[VHFcontesting] How to increase my score

[Stephen Hicks, N5AC]

John,

I do not seal most of the coax on my rover (perhaps I should), but when I
do, I have found that the best stuff I have ever used is a combination of
Scotch 23 splicing tape and Scotch electrical tape.  Scotch 23 is a think
tape (1/2 mm or so thick) that you stretch as you wrap.  The tape becomes
sticky and form fits as it is stretched.  I then seal this wrap with Scotch
33/33+ or whatever electrical tape I have in the opposite wrap direction.
If you ever need to get inside to fix something, a single slit down the side
will remove everything with no sticky mess.  (Be sure to remove the
separating film in the 23 -- the clear perforated stuff in the middle peels
off the tape).  I just shake my head when I see people use that junk that
looks like black silly putty that is flattened.  The Scotch 23 works the
best of anything I've used.

Finally on any "permanent" outdoor connection, I paint it with Scotch-Kote.
Scotch Kote goes on as a gooey sticky mess and you'll be wondering what it's
going to be like coming off, but it provides a wonderful waterproof shell
that's easy to get off later.  Use liberally.

(I'm sure you think I work for 3M at this point, but I don't!)

73/Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: vhfcontesting-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of John Isenberg
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 3:19 PM
To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] How to increase my score

Buck,

I agree with you that there is too much chatter on grid circling and captive
rovers and not nearly enough on such subjects as how to do a better overall
job.  (Unfortunately, I have to admit to being part of the problem myself!)

In terms of your specific contact cleaning questions, What I do is several
things:

1.Before I go out for a Roving operation, I spend a couple days with the
power meter and the directional couplers to make sure everything is up to
snuff.  I usually find at least one bad contact and/or bad coax.

2.If I need to clean a contact, I start by brushing it with a BRASS wire
brush.  The brass is much softer than the contact material and generally
will do some cleaning without damaging contacts.

3.If that is not enough, I have been very gently and carefully using some
contact cleaning solvent ( I have been using GC Electronics contact cleaner)
I am not sure how much "damage" this is for the higher frequencies, but what
I do is use a Q tip with some cleaner on it to clean the contact surface and
then wipe it dry with a clean soft cloth.  I try not to get any on the
insulators if I can.  I would like to know what other people do as well.  

4.In the worst case, I very gently use an extremely fine burnishing cloth,
knowing that will remove contact material as well.  If necessary, I replace
the connector.

5.Once all are working well, I try to tape them as tight as I can to keep
out moisture.  I have also tried using Performix Liquid Tape available from
K1CRA and that seems to work well too.  It is much easier to get in on
connectors with limited near in access


I am all for using my roving experience as a learning experience and trying
to modify equipment and operational techniques to not make the same mistakes
over (at least not too many times), and to improve my results.  After all
that is probably the second most important reason for my contesting (Having
a good time is first).

Other suggestions:

I have found that attendance at some of the microwave conferences has been
very helpful.  I tend to learn a lot  and get to meet and chat with many of
the operators I work face to face.

hashing over with my partner what has worked well and what has not, so we
know where to focus our improvement efforts.

I have found that one of my problems particularly on the higher frequencies
is being off frequency.  I have improved my frequency measuring capability
and think that has helped a lot.  I am now using an HP GPS frequency
standard, and a decent Racal-Dana counter.

The whole subject of "rare grids" is another interesting one to me.  One of
the values rovers do tend to provide is contacts to grids that some stations
would not work otherwise.  In NE where you and I rove, Obviously FN21, FN31
and FN32 are not rare (anyone with some milliwatts and a wet noodle can work
TEO, SZ and CCX there.  However, FN22, FN23, and even to some extent FN33
(Depending on whether Mitch is operating the higher bands) are somewhat
rare.  I think FN24 and FN34 might be even more rare, but I have not been
going to them.  One thing I would like is more data available on what grids
are being worked on what bands.  All that is in the log data that is
submitted to the league, and I would like to see it made available.  Not to
say I would go to a rare grid and sacrifice a lot of score, but I might try
a new one once and a while.

NOW for some more unrelavent chatter (sorry, I can't help myself sometimes)
Most of the things you mentioned in your append are IMHO just people blowing
off a bit of steam.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with rovers (or fixed
stations) doing what the can to improve their operations and nothing at all
wrong with working anybody you can (after all that is the point isn't it?)
There is nothing at all wrong with going to a grid corner and making it easy
and quick to get to a new grid as long as you work whomever you can.  It
does however bother me to see some "grid Circlers" who are blatantly going
diametrically opposite to the contest objectives being allowed to be the
category winners.  Perhaps a new category is needed, but I think it is a bit
hard to crisply define.

Jack
WA2IID
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