JUNE VHF QSO PARTY 2009
KA2LIM multi-limited
Team KA2LIM, one of the only re-locatable limited-multioperator stations in the US, put in what
might be our finest effort to date. With increased elevation over last year's site and the
return of FM simplex capability as well as the addition of rotatable LVA antenna systems, it
was a memorable weekend topped off with a personal best score.
The Gridsquare Limo, the command center of KA2LIM limited multiop, provided another weekend of
radio utopia. Seven operators were available to keep four positions operating.
Each band has its own independently rotatable antenna system.
50 MHz
- 7 over 7 elements: two KA2LIM homebrew yagis on 30-foot booms, horizontal polarization
- M2 horizontally polarized omnidirectional squalo
144 MHz
- 15 over 15 elements: two KA2LIM homebrew quagis, horizontal polarization, mounted to the Limo
- rotatable LVA antenna consisting of 4 x 5-element yagis (16+ dBi into 45 degree beamwidth)
- pair of KB6KQ horizontally polarized omnidirectional loops
222 MHz
- 20 over 20 elements: two KA2LIM homebrew quagis on 30-foot booms, horizontal polarization
- rotatable LVA antenna consisting of 6 x 5-element yagis (17+ dBi into 35 degree beamwidth)
- KB6KQ horizontally polarized omnidirectional loop
432 MHz
- 25 over 25 elements: two Directive Systems DSFO432-25 yagis on 17-foot booms
- rotatable LVA consisting of 6 x 8-element yagis
- pair of KB6KQ horizontally polarized omnidirectional loops
FM
- 146: 11-element yagi
- 223: 6-element yagi
- 446: 13-element quagi, vertical polarization
PRE-CONTEST
Setup began the weekend before the contest to ensure that there would be enough good days for
installing towers. On Saturday, June 6th, two of the tower trailers were brought to the contest
site. Sunday, an electric fence was installed around the site to help keep the nearby cattle from
wandering into sacred contesting ground. On the next day the 6m tower trailer was brought to the
site. Then the following day, the Gridsquare Limo was driven to the site. Once the Limo was in
position, the exact locations of the towers could be fine tuned, and the final days could be used
for testing equipment.
CONTEST PERFORMANCE
Despite the fact that the June VHF QSO Party occurs during hurricane season, we were spared any tropical activity. We did
have a bit of rain and heard lightning static Saturday, but no thunder. Six meters was open right from the start, so the
Limo was a busy place as we kept the 6m position manned at all times. The band stayed open until late evening on the first
day, and in 7 hours and 54 minutes we had worked 6m VUCC thanks to the band
being open to a variety of locations this time around. Plus, we had a location in gridsquare FN12
(WNY section of the Atlantic Division) that was 400+ feet higher than the
previous June's location. On Saturday we did manage to work XE2WWW in EL06 which turned out to be our longest 6m contact at
1643 miles. The longest contact on 2m appears to be with northwestern Indiana station WA9KRT in EN61 for a distance of 513
miles. On 222 the best DX was Maine station K1WHS FN43 at 314.5 miles, and on 432 it was Michigan station N8IEZ EN82 at
311 miles. Saturday's 6m opening lasted a solid 9 hours and 43 minutes, with the occasional station still popping in as the
sporadic-E disappeared. Sunday's opening lasted solidly 2 hours 36 minutes, with a few more isolated contacts afterward. We
worked 32 states (map) and the two Canadian provinces of Ontario and
Nova Scotia. All 4 bands saw higher numbers than last June, both in QSOs and multipliers. We ended up with a
7th place finish nationally.
No unusual solar activity was present--the solar flux was 68 both days (only one number higher
than last year) and the sunspot number was zero both days. There was no strong solar flare
activity, and no aurora was noticed. No tropospheric ducting (tropo) developed in western New
York either, but that's not surprising since inland parts of NY typically have their best chance
in August-October each year. Due to the numerous disturbances rolling through the area, there
was no tropospheric enhancement at sundown.
Band QSOs QSO pts. Mults.
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50 542 542 126
144 227 227 43
222 67 134 30
432 65 130 26
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TOTALS 901 1033 225
--- Claimed score = 232,425 ---
Four bands, two days, one goal: zero stress. |