[Fourlanders] EME contest update

[Bob Lear]

Writing this after the first contest weekend.

I had a problem recently with the 2m EME antennas.  When I was testing a 
week before the contest, the amp kicked off on high SWR. After some 
initial troubleshooting I found that the SWR on the H antennas was high 
and caused the problem.  Much analyzing with the RigExpert and TDR 
scans, it looked like the H pol Power divider. That meant putting up the 
scaffolding to get to it.  Sherman had come over on Tuesday to bring a 
couple of surplus 2304 amps to see if we can use them.  He helped me set 
up the scaffolding.  I did the climbing.  Tested some more to make sure 
of what it was and took the PD out.  I also brought the preamp out of 
the relay box as it had been suspect too.  The phasing lines connected 
to the PD flex in the wind and end up breaking the connection from one 
of the N connectors to the center conductor of the PD.  And the N 
connector pin didn't look good either.  This has happened before; once 
on the same place 2m EME PD and another time on the 2m terrestrial 
antennas PD.  I borrowed some connectors from yet another PD to repair 
this one. The center conductor is about 5/16 copper tubing.  I did my 
best to solder back together with the 150W gun.

Well apparently I didn't do such a good job as it failed several hours 
into the contest.  I had also replaced the N connector on the phasing 
line that went to the bad side of the PD.  So  then I just went with V 
pol only.  Either near this time or the same, not sure, the 2m tube amp 
went out and I haven't been able to figure out what that problem is.  
Good HV, Ip, Ig and drive but no output.  Thought it might be the power 
sensor but put a Bird in place and still no output.  Well, I put the PQL 
SS amp in line and went on for the rest of the contest with V pol only 
and about 800W instead of the usual 1500.  The preamp you say?  Well, it 
tested bad with the NF meter so I replaced the FET in it.  I had one 
extra from the last time I had to replace it in 2020.  Did not check out 
on the NF meter so I gave up and just put a barrel connector in where 
the preamp usually resides.  I did have knowledge that the first maybe 
150 EME Q's on 2m were made without the preamp so I figured I could at 
least have some results.  Friday night was not particularly good for 2m 
but 432 made a good number of Q's.  I'll not mention that we had the 
wrong callsign in for a good number of them before we realized that. 
Fixed it and went on but we will have to send some 432 Q's in as W4NH 
for the contest.  No problems with the 222 and 432 stations.

We ended up the first weekend with 22 on 2m, 13 on 432 and 3 on 222.  
Bill and Kim were here to help me operate.  We did eat well in the W4NH 
tradition.  We went to lunch Saturday after the moon went down and 
joined friends at the GARC lunch bunch at North GA BBQ in Cleveland.  
That's the only time we went out.  The moon went down for us about 9:30 
on Sunday morning and Bill and Kim went home then.  I had to get some 
much needed sleep.

Not close to our best EME outing.  Maybe next month will be better and 
I'll have some time before to work on the amp, preamp and power divider 
for 2m.

Not related to EME contest but Ray asked me to call the GA 2m SSB net on 
Monday night as I do sometimes to help him out.  I had turned on and 
tested the radio in the afternoon.  didn't think to check the rotator.  
When I started the net it was South and wouldn't move.  I changed over 
to my EME antennas which aren't very high but forgot to connect a 
certain cable so had no results.  Changed back to terrestrial antennas 
and had a few more weak check-ins South.  I went back to the EME 
antennas and connected the right cable too. Not as good a showing for 
the net as if I had the terrestrial antennas turning.  But did get 
check-ins from central FL to Ohio. Now one more thing to have to 
troubleshoot and fix.

Even though my traveling for the season is over, I don't seem to be 
getting a break.  Have to set the scaffolding up again and get to the 
PD, repair it, order another FET for the preamp and hope that I can do 
that properly.  It is really the smallest device I've ever replaced.  I 
think it is a 403 size SMD part.   Very difficult to get the GIGANTIC 
(smallest solder iron tip I have) solder tip at it under the 
microscope.  I have successfully done it once though!  We shall see.

Bill and Kim and I will do the second weekend of the contest too. 
November 16 and 17.  Again all night moon passes for us.  Need more nap 
time!!

Thanks for putting up with the rant and rave.  73, Bob