This year, I was able to operate from our cabin in the mountains located between Loveland and Estes Park, Colorado at an elevation of 7000 feet.

The operating position was located on the front porch and did not provide a good place to string the 88 foot doublet. I could only get it up about 20 feet and near the cabin wall.

I used the 88 foot doublet for 15, 20, and 40 meters and my Force 12 Sigma 40XK vertical for 20 meters. The Force 12 antenna has been my only antenna for the 2004 and 2005 FYBO contests.

At 1400Z, my thermometer showed 19.1 degrees, but soon dropped to 18.9. Finally, it settled at 18.8 degrees, so my exchange temperature was given as 18 degrees and increased as the day went on.

The operating position included a K2 at 5 watts, a LogiKit CMOS-4 keyer with the exchanges programmed in, and a Bencher BY-1 paddle. The K2 was powered by a 17AH and 7AH battery. I think my 17 AH battery is getting tired, so I switched to the 7AH during the contest.

Logging was done by hand using a dupe sheet for each band. One sure gets spoiled by using logging programs. Tough to go back to hand logging.

Hot coffee was the order of the day.

This is the Force 12 Sigma 40XK vertical dipole antenna. I have used this antenna at home in my small backyard and as a portable antenna. It has always served me well. It will work 40 through 10 meters by either changing the length of the capacity hats or by adding loading coils to the center on both sides of the dipole. It is fed in the center using RG8X coax.

This picture shows a contrast of new technology and old.

This is the center of the 88 foot doublet. It is located near the cabin wall and only about 20 feet up in the center. It is probably about 30 feet above ground on the ends as the ground level falls off on both sides. It is fed with 450 ohm line, run through an Elecraft balun to the K2 with auto tuner.

Another view of the 88 foot doublet.

There are always some critters around when a ham sets up a portable station. These deer come around often looking for a handout. They are not tame and will scurry away if anyone makes a quick move. I don't think they go too far away from our place.

My final reported score is 301,312 points. This is calculated from 119 QSO points and 51 SPCs, using the portable, battery, and low temperature multipliers plus the 10K bonus for working NQ7RP.

Thanks again to all who put so much effort into orgrnizing this contest.

72, Dick, W0NTA

E-mail Dick Housden - W0NTA - w0nta@arrl.net