Again as many years we participated in the RTTY contest.
This year again in the Multi-Two category.
The operators were: Alex – PA1AW, Kees – PA3BWD, Ronald PA3EWP, Arnold – PB0AIC, Florian PB8DX and Richard PD4RD.
Friday morning we arrived at the location to prepare the station. The main goal was to repair the 20 meter beam. There was a problem with the gamma match. We rented a platform so didn’t had to lower and tilt the antenna completely. After a few hours this job was done and the antenna a performed as usually.
In the meantime we assembled the 4 square for 40 meters and a second beam for 20 meters. All coax cables were connected.
At the end of the afternoon we installed the equipment for the final test.
First we noticed that the 15m was not turning anymore, the antenna was fixed direction to S/W. After some investigation we needed an alternative for this beam, we made a vertical antenna. (it’s always better than no antenna at all).
But Murphy was still watching us. The amplifier at station 2 stopped working during warm-up, so one of the operators had to go home to collect his amplifier.
After making the final schedule, some operators went home to sleep before their shift started. We started the contest at 02.00 local time.
They started on 40 and 80 meters. Propagation was not so good but we were satisfied.
Everything worked fine at that time, we only noticed that we had less power on station 2 as usually.
The temporary receiving antenna on 80 meters worked very well.
The next 12 hours we had no problem at all, everything works fine.
But Saturday afternoon Murphy visited again. The rotor on 20 meters was not working any more.
The rotor clock was bloated and it was not posible to repair this onsite. Luckily Arnold was there and he came with an alternative that worked. Only we had no read-out on the clock, we had to go outside to see the position of the antenna.
Saturday evening Richard gave us a great barbeque, which was appreciated by all operators.
Till the end of the contest we had no setbacks anymore, it seems Murphy went away.
It was not our best score, but we are satisfied with the results:
At the end of the contest we dis-assemble the complete station again in less than 2 hours and we were ready to go home for a few hours’ sleep. Some of us has to go to work again next morning.
See you in the next contest.
