[NLRS] W0ZQ/R ARRL UHF Contest & Rovermania II

[Charles & Joan Betz]

>Some wild ideas include heading up to NW MN, and
>eastern ND to do a Rovermania up there .... how about three, four, five,
>rovers cruising the Red River Valley ?    

Jon,

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but for those of us over here in
Western WI, a ton of mobiles cruising the Red River Valley would be all but
unworkable.  It *might* be doable from the W0AIH site, but I think even
there it would be pushing the limits, especially on the high bands.  I can
tell you from experience, that from my station, it is very difficult to work
fixed stations out there, let alone rovers.  There are just too many hills
in the way, so we can't get a low enough take off angle. And with the
possible exception of KB9PJL, I am probably the most well equipped station
over here, antenna & power wise.

I'm sure it would be fun to go roving out there, and no doubt there are some
good grids out there, but I would hope a few rovers would work northern &
northeastern MN and northern WI.  There are some pretty good grids there too
and we can actually work into those areas.

Charlie, N0AKC