[VHFcontesting] 2M Sprint and 220 night report from FN54

[Bill Olson]

Hi all, Since my "tower crash" last September, I am still using "Armstrong" rotated short antennas (my rover Yagis) at 15-ish feet. they point straight into a ridge to the southwest and recently that means they are pointed into wet trees as well. Changing the azimuth requires running outside with a flashlight. This will change! The next two week period is "tower time" when I will be erecting the new fold-over tower. It'll be 50 or 60 feet, not really tall enough to get above all the treetops to the SW but antennas will be pretty much in the clear. I will also be able to work on antennas at ground level as I anticipate at some point not wanting to climb 120 feet any more hah hah.. I'm not at that point yet, but what the heck..

Anyway with this setup and 8 elements with 50 watts on 2m and 10 elements and 300w on 220, here is my report:

2M Sprint Sept 18
Operated about a half hour. Basically I just wanted to make some noise and make sure the stuff still works. I worked:
4 QSO's in 3 grids on SSB and CW best DX WZ1V FN31 at 288 miles

222 night Sept 19
operated from 7-8-ish. condx were not great. I worked:
5 Q's in 4 grids all SSB and CW best DX WZ1V again on SSB 288 miles

LOTS of QSB both nights.

No FT-8 either night. I guess the point I am trying to make here is that 300 mile qso's can be made on SSB and CW during poor conditions even with what would be considered a "marginal" station. Ya just have to get on the air! That's what's so cool about VHF, i.e. you never know!

bill, K1DY in FN54 central Maine