ARRL 222-And-Up Distance Contest 2022

ARRL 222-And-Up Distance Contest 2022
category: MULTI-OPERATOR, FIXED
contest region 11 (MI, OH, VE3, NNY, WNY, WPA)
callsign: N2SLN

OPERATORS

Lu N2SLN -- 222/432

Jon W2BDN -- 902/1296

Brian KF6C -- 10 GHz

Tom KC2SFU -- help with antenna assembly and 222/432 operating Saturday

ANTENNA SYSTEM

222: Directive Systems 10 element "rover special" yagi
432: pair of Directive Systems 25-element K1FO Yagis
902: single Directive Systems 19-el Loop Yagi
1296: single Directive Systems 25-el Loop Yagi (photo of 902/1296 station)
10 GHz: 30" dish (33 dBi) or 18" dish (28 dBi and wider beamwidth)

EQUIPMENT

222:
    driver side Icom IC-7000
    DownEast Microwave transverter
    Advanced Receiver Research RF-sensed preamp
    DCI bandpass filter
    TE Systems amplifier at 200 watts

432:
    passenger side Icom IC-7000
    TE Systems amplifier at 60 watts with built-in preamp

902:
    IF Radio: Icom IC-706
    DEMI transverter, 25 watts
    homebrew sequencer
    VHF Design preamp

1296:
    same IF radio
    DownEast Microwave transverter, 25 watts

10 GHz:
    system 1: IC-705 into Kuhne MKU 10 G4 with Kuhne 8 watt amplifier
    system 2: Elecraft K4 with Ukrainian 2m transverter into Kuhne MKU 10 G4 with Kuhne 60 watt amp and LNA
    both systems can be mounted on either the 16' mast on the back of the RV or on a tripod

DESCRIPTION

This difficult contest seems to get more difficult each time. Many stations from around the northeast were reporting terrible propagation, and propagation is linked to activity levels which were also down compared to 2019 which was the last time we were able to participate in this event. The timing of an illness in 2020 prevented us from participating that year, then in 2021 it was overseas travel that prevented that one from happening. In addition, the hilltop of choice, which was open access for decades, now requires that we fill out a permit, drive to get a key to open a gate installed in early 2021, and drive to return the key after the event. High heat and humidity were a factor this time as well, and two of the three stations have to be torn down Saturday night and set back up Sunday morning. Brian KF6C was able to stay on site overnight in his RV which has multiple 10 GHz configurations available.

A rain shower traversed through the area Saturday afternoon, but it happened after we were done setting up. None of the other wx-related threats materialized all weekend, so that was a plus. We tried a 10 GHz contact with K1TEO with the tripod station and smaller diameter, wider beamwidth dish. We briefly heard him at about 250 km (155 mi) but did not complete. We heard W2SZ (who we assumed was on Mount Greylock) one time on 222 but they must have been on a band run with someone. Repeated calls did not get their attention, and we never heard them again. Our best 902/1296 DX was worked Saturday evening with K1KG southwest of Boston at 367 km (228 mi). These were SSB contacts.

Propagation/activity improved Sunday, and we started right off working Massachusetts station N1DPM who was 5x9 on 432. We worked our best 222/432 DX Sunday with northern VT station N1JEZ at about 386 km (240 mi). These were SSB contacts. We got compliments on our 432 signals from a couple of stations. This pair of 25-el K1FO's formerly used in a 4-stack on an H-frame at K2LIM multi-op is a fun upgrade and really helps our 60 watts. The activity level picked up right at the end as it so often does. Opportunities were lining up but we ran out of time. Brian discovered that his larger-dish 10G station was not receiving. That explains why we heard K1TEO on the smaller tripod station but there were no signals from anyone all weekend on the big telescoping mast station and larger dish on the back of the RV. It's unfortunate, but good preparatory information for Brian to know as he puts together plans for the 10 GHz And Up Contest. No rovers were worked this year.

POINTS SUMMARY


Band   QSOs   total distance (km)   band factor   total points
---------------------------------------------------------------
222     13          3,622               2            7,244
432     15          3,985               1            3,985
902      3            942               4            3,768
1296     5          1,288               2            2,576
---------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS  36          9,837                           17,573

LOG

START-OF-LOG: 3.0
CONTEST: ARRL-222
CALLSIGN: N2SLN
LOCATION: WNY
CATEGORY-OPERATOR: MULTI-OP
CATEGORY-POWER: HIGH
CATEGORY-BAND: ALL
CATEGORY-MODE: MIXED
CATEGORY-STATION: FIXED
OPERATORS: KF6C KC2SFU W2BDN N2SLN @N2SLN/P
CLAIMED-SCORE: 17,573
CREATED-BY: WA7BNM WEB2CABRILLO 2.07
SOAPBOX: contest region 11 (MI-OH-VE3-NNY-WNY-WPA)
QSO: 432  PH 2022-08-06 1840 N2SLN FN22DN WA2VAM FN22AN
QSO: 222  PH 2022-08-06 1917 N2SLN FN22DN N1SV   FN42BL
QSO: 432  PH 2022-08-06 1918 N2SLN FN22DN N1SV   FN42BL
QSO: 222  PH 2022-08-06 1918 N2SLN FN22DN W1FKF  FN43GI
QSO: 432  PH 2022-08-06 1920 N2SLN FN22DN W1FKF  FN43GI
QSO: 222  PH 2022-08-06 2046 N2SLN FN22DN K1TEO  FN31JH
QSO: 432  PH 2022-08-06 2049 N2SLN FN22DN K1TEO  FN31JH
QSO: 902  PH 2022-08-06 2052 N2SLN FN22DN K1TEO  FN31JH
QSO: 1.2G PH 2022-08-06 2053 N2SLN FN22DN K1TEO  FN31JH
QSO: 222  PH 2022-08-06 2222 N2SLN FN22DN K1KG   FN42ID
QSO: 432  PH 2022-08-06 2224 N2SLN FN22DN K1KG   FN42ID
QSO: 1.2G PH 2022-08-06 2228 N2SLN FN22DN K1KG   FN42ID
QSO: 902  PH 2022-08-06 2228 N2SLN FN22DN K1KG   FN42ID
QSO: 432  PH 2022-08-06 2324 N2SLN FN22DN VE3MIS FN03EQ
QSO: 222  PH 2022-08-07 1145 N2SLN FN22DN N1DPM  FN32QB
QSO: 432  PH 2022-08-07 1149 N2SLN FN22DN N1DPM  FN32QB
QSO: 222  CW 2022-08-07 1158 N2SLN FN22DN WZ1V   FN31RH
QSO: 432  PH 2022-08-07 1201 N2SLN FN22DN WZ1V   FN31RH
QSO: 222  PH 2022-08-07 1227 N2SLN FN22DN N2JMH  FN12BW
QSO: 432  PH 2022-08-07 1228 N2SLN FN22DN N2JMH  FN12BW
QSO: 222  PH 2022-08-07 1421 N2SLN FN22DN N3NGE  FN20BD
QSO: 432  PH 2022-08-07 1424 N2SLN FN22DN N3NGE  FN20BD
QSO: 1.2G PH 2022-08-07 1455 N2SLN FN22DN N3NGE  FN20BD
QSO: 222  CW 2022-08-07 1541 N2SLN FN22DN N2BEG  FN12EX
QSO: 432  CW 2022-08-07 1544 N2SLN FN22DN N2BEG  FN12EX
QSO: 1.2G CW 2022-08-07 1625 N2SLN FN22DN WZ1V   FN31RH
QSO: 222  PH 2022-08-07 1701 N2SLN FN22DN N1JEZ  FN44AR
QSO: 432  PH 2022-08-07 1703 N2SLN FN22DN N1JEZ  FN44AR
QSO: 432  PH 2022-08-07 1708 N2SLN FN22DN W9KXI  FN12NE
QSO: 222  PH 2022-08-07 1710 N2SLN FN22DN W9KXI  FN12NE
QSO: 1.2G PH 2022-08-07 1715 N2SLN FN22DN W9KXI  FN12NE
QSO: 222  PH 2022-08-07 1734 N2SLN FN22DN W1AIM  FN34UJ
QSO: 432  PH 2022-08-07 1736 N2SLN FN22DN W1AIM  FN34UJ
QSO: 222  CW 2022-08-07 1747 N2SLN FN22DN AF1T   FN43CD
QSO: 432  PH 2022-08-07 1750 N2SLN FN22DN AF1T   FN43CD
QSO: 1.2G CW 2022-08-07 1757 N2SLN FN22DN AF1T   FN43CD
END-OF-LOG: