4-element Yagi for 15m
The CQ WXP contest has relatively favorable rules for stations in Central Europe—especially on the lower bands, it allows you to work a variety of prefixes from neighboring countries. In addition, the OM0A call sign is a necessary multiplier for many.
Production of a new mast for the 15m Yagi began back in the fall. We had long discussed the implementation of a new antenna for this band, because erecting a large antenna before the contest and dismantling it afterward is physically demanding and requires a lot of manpower. Out of several alternatives, I pushed for the 4-element OK1RI Yagi, which Ondro OK1CDJ described some time ago. The antenna generously donated by Oliver MW0JRX, now VK8DX, served as the basis for this project. I acquired the rotator secondhand—an older CDE 44 model.
Since the Russian DX Contest takes place the week before WPX, I decided to participate and test out some of the antennas. I didn’t know at the time that preparing the antennas would “knock me out” just in time for the contest. In excellent weather in the Tatras, I set up a 4-element G0KSC Yagi for 10m and a vertical for 40m. I participated in the Russian DX Contest itself just out of curiosity, and on Monday I had no choice but to go see a doctor.
During the week, I finished the mast base and got the rest of the equipment ready, even though I was feeling very unwell. Since it looked like the number of contest entrants would be lower than expected, I reached out to a few friends asking for help.
On Thursday, shortly after noon, Igor OM6CI arrived with several new pieces of equipment, including a new power amplifier. Together, we set up an Inverted-L antenna on 160m and assembled a new Yagi on 15m. That evening, Števo OM7KW arrived, so we quickly put an inverted V antenna on the air for 80m and ran the coaxial cable. By then it had gotten dark, so we left the antenna fine-tuning for Friday.
Friday morning brought an early wake-up call; a new mast was being prepared for hoisting, and the participant who had traveled the farthest, Pavel OK1PMA, arrived. Peťo OM6PR arrived and realized he had forgotten the necessary cable. A phone call to Janko OM8LA solved this serious problem, and soon after, we were able to welcome Janko in person.
Repair of the mount on the 7/14 MHz Yagi
Rado OM0AMR and Igor OM6CI, with a 4-element 10-meter Yagi and a 40-meter vertical antenna behind them
We weren’t able to raise the mast on the first try. After removing one section, it worked. It’s better to be QRV with a shorter mast than to be QRT. Števo and Pavol set up the beverage antenna. Dano OM4AQP arrived, and in the afternoon we got to work on the toughest job—repairing the antenna mount for the 40/20m band. It went pretty well; after all, we’d already practiced this back in the fall, HI.
When almost everything was finished, Rado OM0AMR arrived. We finished setting up the workstations, and for the first time, we could say that everything was ready.
Just before the contest, I ran out to get a fan because the new PA was giving off a burnt smell. It had been gathering dust for a year, but we didn’t want to risk it breaking down. Shortly after the start of the contest, RUN2 reported (i.e., woke me up) that the computer was crashing. Finding a solution took a while, but after bringing in a different keyboard and mouse and moving the PC, the problem was resolved and it held up until the end.
Transmitting was more difficult for me; I still wasn’t feeling 100%. The equipment worked well; the PA had settled down. Contacts were coming in; it was clear that solar activity was better than a year ago, but the 10-meter band was still waiting for a better opening. From time to time, we managed to make a few contacts on this band as well, but it was more like DXing than contesting.
Staff rotations at the workstations are irregular, but nobody really minds. We’re beating last year’s result, and I’m revising my estimate of the final result upward. Compared to Saturday, conditions are better on both 15 m and 10 m. As the end of the contest approaches, another milestone is in sight—1,000 QSOs on 40 m. Although we didn’t quite reach it, it didn’t matter at all.
Thank you to everyone for an excellent contest, which allowed us to raise the bar to 6.6 million points and 2,856 QSOs. Another story about the contest was written by Števo OM7KW and can be found at http://om7kw.cq.sk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=127&Itemid=1
