How to Score Over 5,000 Points in VKV PA? A Practical Guide from A to Z. It starts with an alarm at 6:00 a.m. After loading the rest of my gear into the car—which wouldn’t fare well in the low nighttime temperatures—I set off shortly before 7:00 a.m. via Nové Mesto nad Váhom, Stará Turá, and Myjava to my usual field near the village of Brestovec. The trip takes about 50 minutes.
View to the south from JN88ST
It’s cold there, and there’s a light dusting of snow on the grass, but not much. Since the VHF PA begins at 9:00 a.m. after the switch to daylight saving time, I have a little over an hour to get everything ready.
Dočítate sa:
TIP: Quick antenna mast setup
The antenna rotator is connected to a swivel joint. The mast consists of two tubes joined by a coupler. The top tube has a bearing with four eyelets, to which the anchor lines are attached. The hex nuts used to secure the tubes to the rotator have been replaced with plastic-headed nuts.
There is a thin wire, approximately 6 meters long, at the base of the rotator. It serves as a measuring tool for the distances between the anchor stakes, which are placed in four directions at 90-degree intervals. Experience shows that with four mast anchors, the mast is easier to raise and stability is improved.
Since the anchor pegs are roughly at the correct distance, all you need to do is attach the anchors. The anchor in front of the mast (in the direction of lifting) passes through a carabiner on the peg and loops back under the horizontal mast. It is therefore longer than the other anchors. By pulling on it and pushing against the mast, I lift it.
Rope Tensioner
During the initial lift, the mast will not be perfectly vertical. I adjust it by changing the length of the individual anchors. These anchors have tensioners for the anchor cables. This allows me to quickly secure the mast in a vertical position. Then I tilt it back—it’s ready for the antenna.
Setting Up the Transmitting Station
Next comes the assembly of the H-frame and the installation of four 5-element DK7ZB Yagi antennas. This more labor-intensive part is sped up by the square-profile construction, which makes joining the pieces easier. An electric screwdriver also helps.
Kenwood TS-2000 with an SDR panadapter in N1MM
A board is suspended from the headrests. It serves as a table holding the rotator, laptop, microphone, and, of course, the radio. The power supply and extension cord reel are located in the front. Under my feet is a foot switch and, during the colder months, a small electric heater (400W).
November VHF PA
I start a few minutes late. There aren’t many signals, and they’re weak. A few test contacts confirm that this won’t be a great session. So I try a call sign, and surprisingly, there are plenty of callers. But they’re all nearby stations.
A quick sked with 9A3SM goes by fast. Matej and I, along with a few others, are making these quick skeds. The number of contacts is growing; after the first hour, there are over 40, but multipliers are desperately lacking.
On ON4KST, stations working meteor scatter are mixed in with those making conventional contacts.
The second hour isn’t as productive in terms of contacts, but I’m collecting multipliers, such as HA9MDN from JN97, YT1WP as the first station from KN04, YU7ACO from KN05, and SP6KEP from JO90.
I start the third hour with a multiplier from JN76, thanks to OE6PBD. I’m surprised by OK1AME from JN69, who answers my call, and later I also find OE1GDA/P from JN77. The last contact is with Slávko, OK2SLC. It’s my 90th contact.
Summary
I have 301 points and 17 multipliers, which totals 5,117 points. However, several contacts were unsuccessful (HA4BF, YO2BBT, YO5DND, YO5AVN, and DK0A). I didn’t manage a single contact to Germany or Italy. The average distance per contact is under 170 kilometers.
Map of VHF PA contacts, November 2022
Packing always goes faster. In less than an hour, everything is loaded up and I’m heading back. Once again, I heard and greeted friends on the air. Let’s hope we hear from each other next time, too!