Bill and Brian stayed 4 nights, Kim three, Jim, Kos and Ron one night. Jerry and Brad commuted. Bill did software updates and computer work on Thursday and Friday and got all the stations on the air and tested and on the computer network. Brian was here working on his truck-portable 902/1296/2304 EME station and was working on transverters and other devices too. He did set up for 1296 EME for the contest on Saturday but a part on the rotator broke before he could do much and had to QRT for EME. We did try to make some EME contacts on Saturday night on 144, 222 and 432 but no success. It was reported by others that the Faraday rotation was locking us out. Brian was seen and did see a signal on 222 but no completion. I had spent many hours over the week before and during the contest working on my finicky microwave gear. It was very frustrating. Almost all problems were weak receive. Took most of the stations components and coaxes apart and tested individually. Not sure we ever found the real problem. Bill, Brad, Brian and Ron helped me a lot on Sunday afternoon with the troubleshooting. I did finally make a few Q's as seen in the score summary. I did work W4DEX on 902 CW this time as I had the 45W amp back on 900. First 902 Q I've made in years. Used to have good success on the mountain. I'll likely make more changes for next contests.
Jerry's meals were great as usual. Saturday night dinner was his excellent Brisket, Bean and Ham Soup, Cole Slaw, Corn Cheddar Cheese Jalapeno Casserole, Texas Toast and smoked Kielbasa sausage snacks. He made us fried Eggs, Sausage and Pancakes for Sunday morning. Sunday lunch and dinner we had leftovers and Brisket Quesadillas. Thanks again as usual Jerry for feeding us so fine. The brisket was fantastic.
The contest was very slow on Saturday and Sunday. We were bored for much of the time with low activity and expecting a low score. The contest was mostly digital again. Little activity on CW and SSB even though the analog entry category was still available.
Out of country we only made 5 Q's into Canada and one to Chile on 6m. Of course, Monday 6m broke loose but to late for the contest! Ron and Brian stayed in the shack for the wee hours of Sunday morning for MS contacts on 6m for some multipliers.
Very few equipment problems this contest other than microwave. We ran the FT DX 3000 on 6m with the Beko and stacked 5 el beams. The usual 2m station: Flex 1500, DEMI transverter, LL amp and 2 x 12 stacked beams. Same for 222 but 2 x 15 beams and 432 with 2 x 25 el beams. 902 had 2 x 33 el loop yagis and 1296 is 2x 45 el loopers. 9700 on 1296 and was the 2m IF for 902.
I will be doing the fall EME contest weekends in Oct and Nov here and some Fourlanders will help with that. Next contest is January 18-20. Also the June contest will be June 14-16 and September contest Sept 13-15. Put that on your calendars.
73, Bob W4ZST