A temperature inversion means that in the morning, it was -9°C in Myjava and -5.5°C on Černecký Hill. This type of temperature layering has a positive effect on VHF signal propagation. But at the same time, persistent rain and freezing temperatures caused the field to freeze so solid that I struggled with the anchor stakes. With the first peg, I dug a hole under the rotator (about 15 cm deep) and then spent another 15 minutes pulling it out. Finally, I chiseled out a slab of clay beneath the rotator with an axe, shaped to fit the rotator. I simply placed it there. Then I set about wrestling with the other four stakes.
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TIP: Different types of anchor pegs
I use four types of anchor pegs. I added them to my gear based on availability, how they were made, and my specific needs.
Anchor pegs for the antenna mast
Anchor pegs made from screws
The oldest of these are the anchor pegs made from screws, which I found in my old stash. A chain eye was welded onto the screw:
Anchor pin made from a screw
Their advantages include the head, length, and weight, but the chain eye is a bit small. If old stock is used, the price can even be 0 €.
Anchor pins made from a threaded rod
This design arose from the need for shorter bolts that can be carried in a backpack. Production is very easy and quick. I cut the threaded rod into sections. The head consists of a pair of nuts, with a small carabiner underneath and a bottom nut.
Anchor peg made from a threaded rod
The advantage is the simplicity of construction and good stability in the ground (likely due to the threads). I was worried about possible damage to the carabiner while hammering it in, but so far I haven’t had any problems with that. The disadvantage is that soil remains on the pegs after they’re pulled out. The price of one peg is approx. 3 €.
Anchor pegs from the RDM-12 accessory set
These are solid, thick pegs that I use often, but I only have two of them, so I have to combine them with other pegs. They’re easy to hammer in and pull out. The exception was frozen ground, where striking the peg with an axe wasn’t enough, and the peg wouldn’t go into the ground. Thinner pegs were more suitable in this case. I can’t say how much these stakes cost because they were included with the RDM-12 mast.
Anchor stake from the RDM-12 antenna mast accessories
Anchor stakes made from T-profile
I preferred the T-profile to the L-profile in the selection of structural steel. The diagram explains the reasons for anchoring; another reason is hammering, where I strike a larger surface area (the T has a larger surface area than the L):
Advantages of a T-profile anchor peg
I cut the purchased T-profile to the required lengths using an angle grinder. The tip of the peg is also cut into an arrow shape. A 12-mm-diameter hole for a carabiner is drilled in the upper part. The hole isn’t all the way at the end of the peg because I was concerned that the peg’s material would deform during hammering.
T-Profile Anchor Peg
T-profile pegs are excellent. My set is designed for a taller mast, which is reflected in both the dimensions and weight. The material cost for one such anchor peg is approximately €10.
Start of the January VHF PA
Due to delays with the rotator and anchor pegs while building the 4×5-element DK7ZB Yagi antennas, I don’t start setting up my workstation until 10 minutes before the VHF PA. Even that takes a while. I usually use SpaceDesk as well. It’s an app that lets you turn your phone, for example, into a second monitor. I keep a window open there with PSTRotator and a map of the locators I’ve made. The app reported that the license had expired, but within the app itself, it claimed the opposite. In the end, PSTRotator refused to work with the PC. Of course, that caused a delay as well, so I missed the start of the January VHF PA.
Improved VHF propagation conditions
After ten minutes, I4GHG cheered me up a bit; I found him calling and he answered me on the first call. The conditions were indeed better, and I immediately added JO60 and JN69 with perfect signal strength.
But then I made a mistake—I tried calling eastward. Since I’m from this part of Slovakia, I know it’s harder to make VHF contacts there, so I try to focus my efforts in that direction. At the KST cabin at that time, there was one Romanian station (900 km away). LZ2ZY didn’t reply to me at the KST hut this time either (I’ve heard him before). So I spent a lot of time calling eastward, which only resulted in a KN09 (TNX OM8OM).
Where are the stations?
Longest VHF PA contacts, January 2024
The KST chat wasn’t much help this time. For example, out of a dozen Italian stations, two replied, and both are in the log; the ODX was IU4FNO from JN54IN at 696 km. There were also just as many German stations—two replied. I made one.
However, I was surprised by the higher number of contacts in my own locator square, JN88 (20x), as well as JN98 (11x).
Another problem in this area is noise from the southeast, which makes reception difficult for everyone in this area (OM2Y, OM3CQF, and me). We don’t yet know its source, and sometimes it’s there, other times it isn’t.
Directional map based on VKV PA points, January 2024
During the contest, the LNA also malfunctioned (it kept turning off). Apparently, it was a power cable or a switch. During the VHF PA, I was also visited by a pair of joggers—a man and his son—to whom he demonstrated what the signals sound like. In the end, I made 97 contacts, which yielded 326 points; combined with 22 locator squares, that totals 7,172 points.
Map of VHF PA Locator Squares, January 2024
So it wasn’t exactly a grand success. At least the weather was quite pleasant—sunny with a light breeze. Hopefully it’ll be better in a month!
