--- /dev/null
+<head>
+ <title>CODE Rover Report - 2000-01 </title>
+</head>
+<body>
+<center><h1> January 2000 ARRL VHF Sweepstakes </h1></center>
+
+<h2> Bdale's Report </h2>
+
+For this contest, we ran a fairly limited operation. John had been out of
+town, Steve was out of town, and I needed to fly to California on business
+Sunday morning. That left us with just a few hours on Saturday to operate.
+
+<p>
+
+Our most significant hardware addition this time was a brand-new Directive
+Systems 1296 loop yagi, courtesy of my father-in-law, Mike W1BFN. He wanted
+a 1269 version for satellite operation, but ended up with one cut for the
+weak signal band. It ended up in my hands partly as a birthday present, and
+partly in exchange for some parts and time on my test equipment for a project
+Mike is working on that should show up in an AMSAT Journal article soonish.
+We've been very happy with the homebrew yagis John made using Kent Britain's
+design for what they are, but the looper has substantially more gain.
+
+<p>
+
+Saturday morning, John showed up pretty early, and we starting putting things
+in the Trooper. We decided to punt the 6m gear, since a band opening was
+unlikely and we've not had time to build a new mount for the antenna yet. It
+is also cut the setup time way down since it takes several boxes and a bunch
+of cables to get us on 6m currently. We also decided to punt the 2304 gear,
+since the system integration isn't quite done yet. That left us running all
+bands from 2m through 23cm.
+
+<p>
+
+We also decided not to test anything before
+leaving the house. We knew we had no chance of being competitive on score,
+and spending a bunch of time debugging problems that we could be spending on
+the air wasn't going to make us any happier! It turns out this was a good
+decision, as everything just worked...
+
+<p>
+
+We've had enough success carrying the loaded antenna mast on the Trooper while
+in motion that we set up that way again. It was cold enough that we pushed
+the Trooper back just far enough to stick the back end out the door, so that
+we got to spend most of our setup time out of the wind, in the garage. We
+put the mast together, and duct-taped it into postion on the Trooper, then
+hung the antennas on the mast while the mast was horizontal. That worked out
+really well. I fished all the cables in through the top of the driver's side
+rear window, and cut some more slits in one of our foam blocks so it would
+seal things up.
+
+<p>
+
+We actually managed to be on the road before the contest started. We were
+disappointed to find essentially no activity on FM on the drive out to our
+favorite spot in the SW corner of DM89 near Matheson. The weather was ok at
+first, cold and a little windy, but tolerable. We managed contacts on all
+of the bands we had except 33cm, where we just couldn't find anyone who was
+on with gear on that band all day... another disappointment.
+
+<p>
+
+Mid afternoon we figured we had worked everyone we were likely to work, and
+the weather was starting to get a little weird. Mixed drizzle and snow
+flurries, and the wind had picked up. We moved south into the
+NW corner of DM88, and set up in a new location, a little farther south than
+we've been before. At first, we thought we'd gotten out from under the storm,
+but it caught up with us before we'd finished setting up. John was stoic on
+the antennas despite what ended up being some nasty wind and precipitation
+that was somewhere on the line between sleet and snow.
+
+<p>
+
+We were in the turnout to a field, maybe half a mile south of a farmhouse.
+After we had been there a while, during a break in the weather, the fellow
+who owns the farm came driving down in his pickup to check us out. He was
+worried that we might "be from the IRS, listening to my computer". After
+we explained what we were up to, he got very friendly, and we talked about
+better places to try operating from nearby. One of the problems we've always
+had in DM88 is that there are power lines by the road that are fairly noisy.
+This guy pointed out a location a mile or two east of the road and a bit north
+of where we were that was accessible by vehicle, a bit higher, and far from
+power lines. After we made all the contacts we thought we'd make in DM88,
+we wandered over there to check the place out. He was right, it's a much
+better site, and we recorded the coordinates from the GPS so we can find it
+again for the June contest.
+
+<p>
+
+While we were in DM88, we made a couple of 23cm contacts, and it was very
+clear that the looper was a big win. In the past, we've been lucky to hear
+anyone at all on 23cm, and while I wouldn't call it conversation quality, we
+had no trouble making contacts into the Denver area this time.
+
+<p>
+
+As darkness fell, the temperature dropped still further, and the activity
+level seemed to be waning... so we packed it in and headed home. We tore
+things down quickly after getting back to my house, and left the cable bundle
+near the furnace to thaw... it was way too stiff to coil up!
+
+<p>
+
+All in all, we had a pretty good time, despite the modest number of contacts
+and the weather.
+
+<h2> John's Photos </h2>
+
+<ul>
+<li> Deep-cycle battery and 70cm amp <a href="out01.jpg"> in the back </a>
+ of the Trooper.
+<li> Stuffing <a href="out02.jpg"> cables on the roof</a>... neatness is
+ highly over-rated!
+<li> Bdale's wife Karen N1FED brought
+ <a href="out03.jpg"> future rover Robert </a>
+ out to inspect our work. He's a year old, and loves anything
+ with buttons and lights!
+<li> <a href="out04.jpg"> Back of the rigs. </a> Note the Kenwood SWR/power
+ sensor on the 222 transverter on the left. Very handy!
+<li> A view of the <a href="out05.jpg"> antennas </a> before we left.
+<li> A <a href="out06.jpg"> better view of the antennas </a>.
+<li> <a href="out07.jpg"> In DM89</a>. Note the clouds rolling in! The
+ antennas, from top down, are a 4-element Cushcraft on 2m, 8 elements
+ on 222 from Directive Systems, 10 elements on 902 homebrew, the 1296
+ loop yagi, and our 10-element Rutland Arrays 70cm antenna with preamp
+ on the mast.
+<li> <a href="out08.jpg"> John </a> fighting the wind big-time. It was serious
+ work keeping the antennas pointed this time around.
+<li> John, <a href="out09.jpg"> assuming the position </a> even away from the
+ mast. It was cold enough (note the snow on his jacket) that he had
+ to pause from time to time to warm his hands up, despite serious
+ gloves.
+<li> <a href="out10.jpg"> Back at it </a>, the weather kept getting worse.
+<li> <a href="out11.jpg"> Operating position </a>. The top two boxes are the
+ DEM transverter interface box and 33cm transverter. Below that is
+ John's HF rig as IF for 222 with transverter to the right, and on the
+ bottom is Bdale's 790 providing 2m, 70cm, and 23cm. Note the viewing
+ end of the power meter on the 222 transverter, we wish we had that for
+ every band. And, of course, it wouldn't be roving without duct tape,
+ Diet Pepsi, and evil snacks!
+<li> The folks in Denver we were talking to on the air were having a hard time
+ believing our weather reports. Consider this
+ <a href="out12.jpg"> proof </a> that it really was snowing where we
+ were!
+</ul>
+
+<h2> Our Score </h2>
+
+<pre>
+N3EUA CONTEST LOG FOR: ARRL JAN VHF
+===============================================================================
+Name of Contest: ARRL Jan VHF
+
+Call Used: N3EUA
+Call of Operator: N3EUA WD0FHG
+
+OPERATING LOCATION
+ Grid(s) Activated: DM89 DM88
+ Location Name: Eastern Colorado
+ ARRL Section: Colorado
+
+Entry Type: Rover
+===============================================================================
+ Valid
+ QSOs Pts/QSO QSO Pts Mult
+144 MHz 26 1 26 9
+222 MHz 8 2 16 5
+432 MHz 15 2 30 6
+1296 MHz 4 4 16 2
+
+Total
+All Bands 53 88 22
+
+GRIDS ACTIVATED 2 Rover Scoring Used
+
+N3EUA CLAIMED SCORE: 2112
+===============================================================================
+I have observed all competition rules as well as all regulations
+for Amateur Radio in my country. My report is correct and true
+to the best of my knowledge. I agree to be bound by the decisions
+of the Awards Committee.
+
+Bdale Garbee N3EUA WD0FHG 16.02.2000
+4390 Darr Circle
+Black Forest, CO 80908
+
+===============================================================================
+N3EUA CONTEST LOG FOLLOWS:
+
+column 1: frequency (MHz) column 6: complete exchange sent
+column 2: mode column 7: complete exchange received
+column 3: date (dd/mm/yy, UTC) column 8: indication of new multiplier '*'
+column 4: time (UTC) column 9: points claimed
+column 5: call of station worked
+
+note: Incomplete & Dupe QSO's in the log are listed with - 0 - points.
+
+
+N3EUA CONTEST LOG FOR: ARRL JAN VHF
+
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2015 N0NKG DM89 DM78 * 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2016 N0POH DM89 DM79 * 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2016 W0KVA DM89 DM79 1
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2020 N0UGY DM89 DM79 * 2
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2022 N0VSB DM89 DM79 2
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2023 N0POH DM89 DM79 2
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2023 W0KVA DM89 DM79 2
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2026 N0VSB DM89 DM79 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2027 N0KQY DM89 DM98 * 1
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2028 N0KQY DM89 DM98 * 2
+222 SSB 22/01/00 2030 N0KQY DM89 DM98 * 2
+1296 SSB 22/01/00 2034 N0KQY DM89 DM98 * 4
+222 SSB 22/01/00 2035 N0VSB DM89 DM79 * 2
+222 SSB 22/01/00 2043 W0ETT DM89 DM79 2
+1296 SSB 22/01/00 2044 N0VSB DM89 DM79 * 4
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2052 K0CS DM89 DM79 1
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2053 K0CS DM89 DM79 2
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2054 W0ETT DM89 DM79 2
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2055 KA0ULN/R DM89 DM89 * 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2057 W0ETT DM89 DM79 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2103 KK5IH DM89 DM95 * 1
+222 SSB 22/01/00 2105 KK5IH DM89 DM95 * 2
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2110 K0RI DM89 DM78 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2125 N0UGY DM89 DM79 1
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2126 KC0ERX DM89 DM79 2
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2131 KC0ERX DM89 DM79 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2139 KB0CY/R DM89 DM78 1
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2213 KA0ULN/R DM88 DN80 * 2
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2216 KB0CY/R DM88 DM78 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2217 N0KQY DM88 DM98 1
+222 SSB 22/01/00 2219 N0KQY DM88 DM98 2
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2220 N0KQY DM88 DM98 2
+1296 SSB 22/01/00 2222 N0KQY DM88 DM98 4
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2227 N0NKG DM88 DM78 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2227 N0VSB DM88 DM79 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2228 W0ETT DM88 DM79 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2229 N0POH DM88 DM79 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2232 KK5IH DM88 DM95 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2241 KA0ULN/R DM88 DN80 * 1
+222 SSB 22/01/00 2242 N0VSB DM88 DM79 2
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2243 N0VSB DM88 DM79 2
+1296 SSB 22/01/00 2243 N0VSB DM88 DM79 4
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2246 K0CS DM88 DM79 2
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2247 K0CS DM88 DM79 1
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2248 KC0COU DM88 DN70 * 2
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2249 KC0COU DM88 DN70 * 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2309 KB0QGT/R DM88 EN01 * 1
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2313 KB0QGT/R DM88 EN01 * 2
+222 SSB 22/01/00 2315 KB0QGT/R DM88 EN01 * 2
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2320 NOIPL DM88 DM78 1
+144 SSB 22/01/00 2322 N0KM DM88 DM67 * 1
+432 SSB 22/01/00 2323 NOIPL DM88 DM78 * 2
+222 SSB 22/01/00 2324 N0KM DM88 DM67 * 2
+</pre>
+
+<h2> Equipment </h2>
+
+On 2m, we ran the TS-790's 2m section through an inactive DEM TIB to a
+4-element Cushcraft yagi.
+
+<p>
+
+For 222, we ran John's IC-735 and DEM transverter, and his K1FO yagi.
+
+<p>
+
+For 70cm, we ran the TS-790, a Mirage amp making about 100 watts,
+and a Landwehr preamp mounted near my Rutland Arrays K1FO yagi.
+
+<p>
+
+On 33cm, we ran the TS-790's 2m section through a DEM TIB to a DEM
+transverter making about 10 watts into a homebrew Kent Britain-style yagi.
+
+<p>
+
+On 23cm, we ran the TS-790 making about 10 watts into a Directive Systems
+loop yagi.
+
+<p>
+
+Power was from a 27DC-form-factor deep cycle battery for everything,
+feedlines were a mix of low-loss RG-8'ish sized cables with mostly N
+connectors. We logged on paper, as usual.
+
+<hr>
+<address>
+<a href="http://www.gag.com/~bdale/">Bdale Garbee</A>,
+$Id: index.html,v 1.4 2000/02/16 05:02:18 bdale Exp $
+</address>
+</body>
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