[VHFcontesting] W4SHG/R Spring Sprint 2006 - 144mhz

[Steve Gilmore]

Well nothing broke anyway.
With 300 watts and 13 elements atop the Ford off again to see if one can
effectively get to four (4) grids and actually work folks with some level of
efficiency in a four hour sprint. 

I started in FM18ax and found at the beginning of the contest I heard no
one. I was on 144.247 and spun down to 144.200 and from 7:00pm to about 7:15
pretty much nil. Then some stations got going but with a 45 minute sked in
each grid it's tough to loose 15 minutes as folks seemed to drift into the
contest. Worked up to the Northeast and looked South but heard nothing
again. Not the best spot but good enough for 14 Q's and 7 grids in about 30
minutes.

Then to Mt. Weather FM19, lots of line noise last night. Worked 22 and 8
from that location and found FM14 hanging on 144.200. Great Job K1MAP for
being on as you know activity down there is as close to zero as it get.
Spent about 50 minutes there and drove down the hill to FM09.

While in Flight in FM09 picked up KC8TAC in EN90, always important to make
noise while in flight it seems. That was a new one as FM09 is not good at
least the location I use, mostly due to needing a proximity to get to
Skyline in a resonable amount of time. Got 14 Q's and 7 grids in FM09.

Up to the top for the final hour and again found the ole Ft-100D's receiver
just ain't getting it up there. It gets overrun way too easy. Lots of guys
running some power and a FT-100 at 3400 ASL makes for a rather irratating
headache. I will move to a transverter for next years event if not before.
Got EN90, and EN92 and again found FM14. Good to work VE3TFU from the
mountain. Not often do I get into Canada on a Sprint. Got 26 and 10 from the
hill in about 45 minutes.

Great to hear the regulars and thanks to all the guys I got in all four,
K3TUF, K8GUN, K4LTX. Also great to hear other rovers K1RA, W1RT and W4TXS
rumbling about.

Thanks to ETDXA for sponsering this event, see you all next Wednesday for
222 with the Elecraft.

Steve Gilmore
W4SHG