[NLRS] W9FZ/R Rove report for Sept VHF

[Bruce Richardson]

Hello VHF'ers:

Ya know, I've been roving for over 15 years now. I hear a prominent
east-coast rover is giving up roving on account of the grids he used to
activate as "rare" aren't rare anymore.  This rover has always whupped me
good on points since the first contest he participated in.  Well, I still
rove because I continue to get joys from roving that arise outside of
exchanging RF contacts. For instance, for me, I get joys from driving
through scenic terrain, birdwatching before and after the event, and
sometimes working on photography.

Although RF conditions were poor for a September, I still call this most
recent rove a success. I had a lot of fun because I love driving through
the area of my rove.  Sure, the state of VHF has changed over the 15 years
that I've been roving in Wisconsin. In the old days, I could count on
sweeping EN-44 from W0UC, EN-54 from W0JN, and EN-64 from K9KL.  Well,
times have changed.  Now I swept with N9TTX in EN-44, and K9MU/p in EN-54.
And while we still need someone to sweep with in EN-64, now there is KB9TLV
to sweep with in EN-45.  So times change. Hams come and go. Conditions come
and go.  I get my needed dose of RF by roving.

I chose my route because I haven't been in some of these grids for awhile.
As most of you know, I consider supplying needed grids (as opposed to QSO
volume) to be one of the most important benefits to working rovers.  So I
chose a route that is inline with my views.  I knew N0EDV would be
multi-op'ing in EN-67. I recall from my several operations there that I
never worked my own grid.  So, to at least give them their own grid, I
started there.

I got to Brockway Mtn with about 15 minutes to go to contest time. N0EDV
and KB9IQR were there setting up.  I handed them a PIN diode that might
bring their 903 to life.  I proceeded to work who I could with the
intention of only staying one hour and then shuffling along to EN-57.
Well, although I was heard in the Twin Cities on 2m, there was,
unfortunately, noise on 2m on Brockway. So I did not hear the stations
calling me.  Highlights here were working N0EDV in EN-67, VE3KRP in EN-58
and K2YAZ in EN-74.  I ended up staying 90 minutes and then departed.

I have two spots I like in EN-57. North of Calumet, in Alloez, there is a
hill called Bumbletown.  It's a good spot for 10g to VE3KRP and K2YAZ.
Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful on 10g with them.  In fact, I didn't make
a single 2.3g or 10g QSO all weekend.  That's unusual.  Then, for points
south, I like to operate just above Hancock, MI in an empty area just
across the street from the Quincy Mine Hoist.  I set up in both of the
spots so that I could work the appropriate directions.  Highlights here
were working W9GA and K9RZZ in EN-53 and also W0VB in EN-34.  Also, it was
great to pick up EN-57 from WB8ZYL on 2-bands and EN-56 from N8LIQ on two
bands.  While I only planned 2-hours in the grid, I stayed three hours.

Then I headed down to a hay field north of Bruce Crossing, MI for EN-56.  I
arrived late but stayed until 2300L and had fun.  Highlights were working
K0AWU on 3 bands, and sweeping with K2YAZ in EN-74 (through 1.2) and K9MU
in EN-54.  I took down and drove to Ironwood, MI arriving about 1am. My
plan was to operate at dawn from a city park called Mt Zion.  There's a
gate at the entrance I expected to be closed. It wasn't so I headed on up.
I parked, took the dish out of the car, and rolled out a sleeping bag in
the back. I figgered the police probably make a nightly run through the
park and had probably already done that for the night. I got to sleep at
0145. Thirty minutes later, the police arrived :-) .  They were the nicest
pair I've run into yet and I explained what I had planned "if it is ok with
them".  They said that while parking wasn't normally allowed up there, they
could see I was not a problem and that I should have their blessing and a
good time.  So I got back to sleep with my alarm set for 5:45 (so I
thought).  Well, I woke at 6:40 and realized my alarm was mis-set. I got up
and cleaned up and got started with contesting for the day.

The site is beautiful to the west and north. The site on Mt Zion has a lot
of oak trees which makes turning the car difficult. I caught the 6m dipole
at one point and it bent. Fortunately, it bent back :-) .  It was here that
my 6m rig died. The PLL won't lock so there's no display. I think the rig
is toast.  I hated to lose 6m for the QSO volume and grids, but it sure
made set-up easier the remainder of the trip.  I stayed here too long
because conditions were generally pretty good.  Looks like I swept with
N9TTX, KB9TLV, K0AWU, and W0ZQ.

I departed late for points south. My route on Hwy 51 took me back through
EN-56. Since I had not worked all that many folks in EN-56 the night
before, I stopped at the Manitowish Waters Airport, which is in the SW
corner of the grid and worked for about 45 minutes. The spot is flat
terrain and plenty of trees for sucking up RF.  But the airport at least
gives a bit of a  horizon.  So I worked W0ZQ, N0KP, and N9TTX that I had
not worked from the day prior.  I also worked KC0IYT/R in EN-34.

Then I continued to the Grid Corner NW of Wausau arriving about 4 hours
late.  I worked my way through EN-45, EN-55, EN-54, and (briefly) EN-44.  I
actually departed the area on schedule.  Highlights here were many contacts
with W9GA and K8EB as well as many Twin Cities stations. WHile conditions
were just horrid on Saturday, now conditions seemed slightly better.
Admittedly, outside of K8EB, I sure wasn't working past the Illinios
border.  So conditions were by no means good. As we now know, the days and
days of stratus rain were indicative of the bad conditions in southern
Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

While headed southbound on I-39 (Hwy 51) I trolled for Q's on 2m while in
EN-54. Did the same for my brief transit of EN-53.  A few folks were lucky
to get my Qpts from EN-53.  Then I ended up in EN-43 for the last two
hours. I think activity was pretty good but conditions were difficult to
average.  I worked lots of Milwaukee folks and Twin Cities folks but not
much from Chicago.  Highlights were working WA9O and K9UHF on 1.2.  I had a
good two hours and had a good finish.

While I'm sad that I did not make a single 2.3 or 10g q, and also sad to
lose 6m, I still had a great time. Another highlight was having N8LIQ in
EN-56 follow me around. He's the only one to work me in all 10 grids.  I
hope Ed is on in many future contests.  I appreciate the many fixed
stations who looked for me. Of note I must mention W9GA, K8EB, N9TTX, and
W0ZQ. But obviously, there were many others.

Here's the odd thing about my roves and my attempts to work the Twin Cities
or Milwaukee. I can point at either Milwaukee or Minneapolis and CQ my
lungs out for about 10 minutes with no responses.  But the moment I finally
get a response in the desired direction, what also happened without fail?
A station from the opposite city would call me at the same time.  So it
almost seems causal but I know it isn't.  Maybe my 2m beam isn't a beam
anymore :-) . Maybe it's become an omni from the rough road-life it's had
:-) .  Actually, many of you fixed stations were very patient waiting for
me to turn back to your area--thanks!

My score is below. I'm pleased by the 903 and 1.2 activity.  I'd do this
rove again because it's fun and I enjoy it. Admittedly, my activations of
EN-44 and EN-53 are very brief because they are not particularly needed.

Thanks again to all the ops who worked me. Thanks for being there and
looking for me.

Band  	QSO's		Qpts		Grids
6m		27		27		12
2m		104		104		20
222		50		100		11
432		63		126		16
903		16		48		6
1.2		24		72		9
						10 for Rover
Total		284		477		84
							Total score  40068
73
Bruce Richardson W9FZ/R

Thanks for coming to the Central States VHF Society Conference!