[VHFcontesting] Contest and antenna work

[N1BUG]

I didn't put in many hours or make many QSOs but it was fun!

Saturday nature decided to give me a birthday present... several hours 
with absolutely no wind at all. Not so much as a hint of air movement. 
This was an opportunity I could not afford to miss! I got the HF beam 
down and remained in one piece doing it! Unfortunately I made the 
mistake of sitting down in a comfortable place about an hour before the 
start of the contest and immediately fell asleep!

I awoke later to the sound of beautiful music... weak CW on 222.100. It 
was KC1FGY. I stumbled to the rig, worked him and K1WHS called me right 
after. Dave was loud of course. I wasn't hearing anyone else and 
requests for skeds on the chat produced no takers. Being very tired and 
sleepy I didn't persist long.

Sunday morning I was on the tower removing the tram line, backstay, 
comealong, straps, ropes and whatever other stuff I had left there the 
day before. I was going to bring the mast down but it is very solidly 
stuck to the rotator casting and I didn't have the right tools. I 
decided to quit messing with it and get back to the radio.

I worked several stations on both bands Sunday morning. Notable were 
W3CCX on both bands without any coordination, same for W2SZ, and N2NT on 
222. It was fun working stations on 222 and 432 without prior 
arrangements or moving from another band! I guess that happens when they 
are the only bands you have so you spend more time listening there! 
W3CCX seemed pretty loud and I kept thinking wow, this tropo has 
actually come far enough into the interior of Maine to include me! The 
vast majority stop just short of me. Curiously N2NT didn't seem at all 
enhanced on 222 and I could just copy on 432.

Sunday evening I got a few more on both bands.

As previously noted the 6m and 2m antennas need only minor work but the 
tower, mast and rotator need to be inspected and fixed. I'm not sure 
exactly what is bent but things are clearly not right. Murphy's law 
suggests it'll be the mast since those cost megabucks especially after 
fright is factored in. Apparently sorting out the antenna mess is how I 
am going to spend my summer. Oh well, I need the climbing practice to 
get my confidence back fully. I will have to spread out the expense over 
a few to several months and hope this doesn't end up running the project 
into winter!

My 432 amplifier is dying. It used to make 150 watts. Last time I used 
it I noticed it was down to about 120 watts. On Saturday it was only 
making 80 watts and Sunday even less. It also started emitting the 
horrible smell of burning electronics while attempting to run FT8 Sunday 
evening! I have a bigger 432 amp here, but have not managed to get it 
working yet.

I received notice that the new transverters should be ready soon so at 
least there's some good news to report!

Onward...

73,
Paul N1BUG
FN55mf