The temperature inversion looks like this, that in the morning in Myjava -9°C and on Černecki hill -5.5°C. Such layering has a beneficial effect on the propagation of the VHF signal. But at the same time persistent rains and frost caused, that the field was frozen so, that I wrestled with anchor pins. I made a hole under the rotator with the first pin (asi 15cm) and then I pulled him out more 15 minutes. Finally, I cut the clay under the rotator with an ax in the shape of a plate with a rotator. I just put it in there. And he started the match with the other four pegs.
You will read:
HINT: various anchor pins
I use four types of anchor pins. They came in equipment according to the possibilities of acquisition, their production and use needs.
Anchor pins from screws
The oldest are these pins made of screws, which were found in old stocks. A chain eye was welded to the screw:
Their advantage is the header, length and weight, but the chain link is a bit small. If old stock is used, so the price can be as well 0 €.
Threaded rod anchor pins
It arose as a need for shorter pins, which can be carried in a backpack. Production is very easy and fast. I cut the threaded rod into sections. The head consists of a pair of nuts, under which there is a small carabiner and a bottom nut.
The advantage is the simplicity of construction and good fixation in the ground (apparently given by the threads). I was worried about possible damage to the carabiner during hammering, but so far I haven't had a problem with it. The disadvantage is, that clay remains on the pegs after being pulled out. The price of one pin is approx. 3 €.
Anchor pins from accessories RDM-12
Massive, coarse pins, which I use often, but I only have two pieces and therefore I have to combine them with other pins. They are well hammered in and pulled out. The exception was al frozen soil, where killing with an ax into the frozen ground was not enough and the stake did not want to go into the ground. Thinner pins were more suitable here. I cannot tell the price of these pins, because they were part of it mast RDM-12.
Anchor pins from T profile
I wanted the T profile more than the L profile in the offer of dense material. The drawing explains the reasons for anchoring, another reason is hammering, where I hit a larger area (T has a larger area than L):
I cut the purchased T profile with an angle grinder to the required lengths. The tip of the pin is also cut into an arrow shape. A diameter hole is drilled in the upper part 12 mm on the carabiner. The hole is not at the end of the pin, because I was afraid, that the pin material will deform when hammered.
Pins from the T profile are excellent. My set is designed for a higher mast, which corresponds to the dimensions and weight. The price of the material for one such anchor pin is approx. 10 €.
Beginning of the January VKV PA
Due to the delay with the rotator and anchor pins during construction 4×5-element DK7ZB yagi antennas I'm starting to prepare the workplace 10 minutes before VKV PA. It also takes a while. I usually also use SpaceDesk. It's an app, which allows you to make a second monitor, e.g. from the phone. I have a window with PSTRotator-om and map of made locators. The application reported, that the license has expired, but directly in it she claimed the opposite. PSTrotator refused to cooperate with PC for the final. Of course, even that will be delayed, so I missed the start of the January VKV PA.
Improved VHF propagation conditions
After ten minutes, it lifted my mood a bit I4GHG, whom I found giving a challenge and took me to the first call. Conditions really better, I immediately added JO60 and JN69 in perfect strength.
But then I made a mistake, I tried to give a challenge towards the east. Since I come from this part of Slovakia, so i know, that it is more difficult to make connections on VKV and I try to go there more. There was one Romanian station at the KST hut at that time (900 km). LZ2ZY He did not reply to me even this time on the KST chat (I have heard him before). So I spent a lot of time giving challenges to the east, of which only KN09 benefits (TNX OM8OM).
Where are the stations?
KST chat didn't help that much this time. For example, out of a dozen Italian stations, two wrote back and both are in the log, ODX IU4FNO z JN54IN 696 km. There were also so many German stations, two wrote back. I made one.
But he was surprised by the higher number of connections in his own locator square JN88 (20x) and also JN98 (11x).
Noise from the southeast is also a problem in the given location, which makes reception difficult for everyone in that location (OM2Y, OM3CQF to me too). We still don't know its origin and sometimes it is, other times not.
The LNA also went on strike during the contest (turned off). Probably some kind of power cable or switch. A couple of runners also visited me during VKV PA, a man with his son, with which he demonstrated what such signals sound like. It's at the end 97 contacts, which they give 326 points, what with 22 with locator squares gives 7172 points.
So it wasn't all glory. At least the packaging was quite nice, sunshine, light wind. Well, hopefully it will be better in a month!
