We started
loading the VW van as always on Friday around 3pm. This time the contest
weather had arrived already : it was raining cats and dogs. The forecast was
promising a slight improvement on Saturday evening.
On Saturday 8.15am we started the trip direction "Schneekopf" and after 1
hour we arrived. It was raining and the temperature was abt. +7deg. We were
waiting for an improvement and were waiting and waiting.
Nevertheless we had to setup the equipment in time! The plan was 3 masts for
23cm + 13/6cm + 9/3cm. Placing the van between the masts so that we could
use the dismounted left tail-light for threading the cables through the car
body.
But first of all Gerhard, DL2ASI, and Manfred, DK5FA, were setting up the
old Russian kitchen tent. Such a base camp is absolutely necessary under
these weather conditions.
You may know the oldest contest rule "The rains starts with the contest."
but this time we had to modify a little bit :
"The rain had started before
the contest (...and stayed until the end)"
Regardless of the
weather we finished the setup at 3pm and could justify our antennas at
leisure. After the beginning of the contest the 10/24/47GHz equipment was
mounted on a tripod an we were rushing through our first 24GHz - QSO with
DL5CN/p (131km) in pouring rain. It was raining nonstop until 12pm and with
short breaks until the morning. Then the rain was substituted by heavy fog
substituted by rain until 1pm. Afternoon the last 2 contest hours promised
weather improvement gave us the chance for some nice tropo DX. After the
contest we could collect our things with bright sunshine without getting
wet.
All in
all, using our proven equipment, we achieved the best June contest result
ever. The only drop of bitterness : one short rainscatter above Prague on
Sunday afternoon pushing down the results on 3cm. What is left is a
new top score on 6cm, nice tropo DX on 3cm (OM3LQ, 535km) and 3x Italy on
23cm.
Cuagn in
July contest!
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