[NLRS] The Twin Cities - Milwaukee VHF path

[Bruce Richardson]

For the benefit of newcomers and to further my understanding, I hope many
of you will chirp in with your observations over the years.

The Twin Cities to Milwaukee path is known to be difficult for VHF.
Stations in both cities have CQ'd in the proper direction for many hours
during contests hearing nothing.  Once or twice per contest, conditions
will lift somewhat and a "few" Q's are made between 34/35 and 53/63/52/62
in the Milwaukee area.  The land masses of Knapp Hill, Jackson Ridge (just
west of Tomah), and the Kettle Moraine all make VHF hookups difficult.
Interestingly,  from the Twin Cities end, changing azimuth north or south
just a bit yields much further successful distances to Green Bay and
eastward and Chicago and southeastward.  Yes, Chicago to TC is often easier
than Milwaukee to TC.

Thoughts?  Anecdotes? Memories?

What would be the prime hours for likely success?  Can we cultivate a way
to increase the contest linkups?

Bruce Richardson - W9FZ

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