[NLRS] NLRS UHF-Contest Rover Mania

[jcplatt1@mmm.com]

Back in January I sent out a note discussing the possibility of a mass NLRS
rover effort for the August UHF contest.   I received eleven replies to
that January message and the following Op's indicated that they have some
level of interest.

W0ZQ/R    222, 432, 2304, and 10 GHz can go now.   Perhaps more by August.
K0MHC/R  222, 432, 902, 1296, 2304, 3456 with 5.7 & 10 GHz maybe.
W0LMS/R
N0KP/R
K0PG/R & K9ILT/R  222, 432, 902, 1296, 2304
W0AMT & NG0R/R   222, 432, 902, 1296, 2304, 3456
W0AUS/R   432, 1296, 2304, 3456, 10G, 24G
WA2VOI/R  222, 432, 902, 1296, 10G and maybe 24G
W9FZ/R 222, 432, 902, 1296, 2304, 10G work permitting.
W0JMP/R  "Rookie interested in learning", has 222, 432.
WB0LJC/R   222 thru 10 GHz
W0JT/R   222, 432, 902, 1296, maybe 2304

Since January we've seen a proposal from an ARRL subcommittee that includes
a recommendation to eliminate the August UHF contest because its not
popular.   We have an opportunity to disprove this notion, or at the very
least, to send this contest out with a bang.   Although there is no club
competition, NLRS can help to counter a held notation that no one operates
UHF/microwaves and, oh ya, we can have a little fun doing it too !!

For those who have not operated the UHF contest before, here is why it is
fun:
1.   Its 222 and up.   For rovers you can leave the big lowband antennas at
home.
2.   The contest is only 24 hrs.   Sat, Aug 7, 1800 UTC to Sunday, Aug 8,
1800 UTC so it leaves family time on the weekend.
3.   Its a pretty laid back contest.
4.   Its pretty fun to see what you can work on the UHF/microwave bands.

Regarding the "NLRS UHF-Contest Rover Mania" event, the idea is to:
1.   GET ON for the contest.   Best as a rover, but getting on as a fixed
station is fine too !   Rovers, rovers, rovers.
2.   Generate as large a score as possible for fixed stations.   We want to
put on a serious challenge for a local national winner.   At least two
fixed stations come to mind; W0GHZ and KM0T.   I think Rover Mania can
support both stations if not more.   K0AWU and CIM in northern MN come to
mind too as does some of the EN42-like guys.    The bottomline is to work
everyone.
3.   This can also be a good shake down for those who are doing the 10 GHz
contest that follows in two weeks.

So for now mark August 7 and 8 in your calendar.    Between now and then,
prepare your rover station and think about what grids you may want to
activate.   I think that we will see some rovers and/or rover pictures at
Au'04 to help get the ideas flowing.    Even if you operate just 432, think
about throwing a yagi on the car rack and doing some rovering.

73, Jon
W0ZQ