06/14/2006 | KM5PO Jeepers creepers, Es at the start and Es at the finish! What a contest!

This was our second year as a multi-limited entry at KM5PO, EM12ko, Arlington, Texas with returning first year operators Lee Kemp, N5TIF and Steve Plock, KL7IZW. Joining us for the first time on the six meter mic was Eric Silverthorn, NM5M and Alan Benoit, WQ5W. It was Alan that hit the high QSO rate at one point on Saturday early evening with 117 Qs per hour! On the two meter and up mic we had a new voice with Don Simonton, K5LOW. Don put in many hours beating the bushes on 144, 222, and 432.

For the wee hours of the morning, two very experienced digital operators gave us their time. Bruce Brackin, N5SIX (of RockMobile fame) and Brad Fuller, WQ5S kept the airwaves humming all night long with FSK441A and even completed one EME contact with Joel, KG6DX in Guam.

While general tropo conditions seemed only average, the big improvements we made this year on 6 meters with a new 50 tower, 6M7JHV, and 3CX800 amp enabled contacts virtually all through the contest weekend.

For me, its always great to hear the bands so alive with SSB, CW, and digital signals since this is proof once again that our hobby is well and people are out there having fun.

See you all next year for the grand daddy of them all- the June VHF QSO Party !

Jim -- KM5PO