Well, once again, the best efforts (my own) went West, or in some wayward direction, anyhow. I was not able to post while on the road–either while down in Texas, working at NR5M, nor more recently, while up in MD/VA. Here’s a brief recap:
I went to Texas alone this trip. W2GD was heading to VP5, to ready the station there for some FRC friends, in classic multi-op fashion. I spent considerable time getting the “new” crank up tower installed, where it’s intended that we mount the new M2 2M EME array. I am resisting this rather strongly–the tower is simply too small for such an array, but George is adamant, since Mike Stahl suggests that’s the way to go. But with an H-frame support of 3-inch and 4-inch aluminum, and eight (8) 41-ft boom Yagis, it’s just too much moment up there in my humble opinion. But once that was out of the way, work shifted to getting the station ready for CQ WW Phone. I managed to get the needed simple repairs done all right, but the topmost Heliax connector for the new 80M beam apparently failed on Thursday, sometime after I left. They were able to convince someone to climb up and install a new Leoni connector, replacing the troublesome Andrew ones purchased on eBay. I was home only a few hours, then on the road to W3LPL. Did 15M this time out, as in days of old. K3LR and KC1XX topped the M-M pile this year, with 20M and 18M scores; we had 17M. Then N3KS asked if I could replace his rotator before the ARRL SS, and it only made sense to stay over and do the work, instead of trying to come back. Monday’s work got cancelled (don’t ask), and then Tuesday was just rain, rain, and more rain. On Wednesday, we decided (or I did), to press ahead regardless, and so I spent three hours atop Kam’s tower, swapping a 61-D for a larger 71-D Prosistel. Soaked by the end of the day, but successful.
Quick work trips to Annapolis and Warsaw, VA were successful, and then headed home. A speeding ticket in VA ruined the ride….
As did the dismal Yankee performance in Game ONE of the World Series (finally found it on Sirius).
Playing the usual game of catch up with myself once again.
stay tuned…
