2020 222 and Up Distance Challenge for WA5RR/R
Although there isn't much activity on the UHF bands in this part of rural North Texas, I decided to go out to see what I could stir up. Although I thought I might cover four grids, I adjusted due to conditions and only went to two.
As I pulled into my first spot on I-44 Exit 1 in Oklahoma, I saw a sign of good luck. Opening the door and looking straight ahead, I found this nice gift on the ground!
The antenna and mast went up in about 15 minutes. I really seem to have an efficient system now for 'stop-and-shoot' operations. Antennas up top are Directive Systems 'rover special' beams for 1.25m and 70cm. Although excellent antennas, I worked a majority of my contacts on my vehicle mounted Larsen NMO2/70 vertical antenna using FM. Those gleaming antennas still looked gorgeous in the Red River valley sun!
My first contact on 70cm was with N5XTR who was seven miles away in EM04. He and I chatted a bit on 446.000 FM as others joined in when they found activity on the frequency. After a few hours, I pulled everything down and headed for EM03 where I parked just off the freeway in an excellent spot. From there, I talked to N5XTR again and NY5B who was running a 5-watt HT from his front porch on a 'rubber duck' antenna. That was pretty amazing!
Just like earlier, Joel and I chatted on 446.000 for a while to drum up interest and a newer operator with the callsign of KN4UVR came on frequency with us on FM. I could hear him about 75-percent of the time but he could not quite make me out. Joel found out that the operator had a Yaesu FM-400 so I suggested we switch to Yaesu System Fusion C4FM. Experience has shown that marginal signals in fringe areas can improve with the use of YSF and it did in this case. Landon (KN4UVR) and I completed a successful contact of 45 miles using System Fusion!
Exhausting all available stations in the area, I went home to cool off and regroup. Around 6 PM, I brought my ancient Icom IC-03AT 220 FM radio to Joel's (N5XTR) house along with a 220-MHz 'hourglass' antenna. Joel mounted the antenna and a short fiberglass mount on his truck and I started off down the road with a home-brew WA5VJB 4-element 220-MHz 'Cheap Yagi'. Both the IC-03AT and my transverter put out 5 watts but we were able to communicate in EM04ra and then into EM03rw. So, with low-power FM radios, we managed to eke out a 22-mile QSO on 220!
Here are a few shots of the setup and claimed score:
As I pulled into my first spot on I-44 Exit 1 in Oklahoma, I saw a sign of good luck. Opening the door and looking straight ahead, I found this nice gift on the ground!
My first contact on 70cm was with N5XTR who was seven miles away in EM04. He and I chatted a bit on 446.000 FM as others joined in when they found activity on the frequency. After a few hours, I pulled everything down and headed for EM03 where I parked just off the freeway in an excellent spot. From there, I talked to N5XTR again and NY5B who was running a 5-watt HT from his front porch on a 'rubber duck' antenna. That was pretty amazing!
Just like earlier, Joel and I chatted on 446.000 for a while to drum up interest and a newer operator with the callsign of KN4UVR came on frequency with us on FM. I could hear him about 75-percent of the time but he could not quite make me out. Joel found out that the operator had a Yaesu FM-400 so I suggested we switch to Yaesu System Fusion C4FM. Experience has shown that marginal signals in fringe areas can improve with the use of YSF and it did in this case. Landon (KN4UVR) and I completed a successful contact of 45 miles using System Fusion!
Exhausting all available stations in the area, I went home to cool off and regroup. Around 6 PM, I brought my ancient Icom IC-03AT 220 FM radio to Joel's (N5XTR) house along with a 220-MHz 'hourglass' antenna. Joel mounted the antenna and a short fiberglass mount on his truck and I started off down the road with a home-brew WA5VJB 4-element 220-MHz 'Cheap Yagi'. Both the IC-03AT and my transverter put out 5 watts but we were able to communicate in EM04ra and then into EM03rw. So, with low-power FM radios, we managed to eke out a 22-mile QSO on 220!
Here are a few shots of the setup and claimed score:
Running the Icom IC-706MkIIg for this contest on 70cm and as the IF for the 1.25m transverter
Directive Systems 8-foot Rover Special Yagis for 1.25m and 70cm
The antenna mast goes up quick and secure with a drive-on base and tilting assembly
N5XTR Setup for 1.25m Hourglass Antenna from EM04QF
The Final Claimed Score
Thank you to all who worked me or tried to reach out! 73 DE WA5RR
Great info, thanks for the post. With a new 9700 I new to VHF/UHF contesting and am in the process of trying to settle on a mast for portable/rover ops with the vehicle. You mentioned your's works well. I plan to use DSE antennas so I am curious if you have any details on your mast/drive on base? Any info is appreciated. 73 Mike KX6A
ReplyDeleteHi, Michael. I'll try to create a post on the mounting base soon.
DeleteYour radio should be really fun to use. If I didn't already have a few multiband V/U all-mode radios, I would seriously look at the IC-9700.
Here's a simple drive-on base: https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/sbm-mdcs-100
For mine, I took inspiration from N1GY and his site where he used a trailer jack as a tilt-n-raise mount. http://www.n1gy.com/tilt-base---mast.html
I have a 35-foot aluminum push-up mast and only use the top 20 feet since it fits in the trailer jack. Good luck!
73,
Korey-WA5RR
Thanks for the links Korey. I have been looking for a aluminum push up mast but so far it seems you either make it yourself of go the ~$500 Spider Beams or M2 direction. If you have any pointers to a retail solution that is more economical, it would be appreciated. I am in Southern California, so I can get to elevation in most grids, I don't need anything crazy tall - 15 to 20 feet would work. Mike -KX6A
DeleteI have had a push-up aluminum mast for many years and it was given to me. For other portable setups, I get by with fence top rail up to 20 feet but normally only go up 15 feet. I have a hardwood pallet with a TV mast tripod bolted to it and set the top rail in it as a portable antenna base. If the wind is high, I have a guy ring up at ten feet for three guys. ]]
DeleteBest of luck and 73,
Korey--WA5RR