[NLRS] W9FZ/R MNQP plans plus Freq proposal ver 1.0

[Bruce Richardson]

Hi there:

I've got Mel KC0P's plan in front of me as well as Glen KC0IYT's for this
Saturday's Minnesota QSO Party.  It's basically a sprint that runs from 8am
Sat to 6pm Sat.  Then you can go do other things.  Those of us participating
on VHF are concerned about collecting multipliers (Counties) because we can
only gain those Mults on the VHF freqs.  I know of three firm Rover plans
which, if successful, stand to activate 26 counties.  We all need to work
Wisconsin and Iowa, if possible, for additional multipliers.

With our Multiple bands and quick band-changing skills, we stand to be able
to keep QSO rates high.  Every operator who can first give a SSB QSO
followed a few minutes later by a CW QSO stands to give 3 QSO points to the
guy on the other end.

First, my proposed schedule:

DK Dakota at Mendota Overlook   8:00--8:30am
RA Ramsey at Sunray Bowl        9:00--9:30am
WG Washington near Hugo        10:00-10:30am
AN Anoka near Hugo/Lino Lakes  11:00-11:30am
CG Chisago near Wyoming/Stacey 12:00-12:30pm
PI Pine near Pine City         13:00-13:30
KB Kanabec near Braham         14:00-14:30
IS Isanti  near Cambridge      15:00-15:30
ML Mille Lacs near Princeton   16:00-16:30
BN Benton near Foley           17:00-17:30
SB Sherburne near Foley        17:30-18:00

Some of my travel times won't really take :30 minutes, but based on previous
experience, I'll probably run over a little and be able to use that to catch
back up.  You can see that I'm only operating for 30 minutes at each stop.
That may be plenty if participation is light or that will be a real time
management problem if participation is up a bit.

I'd like to do 10G from Dakota Mendota Overlook and SunRay Bowl if anybody
is around at about 8:20 and 9:20am.  But as a reminder, I'll have 6m, 2m,
222, 432, 903, 1296, 2304, and 10368.  Remember, I'll be announcing my
county on each QSO. In CW it will be /DK,
/RA,/WG,/AN,/CG,/PI,/KB,/IS,/ML,/BN,/SB.  If you're a little rusty on CW,
practice your slash so you know what it sounds like.

Concerning switching modes, I'm open to suggestions. Initially, I leaned
towards working everybody who was on freq first on SSB and then switch to CW
and work the same 3-5 guys on CW.  But that fifth guy has to likely hang out
waiting. So I'm open to switching back and forth rapidly between modes with
each guy who is able/interested in both modes.  I'm torn on how to do this
best and am open to suggestions. Also, with band changes, it might be better
to just drag one or two guys at a time up the bands that way nobodies time
is wasted (Thoughts?)

Rover freqs--here's what I propose:  Rather than each of us taking a freq,
why don't we use 144.220 as the primary rover waterdish.  Once one of us is
in position, check the freq and announce.  If it's busy with another rover,
let's try and let the rover's work each other and then let's have the 2nd
rover to the dish switch to 144.180.  If the third rover arrives on freq,
he'll move up to 144.240.  Clearly, fixed stations can help each other and
the rovers with information and guidance on how things are going.  For
moving to other bands, I'm thinking .120 (.170 on 6m)on each of the bands
above 2m.  All the rovers may be able to use those because the time sequence
of band changes is likely different. (Thoughts?) Then, when I'm enroute, if
I think traffic and safety permit, I might do more CQ'ing up on 144.250.
But I won't be able to stop and point at you. If you're hearing me, let's at
least work even tho I'm not pointing at you.

I'm comfortable with the first two operating locations. If some of you know
good spots in any of the areas of which I speak (parking lots, hilltop
pulloffs, quiet country roads,etc) please pass along the tips.

Ya know, for this type of contest, Omnidirectional antennas would work much
better and the Rover could work Q's while on the fly. If some of you have
whips, halo's, and a 2nd person to ride with you, you may want to go out and
generate a flurry of activity.

First, get on the air and have fun.  Second, log what you work and send it
it as a Northern Lights Radio Society log.

I will publish a ver 2.0 if there are changes.

Bruce Richardson - W9FZ

I've decided to wear my Thorn of Crowns...back to front, upside down, all
the way round. -- E&TB