[VHFcontesting] 222 Night Summary

[David Olean]

I looked at the Hepburn Map before the Tuesday night activity and saw 
that conditions would be quite flat but I was rather surprised at how 
poor things were. It did not matter which way I pointed the beam, but 
everyone was very weak compared to other nights. I do not have my log in 
front of me, but I noted that many stations were down by a couple of S 
units. WA3NUF, K3TUF, W9KXI etc. Maybe it was a case that antennas were 
not lined up, but I started thinking that my antenna was suffering more 
problems. I have yet to repair the ice damage and some bent elements 
that have raised the VSWR on the 4 X array.   Still, the activity level 
was high and I ended up with 28 QSOs when I quit at 01:15 UT. My last 
QSO was a meteor try with K9MRI.  Distance is in the 700 mile range. I 
tried a little trick and elevated the sharp array a few degrees in hopes 
that it would help on the short path. Not sure if it did, but we worked 
in under 15 minutes. I had quite a few decodes of Joe sending R EN70 
which was nice. The meteor count is definitely up there now.

In spite of the weak signals in the NE, I had no trouble working WA3EOQ 
in FM09. That is a very long tropo scatter path at 800 km. The 
interesting thing is that WA1MBA on Cape Cod actually heard Howard last 
night as well.  Not bad for an 800+ km path and 100 watts.  Rick, WC2K 
was on from New Jersey and had a pretty good signal. It was great to 
hear him on and making noise.  K2LNS was out portable in FN11 and he had 
a FB signal at first before the QSB hit. He went from 579 down to about 
549 and watery.  I think Herb was running low power, but that location 
seems to be a winner!  I was impressed that WZ1V worked five stations 
with his Quansheng HT.  He had a good signal here and the keying was 
rater good using the PTT button!  I ordered another Quansheng so I can 
keep up with GB Ron.  W1XR in FM19 was up and down, but good copy on 
SSB.  Many in the midwest were stormed out from the big line of T storms.

73

Dave K1WHS