Recent VHF Accomplishments
of SMC Members
Pete, K9PW, supplied the following picture.
It is out of chronological sequence, being from one of his national
records, circa late 1990's, but it's such a great picture, I wanted
to include it in this Activities section of the VHF web-page.
July, 2004 - An historic E-skip occurred
over the Fourth of July weekend, with numerous operators from throughout
the SMC area working into Europe on 6 Meters. Good conditions on 6 continued
into Monday, July 5 and Tuesday, July 6. Towards the early evening of July 6,
The Es extended to 2 meters and even 222. Dozens of grids in the North East
were worked on 2 meters, and at least one station, K2DRH, made three contacts
on 222 into the NE. The Es opening on the 6th is now being regarded as the most
widespread skip on 222 ever known to have occurred, with stations through the
East coast, mid-Atlantic states, part of the South, and throughout much of the
Midwest working each other for between 1 to 2 hours.
June, 2004 - Over 23 SMC members participated
in the June VHF QSO Party, with huge scores coming from several entrants,
including K9NS, K2DRH, WB9Z, N2BJ, and WO9S. Support came from at least
three rovers, K9ILT, K0PG, and K9IJ, and numerous individual SO's,
Multi-limited's, and QRP stations.
January, 2004 - A strong showing of support
from 21 SMC members in the January VHF SS propelled the club to a 5th
place finish in the medium club category. Two participants, Bob,
K2DRH, and Barry, N2BJ set Central Division records in their
respective classes, and Bob won the National Title for SOLP, as
well. SMC members held Central Division leader positions in all
six categories, and two Section Leader spots in Indiana.
Fall, 2003 --- a huge solar flare
hit the earth on October 28 and 29, 2003, and later in
November as well, and all three flares generated intense
aurora activity. Several
SMC members worked the aurora events on 6 & 2, and
even worked into Hawaii and other DX lands on 6 meters E-skip.
September, 2003 --- Several SMC
members ran in the September VHF QSO Party, despite poor
weather, no aurora activity, and dismal 6 meter and upper band
conditions. Leading
scores for the Central Division were made by SMC members in
the Multi-U, SOLP, SOHP, and QRP Portable categories.
July, 2003 --- Pat Sullivan,
K9ILT, placed 2nd in the nation in the rover class
in the 2003 CQ WW VHF Contest.
July, 2003 --- Long-time HF
contester Chuck Schneebeli, KI9A, worked over 170 grids on 6
meters in his first 6 meter summer E-skip season.
Chuck used a G5RV tuned for 6 meters for many of his
contacts!
June, 2003 --- 24 SMC members
participated in the June VHF QSO party, producing over 1.9
million points, and finishing 2nd in the medium
club competition. Bob, K2DRH, won another national title
in the SOLP, and Multi-Limited station K9NS also won 1st
place national honors (as well as setting a division record).
Several other SMC members finished at or near the top
of their classes in the Central Division.
January,
2003 --- Three Central Division records were set by SMC
members in the January VHF Sweepstakes, and Bob, K2DRH, won
the national title in SOLP for the third year in a row.
Pat and Tim
Sullivan, K0PG and K9ILT, on their June rover journey.
The impressive antenna array of Bob, K2DRH.
No wonder he wins national titles in the SOLP!
January,
2003 --- The SMC finished 5th in the medium club
category, and several SMC Members operating in the January VHF
SS put in award winning scores.
Three members broke Central Division Records, and
several more placed at or near the top national spots.
Bob Striegl, K2DRH, won the national title in the SOLP
for the third consecutive year, setting a division record for
good measure. Kevin Kaufhold, W9GKA, set a division record in
the QRP Portable category and placed 2nd in the
nation. Mark Thomas, N9UM, and John Rice, K9IJ, set a rover division
record and placed 4th nationally among the rovers.
Phil Hejtmanek, KF9US, finished 7th in the
nation as a rover. Jerry
Rosalius, WB9Z, placed 8th nationally in the SOHP.
Mark, N9UM, and John, K9IJ set a Central Division
Record in the 2003 January VHF SS with this small rover
set-up.
Phil. KF9US, and Wendel,
N9REP, out and about in their rover mobile in the January VHF
SS. Look at
all the PVC!
(Editor’s
note: the above
pictures have been taken from the ARRL web-site, and are
located in the soapbox sections of each contest results).
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