DM7A - March 2007 Results and Pictures
DM7A - QTH Wasserkuppe, JO40XL, 950m ASL
Results by bands
| Band | QSOs | Grid | DXCC | Score | ODX | Equipment | Place | Pts. lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2m | 417 | - | - | 97190 | IK0ISD/6 - 870km | 2*7el DK7ZB - 500W | 11. | 3003 |
| 70cm | 305 | - | - | 75673 | 9A3B - 826km | 2*21el FT - 500W | 1. | 1375 |
| 23cm | 90 | - | - | 22488 | I4LCK/4 - 712km | 1.4m dish - 120W | 3. | 881 |
| 13cm | 44 | - | - | 11293 | OK2KJT - 591km | 1m dish - 60W | 2. | 408 |
| 9cm | 21 | - | - | 5373 | S57C - 630km | 1m dish - 20W | 1. | 204 |
| 6cm | 13 | - | - | 3083 | OE5VRL/5 - 387km | 60cm dish - 5W | 1. | 369 |
| 3cm | 26 | - | - | 5546 | OE5VRL/5 - 387km | 60cm dish - 5W | 1. | 0 |
| 24GHz | 2 | 1 | 1 | 28 | DL0STO - 14km | 60cm dish - 0.2W | 3. | 0 |
OPs
DG2DWL, DG3UH, DH1FM, DH5FS, DJ1YFK, DJ5AM, DL2UX, DL3JAN, DM1KL (Team picture)
Comments
Thanks to Steffen, DJ5AM of DL0STO, we had the opportunity to work this contest from the Wasserkuppe mountain (950m ASL, see Wikipedia entry) in central Germany, JO40XL. The special feature of this location is a radome, belonging to a former military installation, which offered enough space to put up the antennas for 70cm and all higher bands inside of it - protected from wind and rain. A perfect location for a March contest, where we usually have to fight with a lot of snow on our Hirtstein/JO60OM-location.
The pictures below should give you an impression of the situation at the location. The antennas were located in the radome, the stations in a room right below it. Only the 2m-station was outside, to avoid interference to the other bands.
The location in central Germany turned out to be great for 70cm, but we had severe troubles on 23cm with local noise and a lack of QSO partners for 24GHz and 47GHz in JO40 turned out to be a major problem.
On 23cm the noise level was S9 in most directions, only some sharp 'waterholes' of a few degrees width (probably nulls in the pattern of the dish towards the noise source) offered clear reception. Many skeds didn't work and we are sorry if we CQed into your face. There are several commercial communication installations as well as the ATV-repeater DB0TAN on the hill, which are possible sources for this noise.
Pictures
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| Stairway to heaven | Stuff piling up... | First inspection of the radome. |
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| Building the stations... | Antennawork | 3cm getting ready |
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| Shack 70cm and up | 70cm antenna | up... |
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| 2m going up | 2 * 8el DK7ZB | Inside again. |
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| 24GHz | CQ contest! | 70cm-station |
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| Nightshift on 23cm... | Takeoff to the west | Northwest |
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| North | East, too many hills | 24GHz in the sunshine |