The most recent wave of upgrades focused on getting things ready for ARRL SS SSB this upcoming weekend. As we haven’t done much domestic contesting, a few things needed to be spun around and reverse-engineered to work right in this one. The good news is that we will feature a ton of new gear including:

• FT-1000MP MarkV
• Automated switching
• 2 new computers, (2 split monitors each!) – thanks to K1MAZ
• Almost all antennas are new or at least rebuilt

Having said all that, the big issue will be the performance of the antennas. We’ve always used lower -angle antennas, especially on the low bands. Last night (Monday) I was listening to a mobile station in Wyoming talking to a somewhat known DX’er in upstate NY. On the high 10m 3ele, the WY was 20 over and I couldn’t hear the NY. When I switched to other antennas (even antennas for different bands), I could hear him just fine. For the first time, we have to think about an NVIS approach so I’ll be building and hanging low wires this week. In any case, we’ll be loud.

Don’t forget to work WA1J this weekend.

-N1TA