[NLRS] N0DQS/R Sept contest

[Gene-N0DQS]

Started the contest in Southern Iowa EN20/30, wouldn't you know couldn't buy
rain the past month or so and poured on me Saturday afternoon. Band was real
flat, poor, dead, what ever else you want to call it other than good! In the
heavy rain I had trouble working 1296 with some stations normally not a
problem but worked others??  Must have really been de-tuning the yagis.
Hooked up with Tim and Pat K0PG/r and K9ILT/r while they were in Northern
Iowa and actually got to work my home grid during a contest! That just does
not happen. Had fun working some of the fellows from the Twin Cities area,
W0GHZ,W0ZG,KT8O,N0KP,W0JT to name a few. It was fun running around the grid
corners and bands with them. Worked Jerry K0CQ for the first time on 222
which was great,glad to see him on the new band. Was disappointed that I did
not hook up with N0LL  in EM09 as much as I normally do, did not work him on
1296 this trip, but I suspect condx had a lot to do with that. Good success
working KM0T, 14 grids thru 10Ghz (except one grid on 1296) 6 grids on 24Ghz
and one light. Could have done 2 more grids on 24 but ran out of time.
Usually hook up with Lloyd WB0ULX in EN04 for a bunch of grids but did not
catch him till I was in his back yard in EN14. Worked the N0KIS club station
at the University of Nebraska. Good to hear them on! Caught some of the guys
on in Kansas as well.As usual I headed out to South Dakota and with the
condx like they were it was tough and lonesome there. Did hook up with
K0MHC,EN26 thru 3456, missed his activity the past few contests. Also caught
2 or 3 on from the cities area toward the end of the test from the western
part of EN14 SD. Activity from fixed stations was way down from past
contests. I sure hope it doesn't get to the point where a rover has to
depend on other rovers for activity during a contest so I hope we can get
more activity in January in the Midwest! I traveled just over 1100 miles and
activated 14 grids and 2 states. Different route this time, usually I do 4
states and about 800 or 900 miles or so and 16 grids. Glad I got to hook up
with a bunch of you, sorry for those I missed and I know there are several I
would have liked to worked on more of the bands. Had fun working Gary W0GHZ
on 5.7 and 10 from EN23 and 33. I did not hear anyone on in EN35 or further
north (with the exception of KC0JFY in EN25) and usually I do at least when
I get to northern Iowa. No real long haul stuff this trip.
My QSO count was down this time and less activated grids but the mulitpliers
were up a bit, had 104 including 14 grids. My unedited claimed score is just
over 100,000.
I hope to see all you you in January.

Gene
N0DQS/r