2020 ARRL June VHF Notes

 
  I spent just over two decades in the active duty Army and, during my earliest experiences, often wondered why my leadership conducted their tasks in a 'stiff' and highly structured manner. It seemed to me that the seemingly endless checks, double checks, shake downs and equipment maintenance was unnecessary. Of course, over time and especially during combat deployments, I came to appreciate the measure of safety and surety such a system offers. With this type of background, I should have applied it to my first 'serious' rover operation. It didn't quite happen that way this time!

     On the way to the first grid stop on the day of the contest, we had traveled about 1.5 hours of the 3-hour trip. I noticed the tripod mount was moving a bit and decided to pull over and check the load. My ham buddy, Jordan KI5IYQ, and I discovered that the tie-down straps for the assembly had broken and the guys that secured the 2-meter beam had caused the antenna to break in half! We had to quickly make adjustments to safely transport the rest of the antennas. All of these problems boiled down to failure to perform good old-fashioned Pre-Combat Inspections!

     We stopped in Mineral Wells, TX at a home improvement store where I bought a 10-foot fence toprail that would serve as a portable mast. I didn't want to take any chances with borrowed 1.25m and 70cm antennas so those were securely lashed to the bed of the truck. We ended up using only 6 and 2-meters for the duration of the contest. Since we were running late, I decided to cut off the first grid and begin operations from Stephenville, TX.

     As we continued along the path to the north, the Yaesu FT-857D started to experience a voltage sag that caused a complete 'factory' reset of the radio and all its settings. I checked the truck battery and voltage was good at rest and the alternator was doing its job. Later on that night, I found that the fuses for the radio were a bit loose in their sockets. That fixed it for the most part but there is still a voltage sag issue due to long runs of wire that needs to be corrected.

     After rolling into home around 9 PM, I decided to change it up for the next day. The commercially-made antennas for 1.25m and 70cm came off and I brought out my home built KA5JVB Cheap Yagis for 2m and 70cm. The first contact with N5DUP in Abilene with the 2-meter beam went off without a problem and a follow-up QSO to K2EZ came soon after. Although I had the 6-meter halo with me, conditions were marginal and only a handful of FT8 contacts were made.

     So, the plan to use 2 and 6 meters went pretty well although 70cm QSOs were hard to find. Adding in a few FM contacts on the Yaesu FTM-400XDR helped boost the score a bit as we approached the Denton, TX area. We continued to work 2m SSB contacts using the EFactor 2/440 loop antenna while in motion. Let me say like I have in the past that the EFactor antenna is most excellent and very well-built!

     We continued the path across US-380 and then down US-287 through Decatur, TX and onward to EM04 back home. Once there, I stopped by the house and grabbed the 2-meter beam that I repaired the night before and the PAR 6-meter Moxon and headed to the I-44 Exit 1 overlook on the Red River right at the state line. Chris and I worked 6m FT8 until around 6 PM and called it a day.

     About two hours before the official end of the contest, Joel--N5XTR, messaged me and said that 6m was open to New England states. So, as tired as I though I was, I brought out the Icom IC-706MkIIG to the truck and put up the Moxon on the mast out in my front yard. Conditions were so good that I stood at my open rear truck door and worked SSB and CW stations for the final two hours. Instead of limping in with a score just under 1000 points, I ended the contest with 3,003 points as calculated in the Cabrillo log submission form!
   
     I need to thank a few other hams. First, N5XTR lent a lot of help before and during the contest. He was up past midnight the day before helping to iron out some coax jumper issues and provided QSOs in almost all the grids we covered. Rocky, WD5BNA, used his great station to follow most of the grids as well along with Paul, N5DUP, who also has an awesome VHF+ station out of Abilene, TX. He was super strong everywhere we went. It was also nice to meet Andrea, K2EZ, on the air for a 2-meter rover-to-rover contact for the first time. If you haven't seen her amazing Classic Rover setup, it is worth looking up! Finally, Jordan (KI5IYQ) and Chris (KI5AUR) were great trip partners to help cover all the territory!

     Limited Rover version 2.0 is coming up for the CQWW July VHF contest. See you there!

73 DE WA5RR