to be outside like we've usually been able to do.  The amps kept 
the shack nice and warm and we had the heat off for most of the contest.

We met at Roosters as usual on Saturday and nine of the ops and visitors 
enjoyed our traditional lunch there.   Operators for the contest were 
Kim WG8S, Bill KI4US, Jerry W5TDY, Ryan W4RLW, Brad KM4QHI, Kos N4SDK, 
Bob K4VBM, Jim W4KXY and Bob W4ZST.   We had visitors: Mike KC4RI, Don 
KK4E, Jeff WB8LYJ and first time visitor Ed WA4YIH who we met at the 
TechFest the weekend before and lives quite close.  The visitors were 
here for Saturday afternoon and dinner.  Two of our regular ops who had 
planned to come ended up having to cancel due to possible illness and we 
did miss them.

Bill stayed four nights, Kim two, Kos and Jim one.   Brad and Jerry 
commuted.

Jerry's meals were great as usual.  Here is the menu that we all enjoyed 
so much.
Saturday: Smoked Beef Brisket, Smoked Kielbasa Sausage,  Pinto Beans, 
Cole Slaw, Potato Saled and Texas Toast   9 here for dinner
Sunday Breakfast: Egg, Hash brown, Cheese and Sausage Casserole
Lunch: Hamburgers, Chips, Left over Cole slaw, Potato Salad and pickles 
and some brisket and beans too.
Dinner: Plenty of the leftovers for us to enjoy another meal

All the food was fantastic. Thanks again as usual Jerry for feeding us 
so fine.

Here is our score summary.  Bill will submit our entry to ARRL and I 
will post on 3830.  This is our third highest score for a January 
contest here from EM84.  We have had a nationwide second place and third 
place before from here. We'll have to wait and see how this one ends up 
for us.



The moon was up for two complete passes during the contest for us.  I 
made only one Q on 144 and we had 7 on 432 EME.  I think there may be 
some problem with the 2m station on EME and I will start troubleshooting 
that but it appears to be normal on terrestrial.  432 was pretty 
normal.  Didn't hear of anyone on 222 to try with.  Any grids are good 
though.  Some good grids on Meteor Scatter on both 6 and 2 in the late 
hours.  We had a short opening out to California and western states on 6 
for several new grids and a number of Q's into Mexico and Central 
America.  We did not see the Australian and New Zealand stations on but 
a number of US stations got them.

Very few minor problems this time compared to some we've had before.  
Maybe Murphy was frozen out!!  Just a couple of times we had lost CAT 
and had to reboot but by and large no real problems other than with the 
microwave stations.  Got one 2304 rig (out of 3) working after much 
finagling with it but I think it did not have good RX sensitivity.  
Never could get all of 902 working even though I had good RX copy on the 
beacon.  I did put a preamp on 1296 in front of the 9700 and that made a 
lot of difference on RX of the beacon.  I only worked KC4JD who is not 
far away but later there was a chattering relay problem that I haven't 
figured out yet and didn't want to damage something worse than it 
already was.

Our visitor Ed came with his IC 905's for us to see and drool over and 
also gave us Q's on 1296, 2304 and 5760.  I had planned to try with 
others but failed to make a reminder list and with so much going on here 
I just missed out on that. Also forgot to check with some other friends 
who had wanted to work us but that happens.  I need to spend more time 
on getting the microwave gear settled in.

Special thanks to our NC and BRMS friends who worked us and the great 
North Alabama Rovers who braved the very cold weather to be out and give 
us Q's.  Another special thanks to Super Rover Andrea K2EZ/R who gave us 
13 Q's and 5 grids as she was driving home to Texas and came by our 
area.  We even did a number of CW Q's with her and she was mobile.  
Surely a record for us for Q's with a single rover.  Thanks again Andrea.

We also made 7 local FM simplex Q's with our Cleveland GA Gateway 
Amateur Radio Club friends after their weekly Sunday night net and we 
thank them too.  They have gotten on with us before too.  Several W4NH 
ops are also GARC members.

Thanks to all who worked us, operated, came to visit and otherwise 
supported the Fourlanders

73, Bob W4ZST
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