[NLRS] Rovermania: Reaching out to others to generate growth

[Matt Burt]

Jon makes some good points here.  One thing that seems to be missing in the
formula is lack of a reasonably serious multiop station.  While our single op
HP stations do an unbeliveable job of working the rovers and other scheds it
might make sense to have a multip effort whereas someone calls CQ on 222 and
432 (run stations) and there are other ops for the higher bands (pass
stations).  This way all of the rovers could be busy too and other folks could
get drawn in to the mix.  Last year in RM I I acually had some moments of dead
air on saturday night.  I was exactly on sched and where I said I would be on
the band and yet I could not find anyone else to work to say I was in the new
grid!  Just an idea... I kind of missed the multi efforts last weekend myself. 
A single op has one heck of a time trying to work rover no. 1 to the west while
rover no. 2 is to the SW and rovers 3 and 4 are to the E and NE (basically at
the same time!).
For RM II I will be roving again myself; however I have duplicate antennas for
222 through 10G  and some spare gear (3.4 and 10G) for these bands as well. 
Locally we can come up with (depending on who participates) with 222, 432, and
1296 with some power available.  I think it would be great to put a station
together somewhere between Rochester and my area of Winona just for the UHF
test.  Food for thought I guess.  
73,
Matt
KF0Q
EN44ea

Quoting jcplatt1 at mmm.com:

> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Attached is a cut & paste that I sent to the VHFContesting reflector
> yesterday.    While we have had good growth and lots of fun locally with
> Rovermania, we have not seen the same level of growth nationally.    In
> 2003 there were 140 logs submitted for the August UHF contest.   For 2004,
> the first year for Rovermania, it jumped to 169 logs.    This growth of +29
> logs was almost solely due to activity in our area.     If we can get local
> clubs in other areas of the nation to coordinate their own version of
> Rovermania, even if its just a couple of guys running to a grid corner for
> a few hours on Saturday afternoon with 432, we should be able to generate
> well over 200 logs.    That's the goal.      If you have friends in other
> clubs outside of NLRS land, talk it up with them.   If your reading this as
> a NLRS reflector subscriber who is outside of NLRS land, think about what
> you can do in your area.    I would be glad to help with ideas.     Its all
> about growth via fun via roving, even if its with just a couple of FM bands
> for a few hours.     Earl, N0HZ, is working on a UHF Contest press release
> to share with our local FM clubs.
> 
> 73, Jon
> W0ZQ
> 
> 
> 
> With the June VHF contest behind us its time to think about the ARRL August
> UHF contest and Rovermania II.    You may remember that last year the
> Northern Lights Radio Society (NLRS) sponsored Rovermania in our clubs
> area.   Rovermania resulted in a significant increase in local activity and
> first place finishes for all categories (except multiop) for the Upper
> Midwest, all without any tropo.
> 
> This year the NLRS is once again organizing for Rovermania II.    Our
> planning process has the following attributes:
>    1.   Rovers are always free to do what they want to do.    They can
>    change their plans at any time.
>    2.   Given #1 above, rovers are encouraged to publish a route that
>    includes what grids they will be in and about what time, along with what
>    bands they have.
>    3.   Given #1 above, we share rover operating locations, equipment,
>    antennas, and operating ideas.
>    4.   Given #1 above, each rover is provided with a primary frequency for
>    222 and 432 (ex: 222.135, 432.135).    This is where other stations can
>    most likely look to find the rover.
> 
> At this time, it looks like the NLRS will have eight to twelve rovers
> activating somewhere around 25 to 40 grids ..... our planning is still
> coming together.    Think about that level of activity in your area !
> 
> My purpose for posting this to VHFContesting is to share with you and your
> club how it is that we have been successful in generating UHF contest
> activity in NLRS land with the thought that you and your local club can
> replicate what we have had success with.     The UHF contest is one of the
> premier contests for roving because you can leave the big antennas home (no
> 6m or 2m) and amazing things can be worked with a few watts given short
> feedlines.
> 
> Last year, with very average conditions across the USA/Canada, we saw a
> slight increase in total logs submitted.   Almost all of that growth was
> due to logs from NLRS land and that in turn was due almost solely to
> Rovermania.    This year with other clubs sponsoring Rovermania in their
> areas, we could expect to see a significant growth in log submissions.
> 
> If you or your club want any help with setting up Rovermania in your area,
> take a look at what NLRS has done via our website at http://www.nlrs.org/
> and look for the link near the top with the name "August UHF Contest Rover
> Schedules (Rovermania !)".   You can also drop me a direct email at
> W0ZQ at aol.com.
> 
> Good luck to all in the UHF contest and Rovermania !
> 
> 73, Jon
> W0ZQ
> Pres NLRS
> 
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