KE3HT's report
Yes I survived! Saturday was the pits. Nothing worked on any band like
it normally does. I almost decided not to get out of bed on Sunday
morning. I really mean that. I went to bed at 1am and the alarm went
off at 5am. I almost decided not to get up!
Saturday I did work K1TEO(FN31) from FN10 up to 3ghz but his signals
were not strong. 222 and 432 were fading in and out. Sometimes
disappearing! All three of my radio chains (432 is one chain, 222 is
another and Microwaves the third) were all misbehaving. I could see one
or even two being dead but the three had nothing in common except +12v.
W2SZ had some problems but even 2ghz was very very weak. I did work
them on 5ghz which surprised me and that was stronger than 2ghz. Missed
them on 903 and 1.2 but K1TEO was weak on 903 as well so I thought I
had a 903 problem. FN00 was worse than usual. I could not hear anyone
anywhere? Where did my beacons go? Everything was strange. Like the
twilight zone! I checked and rechecked my transmit power but I did not
bring anything to check receive this time. I was so sure I blew up my
432 amp/pre-amp that I pulled it out. K1TEO said he heard me better but
then could not hear me at all a second time! Phil, K3TUF, was also in
FN10 and we tried to have some fun. Only 100 miles away he should have
been solid even with trees in the way. 222 was weak and 432 was better
but he sounded like he was in Europe! Tried K3TUF from FN00 and FN01 as
well. I could hear him sometimes then he was gone!?
Sunday turned out to be much better. We had a uwave enhancement at 7:30
in the morning. Made my 250+/- mile contact with W2SZ on 5ghz PHONE! I
did not have a mike connected to the uwave IF rig at the time. After
the sched was over W2SZ was sending me something. I was asking myself
why is he sending all those dits? “SSB SSB”. What does that mean? I was
totally confused because I was done with the contact and already
getting the feed to start uwaves with K1TEO and at the same time
working K1WHS on 432 CW. I thought maybe W2SZ wanted a sig report or I
forgot my grid.
Maybe I was miss reading the cw (not uncommon for me)? Then all of a
sudden I heard the familiar warble of ssb off freq. I switched to SSB
and heard him as clear as a bell! Yes -5GHZ SSB at 250 Miles!- I
also discovered I am not good at doing CW on two bands at the same
time, I almost lost my K1WHS contact. :-)
I had to hustle on Sunday. So many new noises on 432 in the morning. I
did work a few new ones but what made me realize that my 432 was not
dead was working K1WHS! Yep, that’s a 432 record for me. Maine to North
central PA on 432! I worked W3GPY from FN20 on 432 phone! Things
like that I do not normally see from FN11. I literally threw my 432
mike to the front of the van so I could finish up my microwave scheds.
Temptation was too great to do both and I am not good at that! Wish I
had a co-pilot. I almost had one. When he saw my van he chickened out.
Maybe his wife thought this was dangerous, I duno.
GREAT WX both days. I can't remember the last time I did not need to
run my air conditioner full blast in the heat and rain normally
associated with mountain tops. Temps in the 70's, blue skies and light
winds. Perfect for my dish.
I did break my personal score record but not by much. It was Sunday
that did it, Saturday was the pits.
I want to welcome K3TUF to my round up! I look forward to doing more
with him. Many of my sites are rounding out to be good sites to the
north and east and Phil is to my east. FN10, FN00, FN01?, FN11, FN02
all look like doable ones for him. FN12 has a solid line of trees and
mountain in the way.
N2PA was not heard nor was W3SO. Both said they would be active.
Although my scheds were only with W2SZ and K1TEO I was hoping to get
those easy locals along my way. No such luck.
Pictures coming after I get done with all the other tasks I need to
make my life normal again.
Tim
KE3HT/r