a brief history of the VHF contesting vehicle at KA2LIM
The Gridsquare Limo (named by Dave, KC2JZK) was Ken's work-in-progress throughout the months
leading up to the June 2007 VHF contest. It is a reduced-size Chevrolet school bus, acquired
October 5, 2006. First it was prepared for a re-paint on October 8, 2006, then finished 3 days
later (click for
small or
medium photo). By November
12, 2006, the countertops were installed (
small |
medium) and plans were already
in the works for backboards with outlet boxes, plus two shelves of storage above each countertop.
By November 26, 2006, outlet boxes had been installed on each side (
small |
medium) of the bus as well as
the back (
small |
medium). Less than a week later,
on December 02, 2006, the shelves were complete and so were the 12 VDC jacks along the left
side (
small |
medium)...here's the view from the
back (
small |
medium), and here's the right side
(small |
medium). Here's an up close pic
showing the color-coded wing nuts (
small |
medium)
which provide 12VDC at several points along one shelf.
By the time the first few days of 2007 had arrived, activity had slowed due to winter wx that
would only get more ferocious with time. But progress was still being made. A trailer hitch was
installed, and so were rotor controllers and some amplifiers and meters. By late March, towers
and rotors had been installed in the bus and trailer, and wiring was all color-coded for ease of
installation. In early April, the second 222 yagi had been built and it tested out great at
1.4:1 SWR. By late April, wiring harnesses for the trailer lights had been finished and two
operating positions were done being assembled.
