[NLRS] Rovermania - Fixted Station Freqs

[jcplatt1 at mmm.com]

Hi Mike.   Here are my two bits.

I think the advantage of having a "primary" (rather than a "fixed") freq
for the rovers is so that others can find them more easily, especially for
222 and 432.    It makes sense that rovers have an assigned (primary) freq.
This in no way means that they can't tune around or call on other freqs, it
simply means its where they will be listening the most and calling "CQ
Contest" often.

I'm less sure that it makes sense for fixed stations like yourself to have
an assigned primary freq .... I think its up to the fixed stations to find
the rovers and the rovers do this best by having a primary freq and
attempting to stay to their schedule.     Rovers need to make noise on
their primary freq and if nothing is heard, tune around, perhaps call on
.100, but always keep checking their primary freq and make noise (ie; call
CQ) .... the fixed stations and other rovers need to tune, be aware of
other rover's primary freqs & check them out, and to be aware of all rovers
schedules.   It does put some pressure on the fixed stations to be looking
for the rovers but it also off loads the rovers who have their own set of
problems to deal with.

Regarding freq's for 902, 1296, and maybe 2304,  I can tell you with
absolute clarity that .100's will NOT work here in the Cities.   My plans,
still to be cleared by Rover-Control, are to use .150 on ALL bands and I
encourage all rovers to use their primary offset freq too .... for example
if W9FZ/R is 222.130, then 432.130, 902.130, etc., etc.

Last, regarding fixed stations, please try to keep a rover's primary freq
clear, especially when the rover is on freq ..... as the rover's primary
freq often becomes a watering hole, fix stations who haven't worked each
other make contacts and/or ragchew .... all well and good, but if it gets
to be long, please slide up or down in freq to clear the rovers frequency
(again, given that the rover is on freq).

Wow, what a thread for a UHF contest ....... hope to work a bunch of you
during Rovermania !    If we have halfway decent conditions its gonna be
lots of fun.

73, Jon
W0ZQ