[NLRS] W0IS & KC0OIA tentative rover plans

[Richard Clem]

Yippy and I plan to operate the June VHF contest as rovers again.  We've =
come
up with a tentative route, and would like any suggestions.

We'll be using the FT-817 again with fixed dipoles on 50, 144, and 432.  =
We
worked a few 100+ mile QSO's last time, so I think they will be adequate
again.  Very few of those QSO's, however, were to the Twin Cities, probab=
ly
because we did not publish any frequencies before hand, and we just weren=
't
able to break the QRM with our QRP signal. This time, when we're within r=
ange
of the Twin Cities, we'll publish a sked before hand and call CQ at given=

times away from the calling frequencies.

We also have a real 2m FM rig installed in the car, so we should have a b=
ig
signal on FM for what that's worth.

Also, if anyone has a CHEAP radio for any other bands, please let us know=
=2E  In
fact, if anyone has a handheld for 222 or 1296 that they would like to le=
nd
out, we promise to work you, even if it means we pull into your driveway!=


With the limitations of our signal, in general we go to where the signals=
 are,
so we're thinking of heading to the Chicago area.  Our route will be some=
thing
like this:

We'll start the contest near St. Cloud in EN25 just to activate one more =
easy
grid.  Then, we will head to the Twin Cities and try to work everything t=
here
is to work in EN34 and EN35.  Then, we will head east on I-94 to EN44 in =
Eau
Claire, where we worked LOTS of stations in our last rover operation.  We=
 will
also spur north into EN35 and work mostly the same stations in Eau Claire=
=2E

Then, about where I-90 and I-94 join together, we will be in EN43.  Howev=
er,
we will only barely be in range of LaCrosse, the main population center i=
n
EN43.  Is it worth making a slight detour to make sure we work anyone in
LaCrosse, or will we most likely work someone from the interstate?  The m=
ain
idea is to activate the grid, so we want to know whether it is worth the =
extra
drive time.

Next will be the Madison area from EN53, with a detour south to EN52 to w=
ork
the Madison stations again.  Then, we'll head to the Milwaukee area to ru=
n
EN53 and EN52 again, as well as EN62 and EN63.

Then, we'll head south toward Chicago, and work the Chicago stations from=
 EN62
and EN63, as well as EN51 and EN61.

=46rom here, we haven't decided for sure on a route home.  We could just =
go back
on I-90 and 94 through the same grids.  We could also head west through t=
he
Quad Cities in EN41, Des Moines in EN31 (and possibly EN21), and back hom=
e on
I-35 through EN32 and EN33.

Frankly, Des Moines was a bust during the January contest.  We only worke=
d
about three stations there, but we did get the multipliers for activating=

those grids.  Another possibility would be to bypass DesMoines and get EN=
42
passing through Dubuque.  So, any suggestions on a fruitful route home fr=
om
Chicago would be appreciated.

TNX & 73,
Rick W0IS & Yippy KC0OIA