[NLRS] What a Blast! -- EN37 Sept Contest

[billd at 2z.net]

GM All

  There was almost no "buzz" before the contest and my requests for 
schedules were down from what I normally experience.  Our weather was as 
perfect as anyone could ever hope for in September, or any month. Would 
this prevent some from being active as well?? So when the digits said the 
contest had started I had NO idea of what to expect. 

  I started the contest by working Brock KG6GMT/R and Roger K0MVJ/M 
on 2meters after visiting with Roger for about 15min. Roger was returning 
from a westcoast driving trip and was glad to hear a 2m SSB signal again. 
He got "talked out" on 17meters.

  GREAT to reenter some northern VHF regulars in the log: VE4AMU, 
NT0V, W0PHD, N0UY, KI0LE, KB0LBS, K0KP, KC0KVD (a contest 
regular anyway), KE3KRP, KB0CIM (thanks Jim) and others.

  Conditions at times seemed very good. Great to hear John W0LER, he 
was S-9 on 1296 early Sunday morning. Very strong on all the other bands 
as well, but that is normal. Other times the bands seemed flat or even below 
normal. 

  Worked Dan N0URW and Bob K2DRH sweeps on 6m-> 432Mhz which 
was nice. Dan had a HUGE signal in here many times during the contest. 
His new 2m antenna array is really playing. Bob and I struggled to make a 
contact on 432 via WSJT when all of a sudden the signal popped up from 
below the noise and we chatted on SSB for a minute or more with S-5 
signals. I don't normally struggle with Bob on any band either!!

  Bottom line??  MY best September contest by far ... ever. Many new 
personal high numbers :>)  Why the good numbers?? Excellent rover 
opportunities this time and great operators. W9FZ/R .. Bruce, Thank You!! 
Bruce was worked 30times ... wow ... never worked a rover that often in any 
contest. Great signal on 1296 and that is reflected in the bottom line. Brock 
KG6GMT/R was worked ten times, Jim, K0MHC/R, KC0FXY/R and 
K0PG/R and K9ILT/R eight times and KC0FXY/R seven times. Other 
rovers include K0DAS/R, KC0P/R N0HZO/R, N0DQS/R, W9RAY/R.  Hope 
I'm not missing anyone, my numbers may be not exact, just scanning the 
log for rovers. THANKS guys for looking NORTH and taking the time.  

ONE THIRD of my contacts were rovers, 77 out of 228 Qs.

50Mhz     ---   52  contacts    20 grids
144Mhz   ---   83* contacts    26 grids   (* New personal contest highs)
222Mhz   ---   35*  contacts   14* grids
432Mhz   ---   44*  contacts   17* grids
1296Mhz ---   13* contacts     7* grids  
10Ghz     ---     1  contact        1   grid    (W0GHZ 155 miles)

Total: 228 Contacts   85 grids   28,560pts

  This was my 3rd best total ever on any VHF/UHF contest and NO 6m Es!

Thank you all!!   Bill  K0AWU  EN37ed