[NLRS] Rovermania 6 - Tha Challenge

[N0HJZ at aol.com]

Hi All -

I've been away from the group for a while as I've been  working on DXing and 
operating from other countries and have been starting up a  business.  I've 
still got my busted rig from the 2005 UHF Contest and I  feel like I've been 
away from VHF for too long.

I've been watching the  threads about Rovermania and the UHF Contest and it 
stirred up an old idea I had  many years ago.  Now seems like the time to share 
the idea.

For  years (decades?) the powerhouse of all multi-op stations has been 
W2SZ/1.   They are one of the top multi's in the country and seem to own the top 
multi-op  score year after year after year.  I can only think of one year that 
they  have not been the champion in the UHF Contest Multi-Op competition.

I'd  like to change that!  I will need all the help within NLRS as well as 
the  help of the Chippewa Valley group and the Badger Contesters (and more).   
Here is what I'd like to do:

For the 2009 UHF Contest (we have more than  a year to plan) I'd like to:

1) Set up a large multi-op on the top of the  Buck Hill ski area in 
Burnsville, MN.  Some of us have set up a multi-op on  Buck Hill for two of the past 
UHF Contests.  Both times we were blessed  with good propagation.  One year we 
worked into Maryland and Mississippi on  222 thru 2304!  It was unbelieveable!

2) Activate all UHF/Microwave  stations within 400 miles of EN34.

3) Send out a large number of rovers  in all directions for Rovermania 6.  I 
would like to make sure that between  fixed stations and rovers, we activate 
every grid from EN01 - EN07 - EN67 - EN61  (and beyond).  Activating all the 
grids in this box gives us at least 49  active grids and that's a lot of 
potential multipliers.

4) I'd like to  get all sorts of local FM activity for those who do not have 
weak signal  capability.  I would think many of the local clubs (Twin City FM 
Club,  etc.) may have many members with 223 & 440 FM gear.

I have been  running some numbers and I feel that we could achieve almost 900 
QSO's on the  222 MHz - 24 GHz bands and work 200 grids combined on the 
bands.  That  would give us a score of over a million points!  We could really give 
the  other multi-ops a run for their money!

What do I need:

1)  I  need to know who would be interested in being a part of the team to 
make this  happen.  We'll need the following:

a)  We'll need a team for  the multi-op.  We'll need a good station, amp & 
antennas for each  band.  We'll need good operators for all 24 hours of the 
contest.   We'll need some infrastructure to connect the stations (PC's, etc.).  
I'll  need to work to get us permission to operate from Buck Hill.  There will 
be  lots of people needed for planning and operation of the multi.

b)   We'll need a bunch of rovers to go out and activate grids.  We'll need 
to  load up the rovers with good gear that is tested and will operate the 
entire  contest.  Rovermania 5 may be a good chance to find and test locations for  
next year.

c)  We'll need other people to help get other stations on  the air for the 
contest.  We'll need people to help promote the idea with  the FM clubs, etc.

There are so many details that will need to be worked  on before this can 
actually happen.  I'd like to see if I can find a core  team to head up the 
planning.  We can meet periodically and report back to  the group.  A major report 
of progress and ideas can be given at AURORA  '09.

What do you think?  Let me know your ideas and if you'd like to  join in on 
the planning.  We'll need a lot of help to pull this off but I  really feel it 
is something we can conquer as a group!

73's
Rich N0HJZ 
 



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