[AK-VHF] June VHF Rover Route

[Edward R Cole]

Brandon,

First of all there is not much rovering in AK.  Most either drive up 
to the Chugach SP parking lot or drive over to Kincade Park 
(BP41).  A few have driven up thru Willow to Talkeetna.  Our most 
industrious rover was NL7HJ (now NL7B) who was living in Denali when 
he made his trek for Jan. 2011 VHF Contest.  He drove down to Homer 
and then up thru Fairbanks to Northpole (BP64) activating eleven grid 
squares (I believe).  Ken is a member of AK-VHF now living in Fairbanks.
http://www.qsl.net/a/ak-vhf//Awards/

Craig's suggestion is fine as far as Northpole but I do not believe 
you will find many VHF stations beyond Northpole down the Richardson 
Hwy until you reach Glenallen.  Might be more productive of contacts 
to reverse direction back down the Parks Hwy.

But even a less ambitious route Anchorage -Talkeetna or Anchorage - 
Homer will offer many rare grids.  Most of the stations you will work 
will be in Anchorage/Valley which is mostly all  BP51.

Announcing your plans a few weeks advance will net you more stations to work.

A rover adds significant interest/excitement for the VHF Contests (Or anytime).

I have operated from Hope (BP50) and Russian River Parking Area 
(BP500 and Diamond Ridge (BO49) 110o-foot above Homer.  I took my 2m 
FT-817 and 30w amp to Kalgin Island a couple times when I was doing 
repeater site maint. for my employer  (free helicopter ride).  Not 
sure what the grid.

NL7HJ has 6m and 2m allmode and 70cm FM.  He had small yagis for 6m and 2m.

73, Ed - KL7UW


At 09:08 AM 3/9/2018, Brandon Clark wrote:
>Hello group,
>I was curious, what is the usual rover route that operators do up here
>during contests? From looking at the grid squares it seems like a route
>starting in Homer or Kenai and traveling north through Anchorage to
>Talkeetna would cover most of south central Alaska.
>
>With six hours of driving (according to Google) it could theoretically be
>done in a day, although with operating time added in that's probably more
>like a two day contest route. My guess is it would likely require setting
>up skeds with local fixed stations too.
>
>I'm getting my mobile station put back together so that has me thinking
>about the June contest. I've never roved before but plan to operate on the
>50, 144, 220, 440, and 1200 bands. Any advice would be appreciated.
>73,
>Brandon
>______________________________________________________________
>ak-vhf mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/ak-vhf
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:ak-vhf at mailman.qth.net
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

73, Ed - KL7UW
   http://www.kl7uw.com
Dubus-NA Business mail:
   dubususa at gmail.com