6mcustom 5-el rover yagi with 3-piece boom2m6-el Directive Systems Rover Special Yagi (now Directive Systems and Engineering DSE144-6RS)
6mdriver side Icom IC-7000Advanced Receiver Research RF-sensed preamp
lowpass filter
TE Systems 200w amplifier
2mpassenger side Icom IC-7000Advanced Receiver Research external preamp
OCI bandpass filter
TE Systems 200w amplifier
Making the trip southwest to FN11, I got near the "Plan A" hilltop, but the last time I used it was September 2013, so I couldn't remember how to get there. No big deal, because I brought directions to "Plan B" hilltop which I had never visited before. When I got to that one, the long access road was in terrible shape, plus there were lots of small overhanging branches and no way to avoid them, so for once I was glad I didn't have antennas permanently mounted to the roof. The top of the hill was a small plateau with trees blocking the signals in all directions, but it's a sharp hilltop profile, so the signals wouldn't have to go far in order to get beyond the trees. There were two roadside turnarounds and no power lines anywhere. I used the more distant turnaround to set up my tiltover antenna system and discovered that the antennas were pointing a few degrees apart despite being fine during a dry run the previous weekend, but since they have wide beamwidths, I didn't bother fixing the problem and decided I just wouldn't take any photos.
Six meters was not open, but troposcatter signals were loud on both bands, and almost every contact was a unique grid. I jumped right over New York State and easily worked VE3SMA FN05 on both bands with good signals, and worked K1TOL FN44 in the state of Maine (361 miles / 581 km) for a best DX from FN11. For the 2m contacts, since I'm not set up with SO2R, I was keying the 2m radio's footswitch with my right hand and dropping the 6m headset down on my neck and installing the 2m headset in its place temporarily. Lots of folks mentioned that they were happy to get FN11 which has gone almost completely quiet in the past year. Since the first contact went into the log 3 hours into the contest, I stayed only 90 minutes to ensure that I would have time for one more grid activation. After 28 contacts I tore down and began the long, inefficient drive north to my FN12 site.
When I got there and got on the air at 10 PM, the antennas were still pointing north after I had just finished resetting the rotor control box to zero degrees and I immediately heard 6m skywave stations coming in on the side of the antenna. I turned west and worked into Missouri, Colorado, Arizona, and the best DX of the contest, a portable station in the mountains of San Diego County, CA (2298 mi / 3698 km). Two meters started to see some evening enhancement: At 0340Z I heard Indiana station K9MRI EN70 on CW (492 mi / 792 km). Unfortunately, I was still running late, so I had to tear down and head for home after only 2 hours in this grid.
After some good sleep but still running late, I hit the nearby FN22 hilltop and there was Tom already waiting for me to
arrive. The first contact went into the log at 1330Z. Two meters was still in improved shape in all directions and was the
star of the show. The newly modified preamp (intentionally downgraded from 24 to 15 dB) is now at the right number of dB to
pull in the weak ones without overloading the receiver front end (described as the squeals and "moving carriers" that I was
experiencing before the modification). To the northeast we worked Maine station K1HC FN53. Working a Canadian rover in EN93
was also a pretty good haul. The best DX from this hilltop was southern Ohio station K8TQK EM89 (456 mi / 735 km) who we
worked on both bands and we provided each other with new grids. Toward the end of our time on this hilltop, Tom and I
were joking about how we were starting to run out of grids to work. We remarked at how we would point the antenna at an
unworked grid and call CQ until someone from that grid answered us, then we moved the antennas to the next one. Tom left at
1700Z for prior commitments, and I stayed until 1800Z. I began wondering exactly when I should tear down and just then I
heard a Quebec rover calling CQ. I answered him and found out that he was in FN45, a grid that I have worked only once
before. Just as I was signing off with him after completing on both bands, he asked me to stay on the air because there was
another station on the same hilltop. I worked the other VA2 on both bands and then heard him say that he was a QRP Hilltopper
running 10 watts. Pretty good for being more than 250 miles away! Those are the thrilling contacts that make these contests
fun.
POINTS SUMMARY
From Band QSOs QSO pts. Mults.
----------------------------------------------
FN11 50 16 16 12
144 12 24 10
FN12 50 17 17 14
144 12 24 9
FN22 50 53 53 29
144 50 100 31
----------------------------------------------
TOTALS 160 234 105
--- Claimed score = 24,570 ---
LOG
QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-15 2059 N2SLN/R FN11 K2LIM FN12 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-15 2102 N2SLN/R FN11 K2LIM FN12 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-15 2105 N2SLN/R FN11 K1RZ FM19 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-15 2108 N2SLN/R FN11 K1RZ FM19 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-15 2109 N2SLN/R FN11 KR1ST FN21 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-15 2111 N2SLN/R FN11 KR1ST FN21 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-15 2112 N2SLN/R FN11 K3MD FN10 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-15 2114 N2SLN/R FN11 K3MD FN10 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-15 2118 N2SLN/R FN11 K1TEO FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-15 2118 N2SLN/R FN11 K1TEO FN31 QSO: 50 CW 2017-07-15 2123 N2SLN/R FN11 K1TOL FN44 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-15 2130 N2SLN/R FN11 VE3SMA FN05 QSO: 50 CW 2017-07-15 2134 N2SLN/R FN11 VE3SMA FN05 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-15 2135 N2SLN/R FN11 VA3NW FN04 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-15 2137 N2SLN/R FN11 VA3NW FN04 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-15 2143 N2SLN/R FN11 K3ISH FN21 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-15 2152 N2SLN/R FN11 K2PLF FM19 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-15 2155 N2SLN/R FN11 N3HBX FM19 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-15 2156 N2SLN/R FN11 N3HBX FM19 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-15 2158 N2SLN/R FN11 K3MEC FM09 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-15 2159 N2SLN/R FN11 K3MEC FM09 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-15 2207 N2SLN/R FN11 WC2K FM29 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-15 2218 N2SLN/R FN11 K1IIG FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-15 2220 N2SLN/R FN11 K1IIG FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-15 2221 N2SLN/R FN11 WA1RKS FN32 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-15 2223 N2SLN/R FN11 WA1RKS FN32 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-15 2225 N2SLN/R FN11 WB2JAY FN30 QSO: 50 CW 2017-07-15 2228 N2SLN/R FN11 WB2JAY FN30 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 0155 N2SLN/R FN12 W9RM DM58 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 0159 N2SLN/R FN12 WA0OFM EM28 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 0158 N2SLN/R FN12 K0MLD DM79 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 0203 N2SLN/R FN12 WA2TMC FN02 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 0204 N2SLN/R FN12 WA2TMC FN02 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 0209 N2SLN/R FN12 K3ISH FN21 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 0212 N2SLN/R FN12 KG6IYN DM12 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 0222 N2SLN/R FN12 WZ1V FN31 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 0224 N2SLN/R FN12 WZ1V FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 0228 N2SLN/R FN12 WA1T FN43 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 0229 N2SLN/R FN12 WA1T FN43 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 0233 N2SLN/R FN12 W1VD FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 0237 N2SLN/R FN12 W1VD FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 0240 N2SLN/R FN12 K1TEO FN31 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 0241 N2SLN/R FN12 K1TEO FN31 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 0243 N2SLN/R FN12 K2LIM FN12 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 0244 N2SLN/R FN12 K2LIM FN12 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 0300 N2SLN/R FN12 K2QO FN03 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 0300 N2SLN/R FN12 K2QO FN03 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 0310 N2SLN/R FN12 K1OR FN42 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 0312 N2SLN/R FN12 K1OR FN42 QSO: 50 CW 2017-07-16 0319 N2SLN/R FN12 K1TOL FN44 QSO: 50 CW 2017-07-16 0323 N2SLN/R FN12 K3OO FN20 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 0327 N2SLN/R FN12 W3SO FN00 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 0328 N2SLN/R FN12 N2NT FN20 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 0329 N2SLN/R FN12 N2NT FN20 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 0351 N2SLN/R FN12 VE3SMA FN05 QSO: 50 CW 2017-07-16 0357 N2SLN/R FN12 VE3SMA FN05 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 0400 N2SLN/R FN12 VA3ST FN03 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1331 N2SLN/R FN22 W3SO FN00 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1332 N2SLN/R FN22 K2LIM FN12 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1334 N2SLN/R FN22 W3SO FN00 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1335 N2SLN/R FN22 K8GP FM19 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1335 N2SLN/R FN22 N3HBX FM19 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1337 N2SLN/R FN22 W3EKT FM19 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1338 N2SLN/R FN22 K8GP FM19 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1339 N2SLN/R FN22 KB3RHR EN90 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1339 N2SLN/R FN22 W3EKT FM19 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1340 N2SLN/R FN22 N2NT FN20 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1341 N2SLN/R FN22 N2NT FN20 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1341 N2SLN/R FN22 WC2K FM29 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1344 N2SLN/R FN22 K2LIM FN12 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1344 N2SLN/R FN22 K1TEO FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1345 N2SLN/R FN22 K1TEO FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1348 N2SLN/R FN22 W3RGA/R FN10 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1350 N2SLN/R FN22 K8TQK EM89 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1353 N2SLN/R FN22 K8TQK EM89 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1357 N2SLN/R FN22 AA2TT FN30 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1358 N2SLN/R FN22 N3XF FN00 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1400 N2SLN/R FN22 N3XF FN00 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1401 N2SLN/R FN22 K3WHC FN10 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1404 N2SLN/R FN22 W1VD FN31 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1405 N2SLN/R FN22 N2SLO FN30 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1406 N2SLN/R FN22 N2SLO FN30 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1407 N2SLN/R FN22 KC3FQF FM29 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1407 N2SLN/R FN22 KC3FQF FM29 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1410 N2SLN/R FN22 K1PTF FN22 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1413 N2SLN/R FN22 K1PTF FN22 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1415 N2SLN/R FN22 WA1NPZ FN43 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1417 N2SLN/R FN22 K1IIG FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1419 N2SLN/R FN22 K1IIG FN31 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1419 N2SLN/R FN22 KE2DN FN12 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1420 N2SLN/R FN22 K2XA FN32 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1421 N2SLN/R FN22 KE2DN FN12 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1422 N2SLN/R FN22 NX2X FN32 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1422 N2SLN/R FN22 NX2X FN32 QSO: 50 CW 2017-07-16 1432 N2SLN/R FN22 K1TOL FN44 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1435 N2SLN/R FN22 K3MEC FM09 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1436 N2SLN/R FN22 VA3NW FN04 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1438 N2SLN/R FN22 VA3NW FN04 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1438 N2SLN/R FN22 K3MEC FM09 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1440 N2SLN/R FN22 VA3JAR/R EN93 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1442 N2SLN/R FN22 VE3ZV EN92 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1442 N2SLN/R FN22 VA3WU FN03 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1443 N2SLN/R FN22 VE3ZV EN92 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1443 N2SLN/R FN22 WA2TMC FN02 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1444 N2SLN/R FN22 WA2TMC FN02 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1445 N2SLN/R FN22 VA3WU FN03 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1445 N2SLN/R FN22 VE3SST FN03 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1447 N2SLN/R FN22 W2UAD FN13 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1448 N2SLN/R FN22 N8ZM EN80 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1451 N2SLN/R FN22 N8ZM EN80 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1453 N2SLN/R FN22 N2BEG FN12 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1455 N2SLN/R FN22 N2BEG FN12 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1501 N2SLN/R FN22 WA2WAP FN32 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1503 N2SLN/R FN22 WA2RQC FN23 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1503 N2SLN/R FN22 WA2RQC FN23 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1504 N2SLN/R FN22 WA1T FN43 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1506 N2SLN/R FN22 WA1T FN43 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1516 N2SLN/R FN22 VA3HD FN14 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1519 N2SLN/R FN22 AF1T FN43 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1520 N2SLN/R FN22 VA3HD FN14 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1521 N2SLN/R FN22 AF1T FN43 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1523 N2SLN/R FN22 W1ZC FN42 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1524 N2SLN/R FN22 VE3AX FN25 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1525 N2SLN/R FN22 W1ZC FN42 QSO: 50 CW 2017-07-16 1534 N2SLN/R FN22 VE3RSA FN04 QSO: 50 CW 2017-07-16 1535 N2SLN/R FN22 W1AIM FN34 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1545 N2SLN/R FN22 W1GHZ FN34 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1545 N2SLN/R FN22 W1GHZ FN34 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1547 N2SLN/R FN22 K2ARM FN33 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1548 N2SLN/R FN22 K1HC FN53 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1549 N2SLN/R FN22 N2JJ FN33 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1549 N2SLN/R FN22 WB2SIH/R FN33 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1550 N2SLN/R FN22 N2JJ FN33 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1554 N2SLN/R FN22 WB2SIH/R FN33 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1600 N2SLN/R FN22 KR1ST FN21 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1602 N2SLN/R FN22 KR1ST FN21 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1604 N2SLN/R FN22 K1OR FN42 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1605 N2SLN/R FN22 K1OR FN42 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1609 N2SLN/R FN22 N2NKX FN22 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1611 N2SLN/R FN22 N2NKX FN22 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1620 N2SLN/R FN22 K3GNC FN20 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1621 N2SLN/R FN22 K3GNC FN20 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1635 N2SLN/R FN22 K3AJ FM19 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1636 N2SLN/R FN22 K3AJ FM19 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1641 N2SLN/R FN22 K3UL FN11 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1654 N2SLN/R FN22 K3TLP EN91 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1656 N2SLN/R FN22 N1FD FN43 QSO: 50 CW 2017-07-16 1710 N2SLN/R FN22 K2TV FN30 QSO: 50 CW 2017-07-16 1711 N2SLN/R FN22 VE3MMQ FN14 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1716 N2SLN/R FN22 WA2FGK FN21 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1718 N2SLN/R FN22 W3EP FN31 QSO: 50 CW 2017-07-16 1723 N2SLN/R FN22 N2WK FN03 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1744 N2SLN/R FN22 N1JEZ FN44 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1746 N2SLN/R FN22 N1JEZ FN44 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1751 N2SLN/R FN22 VA2NQ/R FN45 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1752 N2SLN/R FN22 VA2NQ/R FN45 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1753 N2SLN/R FN22 VA2MO FN45 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1755 N2SLN/R FN22 VA2MO FN45 QSO: 144 PH 2017-07-16 1759 N2SLN/R FN22 WA2RXX FN13 QSO: 50 PH 2017-07-16 1801 N2SLN/R FN22 WA2RXX FN13
| N2SLN/R: A fringe rover in more ways than one. |