[ILQSO] Rover/Mobile

[n9jfcountyhunter at gmail.com]

Carl, thanks for your input.  It sounds like you had a good time, and your
log certainly reflects a good effort!  You are correct, it all comes down to
planning...until it doesn't...   I have done either a mobile, rover or
portable operation for each of the last 20+ years in ILQP and "there's
always something"!!!

We like having lots of strong and competent fixed stations in the party, but
it's those who are willing to venture out and do something different,
especially from under-represented counties, who keep the chasers interested
and engaged year after year.

As for a "mobile window"....

I know this has been tried with other QSO parties, and I guess I should
solicit comments from those who have tried it.  We have made suggestions in
the past.  I honestly think what it boils down to is, if you are a low-power
portable or mobile station, you just have to be creative and be ready to
adapt.  No matter how good that frequency sounds on 20 meters, you are
eventually going to get run off by someone louder who can't, or won't, hear
you.  They might be just close enough that you get covered up or you can't
hear your callers because of the key clicks from the KW 500 hz away.  I know
I had an out-of-state station land right next to me at least twice on Sunday
(about 300 hz away) and bang away "CQ IL" while I was running a pileup.  If
someone is using a 100 hz filter, there's not much you can do about it
except grind your teeth and move!

A similar issue is that mobile and portable stations have a great
disadvantage trying to break pileups on other mobile and portable stations.
Yes, you need his county, and he probably needs yours, but he can't hear you
through the din.  The only solution there is to 1) Be the first to find him
2) Call off-frequency, but not too much....  3)  Have him stand by
occasionally for portable and mobile stations.   I think (3) is a good
strategy, but it doesn't happen very often.  I worked very few county
expeditions on Sunday by calling them.  Some called me, which was
appreciated!

By the way, I'd like to receive stories from this year's ILQP, especially
from those who ventured out into the wilds.  I'll include them in a future
edition of "The Feedline", our club newsletter.

73, Jim N9JF



-----Original Message-----
From: ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net <ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On
Behalf Of Carl Buehler
Sent: Monday, October 30, 2023 7:51 AM
To: ilqso at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [ILQSO] Rover/Mobile

*( spoiler alert: some whining may be detected )*

2023 was FUN.  Thanks to all who hung in there with me to complete qso's!
This was my third time doing the county line thing and certainly the most
successful.  To do this properly takes planning.  Not only do you need to
double and triple check that every station component is working, packed,
ready for rapid deployment (there are no more Radio Shacks down the road to
grab a connector), and don't forget the McDonalds drink cup in case human
water waste needs to be released inside the vehicle; the site needs serious
attention.  I start with the past history of under-represented counties,
study the Illinois Atlas for possible locations, look at Google Earth to
confirm or reject possibilities, and finally make a drive out to verify
where a station might be legally and safely set up.  All of this is
rewarding because we make valuable multipliers available to the 'big guys'
to jack up scores, until . . . . . . . .

Being a small fish in a big sea is rough (here comes the whining).  You CAN
have fun with 100W from a generator into a mobile whip antenna using a
tuner, but in a contest it gets miserable at times.  The QRM and QSB can
just hammer you, while you sit there knowing that many of those stations
would like to get you in the log if they knew you were there waiting for
them.

Has there ever been any consideration for some sort of gentleman's agreement
to setting aside a band segment for CW rover/portable "calling", say
.030-.035?  The way I see it, this is a win-win for both rarer county
operation and those seeking them.  Just a thought.  I realize other
arrangements like DX windows are not observed faithfully.

Looking forward to next year.  One more thing, if anyone knows of some of
the harder to find counties over in Missouri within an hour or two from St.
Louis, let me know.  73 to all, Carl -k9za
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