09/18/2009 | VE2BAP Oops! I did it again! I operated from FN45EB, on the same site, elevation 2800 ft. (See June 2009 soapbox). This time I spent the night on the mountain, so I could stay a longer time on the air.

I experienced no opening or any propagation condition, so I could evaluate the performance of this site on local signals. I have learned a lot from my June experience, and my setup was much better.

I entered in the "Single Operator Low Power" category. My scores:
50 MHz: 228 points (19 stations x 12 grids) /
144 MHz: 360 points (30 stations x 12 grids) /
432 MHz: 126 points (9 stations x 7 grids) /
Final score: 2077 points.


Equipment: Rig: ICOM IC706MKIIG /
50 MHz: 100W, horiz. dipole /
144 MHz: 50W, 6 el. horiz. yagi /
432 MHz: 35W, 11 el. horiz. yagi.

All those antennas installed on my Suzuki Aerio's hitch with a rotor (see photos). During quiet periods, I enjoyed HF with a vertical ground plane (25 foot) antenna, tuned with a Smartuner SGC SG-230.

During my stay on the mountain I met other hams:
VE2YDX Tom & VE2LAW Johanne.
VA2SS Jean-Francois & VA2AAE Mario, participating to HF SOTA contest.
VA2JOT Jacques & VA2SCH Daniel, who also took part to the ARRL VHF contest. It was nice exchanging tricks and discussing radio. VA2JOT's HB9CV 6m antenna inspired me, I must build one for 2010!

I QSL direct, via buro & eQSL.cc (address on www.qrz.com is ok).

Watch for VE2BAP FN45 in 2010 contests!

Daniel VE2BAP, Montreal (Pierrefonds), Quebec, Canada. ve2bap@amsat.org -- VE2BAP