[VHFcontesting] Tuesday Night 222 MHz Activity Report

[Dave Olean]

The first thing I did when I got to the shack was to shine a light up on 
the 222 antenna to make sure it was there. With all the wind we have 
gotten lately, I was checking everything out. The antenna was still 
there, so I fired everything up. My first contact was KA2ENE and we 
worked on FT8 and then went to CW. CW signals were steady at 549 to 559. 
I don't have the log in front of me so I am going on memory. Other 
stations worked on FT8 include KA3FQS in FN20 and WA4YA in FN42.  CW 
contacts included WA3NUF FN20, K1TEO FN31, WB2VVV FN41, and KA2ENE FN13 
(QSO #2), On SSB I worked WA1MBA FN51, VE2XX FN25, W1AIM FN34, W1GHZ 
FN34, WW1Z FN42, W9KXI FN12, W2TMA FN30, K2AEP FN32, K1PXE FN31, WZ1V 
FN31,  K1FMS FN32, WA3NUF (2nd QSO) and KC2SGV in FM29.  I tried an 
MSK144 sked with K9MRI EN70, and we wanted to keep it at ten minutes. We 
managed to complete the QSO and I transmitted a bit longer so that Joe 
could compare his tropo antenna with his EME array at 20 ft. He copied 
me on both antennas.  A bit after 0200 UT WA3EOQ in FM09 showed up and 
we ran a CW sked on 222.090. I heard him right away and sent RR and my 
grid square, and was greeted by some RRs and then 73 for a quick (but 
weak) QSO. Howard was getting heavy rain with a bit of snow trying to 
mix in.  He was surprised that we worked so quickly.  I ended up with 22 
stations worked for 24 QSOs and I was happy with how the repaired 
antenna performed. The VSWR is pretty close to what it was back in March 
or April when I replaced a few jumper cables up on the tower for the 
rotor loop and the jumper from the preamp box to the array power 
divider.  Now that the 222 antenna is fixed I am hoping I can get a 
little work done on the new ten meter tower replacement. I am running 
out of good weather. Most days are cold and windy.  I still have a few 
10 ft sections to add to the tower. (five actually!)  Thanks for all the 
activity on 222 and All the FB qsos.

73

Dave K1WHS   FN43mj