SEPTEMBER VHF CONTEST 2024
 UNLIMITED ROVER CATEGORY





OPERATORS

N2SLN





ANTENNA SYSTEM





RADIO EQUIPMENT

50:
    driver side Icom IC-7000
    TE Systems 0552G amplifier at 200w
    1500-watt low pass filter

144:
    passenger side Icom IC-7000
    external 15 dB preamp
    Telewave bandpass/bandreject cavity filter
    TE Systems 1452G amplifier at 200w

222:
    driver side Icom IC-7000 at 28 MHz
    222-28HP Downeast Microwave 222 transverter
    external 24 dB preamp
    DCI bandpass filter
    TE Systems 2252G amplifier at 225w

432:
    passenger side Icom IC-7000
    Telewave bandpass cavity filter
    TE Systems 4410G amplifier at 60w plus built-in preamp







DESCRIPTION

The days before the contest were spent watching the tropo forecast as well as wx forecasts for 4 locations. The wx forecast was perfect, and the tropo forecast did finally show moderate tropo for a September contest. I needed lots of vacation time earlier in the year for helping a family member after surgery, so I decided not to take my usual 2 days off after the contest for recovery. The plan was to cut short the contest by not operating until the end so that I could go to work Monday without being too tired. So it was off to Packrat territory to start the contest. I arrived at my spot in FN20 and had a great time with the good QSO count as predicted. This would end up being my second best grid activation which included 8 all-band runs--something I haven't seen for about a decade. I stayed here 3 hours and began an overall northward movement toward home, stopping in northeast FN10 next. The idea was to work at least one contact on the bands for which I have permanent antennas mounted on the roof (6m/2m/222), saving the time of setting up the bigger antennas. The 6m loop was giving me problems (which I have seen before) where it is too close to the metal roof of the van even after I extend it to full height, so I opted to just try calling CQ on 2m. No takers, but only a half hour wasted. The next goal was to do the same thing in FN21 further north. I was nearing the end of my half hour there and was just about to head home when AA2SD/R saved the day by finding me when he was in FN10. We easily worked on 2m and 222 so now I have another activated grid with less work than usual.

Sunday morning I left home early enough to get to my FN23 location and get in on the moderate tropo and morning enhancement that was occuring on the upper bands. What I did not realize was that 6m troposcatter signals were also in terrific shape, thanks to the high pressure system centered over New England. Stations like VE3ZV EN92 and K1KG FN42 were just as loud on 6m as they were on the bands that have more than twice the antenna gain. The highlight was being able to work a QRP station on Long Island on 6m and 2m at 207 miles / 333 km. I had a contact with AA2SD/R from here which ended up being my only contact with FN11 for the entire weekend. This was my best grid activation with 58 QSOs.

I made a quick decision to delay my departure a bit and then also stop for lunch which I don't normally do. The idea was to delay my arrival in FN22 so that K2QO/R could use the hilltop first. I also shortened my time in FN22 in order to stay on schedule. Highlights here were finding FN13 for the first time this weekend, and not missing any bands while working W2SZ. I got 15 QSOs for an hour of operating.

The final goal was to activate FN12 and leave by 8:00 PM so that I could get home at a decent hour and get some good sleep. I got about 2 hours of operating time and found FN03 on all 4 bands thanks to VE3MIS. I also ran into KA2FWN/R who was coming back from a trip, and lucky for me, he had brought 6m/2m/432 in his vehicle. I worked him on all 3 of his bands when he was in FN23, and again a half hour later when he was in FN22. He is the guy who designs the 6m antennas at W2SZ.

With all the restrictions on my plans this year, I knew the score would be low, and it was the lowest September score since 2012. The QSO count was down, particularly on 222/432. In all likelihood I will be able to devote more time to next year's contest. Two meters provided the most QSOs, but 432 provided the most QSO points. No real DX was worked in this year's event, in that there were no 400+ milers. The only station to work me on all 4 bands in all of the grid activations where I set up the big antennas was W2RME FN22.







POINTS SUMMARY 


Band     QSOs    QSO pts.    Mults.
------------------------------------------------
50        45        45        17
144       48        48        19
222       26        52        14
432       31        62        14
------------------------------------------------
TOTALS   150       207        64
                              +5 grids activated
                              69


       --- Claimed score = 14,283 ---





atmospheric pressure map 15 September 2024