[NLRS] Rovermania

[jcplatt1@mmm.com]

I think I just cloned a new word .... rovermania.

I did a very quick three minute Excel calculation where I figured out my
Jan. VHF contest score if I were to clean sweep W0AMT/R, W9FZ/R, WB0LJC/P,
KC0P/R, KC0IYT/R on our common bands (my available bands are 6, 2, 222,
432, 902, 1296, 2304) plus some Q's and grids from N0DQS/R and K0PG &
N9ILT/R's.   The questimated score was nearly 80,000 points.   Ya rovers !
Go rovers !   Ya rovers !

Some tips for fixed stations.   Based on the recent email from rovers, make
a spreadsheet that shows where each rover plans to be at what time.   Yes,
these plans will change on the fly, but you can update them as you go.   Be
patience with rovers.   When rovers QSY, they will typically be QSYing in a
pattern and typically to the same frequency on each band each time.   Be
aware of that pattern (ie; read their email).   If you do not have an
intermediary band (like say 222), you can wait for them on the next band
(432) and bushwhack them there when they show up in a few minutes.     If
you don't meet up with them, keep on their 2m freq as they will eventually
show up there again.   Be patient with rovers.   Most radios have multiple
VFOs .... I often park my 2m VFO B on the rover of the minutes freq so that
I can easily check it by flipping the VFO switch.

Lets see if we can generate a lot of fixed station activity to keep those
rovers busy.

Good luck to all in the contest.    To all, have fun.   To all rovers, safe
drive.   To all new rovers, be aware of rural power lines (they are
typically low and its dark).

PS:  Don't forget to indicate Northern Lights Radio Society on your
submission.   If you operate, even casually to hand out a few contacts,
please send in a log.  The NLRS club aggregate score can use your help and
documented contest activity is one data point to establishing (documented)
activity.   Lets see if we can meet Rich's goal to be the first VHF club in
the nation to submit 51 logs ... we can all be a part of that regardless of
score.

73, Jon
W0ZQ.