You never forget a VHF PA like that! A week in advance, reports were coming in about excellent DX conditions. But Murphy’s Law says that just when it’s most convenient, the conditions will end. The forecasted weather change had already hinted at this.
After my August outing from Kráľova hoľa, KN08bv, I headed back to Černecký vrch, JN88rs, in September. The alarm went off at 5:45 a.m. That’s because the road was under construction in about six sections before the summer, which caused significant delays, and it wasn’t possible to set up all the planned antennas.
The road was a surprise—work is currently underway on only two sections, and the new asphalt really makes a difference. Driving with a trailer full of antennas and masts isn’t exactly pleasant.
Antennas are best installed in the wind—and it was definitely blowing hard! I’m starting by raising a set of 4x 5-element DK7ZB Yagi antennas. I’m also tackling the second mast with two 8-element DK7ZB Yagi antennas. Thanks to the pulley system, hoisting them is a breeze. The upper antenna mount, however, is weaker, which makes things trickier. After all, these antennas are nearly 4.5 meters long, and their leverage is definitely noticeable.
A model airplane enthusiast stops by nearby, and a little later, a man with children flies a kite a bit further away. It took two hours to set up the entire rig.
But after connecting the USB devices to the PC, a problem arose! Windows couldn’t recognize the SDR receiver or other peripherals, such as the rotator interface and the antenna switch. Since the VHF PA was already starting, there wasn’t time to fix it. I connected just one antenna and started transmitting.
Point-score statistics by azimuth
Even the very first contacts show that everything is working perfectly. I4GHG comes in on the first call with a powerful signal. That’s 668 kilometers. I’m also finding OL1B. Mirek is a regular provider of the JO80 multiplier. A huge plus is that there’s no interference from the southeast. I actually have a direct line of sight to Žalostiná, where Draho, OM3CQF, is transmitting. With the preamplifier turned on and the antenna pointed toward that area, the signal is already detectable. To minimize interference with him, I try to stay on the edge of the band. After twenty minutes, I try a call, and YT5W (545 km), YU7ACO (505 km), and a series of Croatian stations such as 9A1N, 9A7D, 9A7KFF, 9A1VZD, 9A1DL, and 9A2YF to my log.
During a contact with YP2DX, I notice a misalignment in the rotator’s direction. This is easy to fix. A moment later, YO2BBT calls as well.
DXCC and Number of Stations
E70AA (569 km) opens the second hour, followed a few minutes later by E77OA (631 km). Through the KST chat, I manage to contact I3QJZ (578 km). Next, I4BME (666 km) calls in. I try steering the antenna more toward the west. Michael DB7MM/P calls in with a perfect signal. Although “only” 432 kilometers away, he’s a multiplier: JN59. Along with DO1NPF/P, other Czech stations from JN69 are calling: OK1RDO, OK1MHU, OK1XBF, and Paľo OK1CRM on the scheduled contact. From JO60, OK1KAD is also calling.
While scanning the band, I also find SN9W, and finally, JO90 is in the log as well. I wrap up the second hour with a contact with Draho OM3CQF.
I tried for a few minutes to make contact with Ivan OM3CGN in KN08, but I couldn’t hear him. However, OM8DD heard me, and the contact with him added this valuable locator.
A surprise was LZ2TDF, who contacted me via KST. The contact was made immediately, even though Todor was using only 50W and a 4-meter-long antenna. At KN13, a distance of 779 kilometers, that’s truly outstanding.
DXCC chart
Map of contacts
Daniel DM1DF became the 100th contact, and DL1RWO called right after him. A moment later, Peter OM6TX calls as well. In the end, there were 110 contacts across 32 locator squares, totaling 13,408 points. The last entries in the log were 9A1CRS and E76MD.
Comparison of the Number of Stations in Individual Locator Squares with OM6ABF
It was a challenging VHF PA, but truly memorable. Hopefully, other stations that also made nice contacts will remember it as well.