[VHFcontesting] MR.T goes roving

[kb7dqh at donobi.net]

Saw the slideshow Wayne presented at MUD 2005... And the Cabover Kilowatt!

Eight Quagis (yes, he INVENTED them, 30 years ago, long before compooter
modeling or any of that stuff... Many days spent on the antenna range
building, testing, measuring, etc. till it worked!) and tower mounted
behind the camper on his pickup of the time.  Back before grid squares,
would park on the Nevada/Utah border, work a station, drive either forward
or back as necessary to cross the state line, and work that station again!
On EME!

Also saw the VW Bus he had mounted a short crankup tower to, also for
singleop VHF tests... Never seeing this, I unknowingly duplicated this two
decades after he did it, fabricating the tower with EMT and much scrap rod
stock.  40 hours later, using only  oxyacetylene welding equipment, it was
done.  I figured that tower would last me around 5 years or so, but, 15
years after I put it into service, I still have the tower.  Pictures all
over the web, search my callsign...  AND I recently created mountings to
allow it to stand on the front bumper of the FIRST Unlimited Multiop
rover... just in case I want to set up a BIG antenna on a mountain
somewhere...

Which, BTW, Wayne got a good looksee at that same Microwave Update, both
inside and out, of my current "hamshack on wheels"... Bit larger than a
toolbox, I must admit...

I still remember his wide-eyed expression when he stepped on board... not
unlike a kid in a candy store.  That was BEFORE I permanently installed
the microwave gear!  At that time I had 2304 through 10368 Mhz mounted to
a sheet of plywood... around a foot and a half wide by 3 feet long, all
transverters, amplifiers, preamps, antennas, and IF rig... This would
either be  pointed out the rear door or mounted to a tripod.  In the
photos published on the  Web following  Microwave Update 2005, this mess
could be seen on the antenna range.

Eric
KB7DQH