[NLRS] W0ZQ/R June VHF Results (Long)

[w0zq at aol.com]

First the numbers. Seven grids,370 contacts from 6m through 10gigs, for 
a total score of 86,198 points.

Band  QSO   Grids
6         26     7
2         67    15
222     48    12
432     57    13
902     36     9
1296   38     9
2304   27     7
3456   26     5
5760   18     4
10G     27     6
Total 370    87

Number of contacts from each grid:
EN24ww = 57
EN25wb = 49
EN33ww = 58
EN34av = 58
EN35ad = 42
EN43ax = 58
EN44ab = 48

Soapbox (Long):
I started the contest just west of Buffalo, EN35ad.  The weather was 
June like – warm, but not hot, and somewhat dry with a lower dew point. 
   There were scattered light showers in the area with verga. I had a 
few people stop by and check me out and the usual comment was “this is 
one of the highest spots in Wright Cty”, to which I would reply, “and 
that is why I am here”. As the contest started I ran the bands with the 
usual suspects including some nice Q’s to KM0T up through 10gigs at a 
distance of 290 km.  When I was working Mike there were some light 
showers so signals were strong on 5.7 and 10gig via rain scatter. I had 
a visitor stop by right at that time and he was absolutely floored that 
I was taking to some guy in NW Iowa with my dish system – I suppose I 
should have been doing some club recruiting!  I also ran into KC0IYT/R 
while Glen was in EN15 and worked him on 2m and 10G rain scatter. Rover 
to rover contacts over distance are always a hoot, thanks Glen.

 From there it was over to EN25wb, the cell tower site just south of 
Howard Lake.  The few showers that had been around moved through and it 
was blue sky’s, warm, dry, with a moderate to strong wind out of the 
south.  N0VZJ found me first and I worked Vince through all four bands, 
then it was the thundering herd after that.  When things slowed down a 
bit, I turned west and found KC0IYT/R again, this time in EN14.  From 
EN25wb, the view looking west is very good and Glen was strong on SSB 
on 432, 902, 1296, 2304, 3456, 5.7, and 10G at an estimated distance of 
150 km – much better signals than on 2m.  After that, John, KB9TLV 
found me for the first time and I finished up working KM0T through all 
ten bands (ho hum).

I then left EN25 for the dark regions of EN24.  The northeast corner of 
EN24 has always been a problem area in terms of finding a good spot.  A 
good spot is defined as preferably a hill, but having a good horizon 
(no trees) and that is away from traffic and houses (dogs, people, 
etc). I found a fair spot in EN24ww and did most of my operating from 
there.  I worked KM0T, W0GHZ, N0VZJ, and N0KP through the bands, thanks 
guys.  Bill, K0AWU, found me for the first time and we made the path 
 from EN37ed to EN24ww (248 km) on 2, 222, 432, 902, and 1296.  The high 
bands required CW, but beautiful CW.  On my way out from EN24ww driving 
over to EN34, W0JT found me and I pulled off of Hwy 7 to work John on 
2, 222, 432, and 1296.  At that same time, Glen, KC0IYT/R, now in EN24 
behind me, found me on 902, so I pulled off of Hwy 7 even more, set up 
my 5.7 and 10gig, and worked Glen EN24 to EN24 on eight bands.

 From there, it was a short drive to EN34av, or what we call Yale Ave.  
KB0CQ was my first Q followed quickly by tag teaming KM0T & N0VZJ up 
through the bands.  Once again a ten band sweep with Mike – what a 
great station he runs from NW Iowa.  I worked a few more of the locals 
and finished up one more time with Glen, KC0IYT/R, EN34 to EN24 on nine 
bands.   By that time it was close to 9:30pm local, the sun had set, 
and the mosquitoes had come out, so it was time to head for home for a 
little dinner and an 807.

Sunday morning I was on the road from my home QTH in EN34it and heading 
down to the St. Charles grid corner by 6:30am.  The day was clear, but 
again with a lower dew point.  Heading out of town, driving down the 
road I found a few locals to work – Carl, WA0CQG was up early as was 
Tom, K0TAR and Cecil, N0OK.  Half way to Rochester driving down Hwy 52 
I heard K9NS booming in, so I got off at the cell tower site near Hader 
and worked EN52 on 2, 222, and 432.   Back on the road calling CQ, a 
weak signal comes back to me – after a few “QRZ” I hear Ed, W0OHU.  
Turns out Ed is loading up his box spring mattress in the basement, 
QRP, sending with his left foot, while holding everything together with 
duct tape, but we proceed to make Q’s on 6, 2, and 432 – perhaps one of 
the highlights of the contest – thanks Ed !  As I exit Rochester just 
getting up onto Interstate 90, I hear Bruce, W9FZ/R in EN43 working 
someone.  I dump my call in and over the next 15 minutes I follow Bruce 
up from 2, to 432, then 222, 902, 1296, and 2304, all but the 2304 Q 
made while rolling east bound on the Interstate at 65 mph. That was 
sort of fun too.

I then exited at the St. Charles exit, north on 74, east on 14, then 
north again to near Altura, or EN44ab.  John, KB9TLV was the first to 
find me and we worked 144 through 1296.  We tried 2304, but it was no 
go.  After that KM0T swept me on the top nine bands at a distance of 
359 km, my second best microwave DX for the day.   Then it was the 
thundering herd again, followed by 2m through 1296 with Bill, K0AWU.  I 
then came across Mel and Carol, KC0P/R and N0HZO/R over near Plainview 
in EN34.  We worked on 2, 432, 1296, then 6m, and then give it a go on 
10G, but neither of us heard each other on 10gigs over what should have 
been an easy path, so we have a mystery to investigate here.   After 
working Mel and Carol, I packed up my dishes and moved south.

EN43ax was the next stop.   This is the classic rover spot right next 
to the survey marker, immediately south of Interstate 90.  Jim, K0KFC, 
made it into my log for the first time, and then I worked K0AWU on 2 
through 1296.  It’s such nice shot looking north towards Bill, and I 
was in no particular hurry, that we decided to try 10gigs.  Yup, it 
worked, what I like to call another beautiful CW QSO, this time at a 
distance of 376 km, my best microwave DX for the contest – thanks Bill. 
   Mike, KM0T, found me and we proceeded to do the “usual” 2m through 
10gig sweep in about eight minutes.  Since EN33 is right just west of 
this spot, I packed up my dishes, moved to the top of the road into 
EN33, and reworked Mike again.  As EN33 was going to be my last grid, 
working Mike from EN43 then EN33 freed both of us up from looking that 
way again. Back to EN43ax where I managed to work a few 6m contacts, 
then W0GHZ, KB9TLV, KC0P/R & N0HZO/R, N9TF, K9NS again, and then K2DRH 
for a new grid (EN41).

 From EN43ax, it was a short drive over into EN33ww where I did a little 
exploring.  The ground immediately south and west from the St. Charles 
exit is high ground and has some great shots in several directions – 
very very nice.  It was at such a spot where I worked K0AWU, EN37ed, on 
2, 222, 432, 902, 1296, and again on 10gig.  The usual suspects made it 
into the log, along with finding Bruce, W9FZ/R, in EN44 for new 
multipliers and NE9U in EN54 on 2m.   By that time it was 5:00pm and I 
was 1.5 hrs from home where I would need to “reset” the rovermobile to 
standard operating mode and get ready for work on Monday.  As such, I 
lifted the anchor and headed for home.  I did listen on 6m and 2m on 
the way, and did work a few stations, including KA0RYT, EN35, while 
mobile/rover.

Highlights:
1. I had a VERY good time with a more relaxed rover style.
2. Working KC0IYT/R many times, including 10G rain scatter.
3. Can’t say enough about the thundering herd.  Many thanks to GHZ, KP, 
TLV, VZJ, & AWU.
4.  Mike, KM0T, your station is awesome.  I don’t think people 
understand how easy you have made it to work the high bands.
5.  Bill, K0AWU, thanks for the fun on 902, 1296 and especially 10gigs.
6.  Bruce, W9FZ, and I go back some ways and it’s always great to work 
fuzzy zipper.
7.  As a smoke test for Rovermania, my station worked.  My 902 setup 
was new this year and the 2304 was repaired.  It all seemed to work.
8.  Very good weather, not too hot, and very few bugs.

Lowlights:
1.  Where was EN44 ??  Bruce, W9FZ/R, was my EN44 multiplier late in 
the day on Sunday.
2.  Local activity was down.  Yup, the weather was nice.
3.  No tropo.  With the dry dew points, propagation was poor to average 
on Saturday and perhaps average on Sunday.
4.  Not catching any 6m’s.  My score is going to be killed because of 
poor 6m performance.   Oh well, that wasn’t my goal anyway.
4.  Missing people.  I apologize for missing anyone.  I tried to always 
return to 144.230 and to make some noise there.
6.  I still have some problem with 6m RF getting into stuff.  Need to 
work on that.


How, on to Rovermania, August 4 & 5 !!

73, Jon
W0ZQ

________________________________________________________________________
AOL now offers free email to everyone.  Find out more about what's free 
from AOL at AOL.com.
=0