[VHFcontesting] SVQP QRP Portable Experience

[John Patrick]

Well, since my 8+ pregnant wife didn't want me pulling an all-
nighter with the local club, I did manage to convince her to
give me some time to try the QRP portable category.

Rigs were a Yaesu FT-290R Mk. II (in low power) for 2m SSB,
an Icom IC-03AT 5 Watt FM HT, a Yaesu FT-50R 5 Watt HT for
440 FM.

Antenna were homebrew 6 elements based on the WA5VJB webpage
at http://www.clarc.org/Articles/uhf.htm and seemed to work
quite well!

Operated from 0020 to 0320 UTC Saturday night only, due
to honey-do's and inclement weather Sunday.

Results:
Band     Qs     Grids
----------------------
144      17       8
223      4        2
440      3        2

Score: 31 * 12 = 372

Reason 440 was so bad was that I didn't have the antenna
on a mast, but mounted on a tripod, that seemed to always
have to point through my SUV.

I guess it's not a bad score given the 3 hours operating,
bad weather, and the fact that I was deaf to the north,
for some unknown reason.  Next time I'll need to scout the
area better.

John
--
John Patrick -- N9OU