[VHFcontesting] EN39 VE3/KC8QVO trip update

[steve d]

Well, we are going to be leaving for EN39 a day early - thursday  afternoon instead of friday. This will put us up there friday  afternoon/evening - it depends on how much we stop. If I get my  antennas and masts together fairly quickly I could have everything up  and running saturday. I will be able to get on HF and 6m at least on  saturday with my screwdriver antenna. The beams are going to be  interesting to raise and might take a bit of time to figure out how to  get those up. I have it all planned out in my head, but I wont know  exactly how it will go until I get there. 
  
  As of right now, chances are that Ill only be there a week. My  operating will be from Saturday, July 14 to Friday, July 20th. There  still is a chance I could be there longer, though. 
  
  My main antennas are going to be the beams for the VHF+ stuff. Then, I  am going to have a 1/4w vertical for 40 instead of a wire or ladder  line fed vert (multiband). This should get me a pretty big signal on  the band - an efficient, low angle of radiation antenna with enough  high angle to still catch some closer people (just not right next to me  HI). For the higher bands I think Ill just use my screwdriver antenna.  40 should be as low as I go. The screwdriver, with an 8.5' whip  instead, will be pretty efficient on 20+. I can get 40 on it too, so I  can switch between the two on 40 - maybe one will favor a specific  area  better than the other (screwdriver closer in, maybe?).
  
  I will use 40 as my primary contact band. Lets set 7.280-7.300 as the  range that I will be in, or close to - its hard to tell if Ill be able  to slip in there or not without being on at that time yet HI. I have  other frequencies posted on QRZ, so if band conditions shift or someone  is having a hard time contacting me we can shift around if we need to.  I want to be as avalible and easy to get as I can - I enjoy making the  contacts and Ill only be up there for a limted about of time. Even less  of that will be operating (due to other activities). So I need to make  the most of my operating time. Lets just hope the bands open up for us!  
  
  So far there has been quite a bit of activity on 6m. I have been  watching the VHFDX maps recently. Just about every day shows some Es  openings and multi-hops across the pond. When 6 opens it looks like a  satellite view of NYC streets hehehe - red lines everywhere. 
  
  Well, on to more packing and getting ready for the trip. I will post on  here a last minute update with any changes/updates before I leave.
  
  Steve, KC8QVO
  
       
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