[NLRS] KK6MC/r roving in NM (not MN)

[James Duffey]

Roving is different in the Southwest than in the midwest. While you  
guys have more activity, I can get out in the January contest and not  
be too uncomfortable. We had lows in the 20s and highs in the 50s.  
Great roving weather. I thought you might like to hear what roving in  
he Southwest is like in the winter.

There was no enhanced propagation, but enough local activity to keep  
things interesting. This is considerably better than last year's  
January effort and I think it is pretty close to the best I have done  
without enhanced roving propagation. Having 4 bands helps, as does  
operating in motion, better planning on my part, and pushing to keep  
on the schedule. I activated 9 grids, traveling 710 miles, and could  
easily have done 2 or 3 more. Next time.

QSOs by Activated Grid:
Grid	QSOs	Grid	QSOs	Grid	QSOs
DM61	21	DM65	8	DM74	11
DM62	9	DM75	8	DM72	8
DM63	4	DM73	8	DM64	10


Score Summary
Band	QSOs	Value	QSO Pts	Mults
50	23	1	23	5
144	38	1	38	6
222	8	2	16	3
432	18	2	36	3


Grids activated: 		9

Totals:	87		113	26	

Claimed Score: 2938

Gear was an IC551D on 6M to a homebrew square loop, but the IC551D  
quit early on to be replaced by an equally ancient FT-680, which  
worked, but at 10 Watts, wasn't nearly the powerhouse that the Icom  
is. On two I used an FT290II with a TE Systems 125 Watt linear to a 3  
element WA5VJB Yagi. On 222 MHz an Elecraft XV222 transverter driven  
by an HTX-100 to another WA5VJB 3 element Yagi. On 432 MHz an FT780 to  
a KLM amplifier running at 50 Watts. One advantage you in the midwest  
have over us is that we are limited to 50 Watts RMS out on 432 MHz,  
primarily due to military installations at White Sands Missile Range.  
The antenna on 432 is a symmetrical double loop. I had long Yagis to  
use when I stopped.

Murphy Struck early. They just put up a gate across the access road to  
my favorite site in DM74, so I found a new spot on a cul de sac in an  
unbuilt subdivision nearby. Fortunately this only put me behind  
schedule 5 minutes. There was lots of local activity here. I found out  
that the old IC551D would only work on CW. Murphy strikes again. Still  
I think I only lost one or two contacts to people I couldn't work  
because they couldn't work CW. I tried to raise some Colorado stations  
here and couldn't. Same for stations in DM62 and DM61. I have worked  
both from here before.

I then moved on to DM75, the site of the former Longhorn Ranch, a  
notorious Route 66 tourist trap. This is a good spot, but it was a bit  
noisy. I worked the locals and then tried to raise Colorado and DM61  
and DM62 again. Nothing heard in either direction, but I don't know if  
that was due to my noise level or lack of activity.

Then I hit I-40 through DM65 to I-25 south through DM64, calling on 2M  
all the way, working stations and moving them up and down the bands.  
Here Murphy struck again and the IC551D gave up the ghost all together  
with a sputtering sound and a large buzz. I hope it can be  
resurrected. I had a spare 6M rig, an old FT680, along, but decided to  
wait until I got to DM61 to change it out rather than delay the trip.  
So no 6M through DM65, DM64, DM63, and DM62. But as I was revisiting  
DM63, DM64, and DM65 on the way back this seemed like a good trade off.

I made a short stop in DM63 near Truth or Consequences to get to a  
high spot and work some things north and south. Then on the road again  
to DM62 and DM61, where activity picked up again. I stopped at the  
Transmountain Highway Franklin Mountain pass near El Paso in DM61 in  
the evening. This is a good high spot with lots of activity so I had a  
good time here. I swapped out the 6M rigs and after a bit of cockpit  
error got 6M up and running albeit at only 10 Watts. Good views to be  
enjoyed here as well.

We drove to Alamogordo for the night. I set up in the morning at the  
Space History Museum. This is a good spot from the South around to the  
North. I did surprise myself by making a QSO with N2IC over 120 miles  
and 2 mountain ranges at 10 Watts and a square loop on 6M. There are  
nice views of the Tularosa Basin and the White Sands from here.

Then I went North a few miles to DM73 in La Luz and worked most of the  
El Paso and La Cruces group again. Also, to my surprise, I snagged a  
station in DM41 on two at 275 miles for my best DX of the contest.

Then we drove north through DM73 to DM63. I stopped a couple of times  
in DM63 to work N2IC and N7KA on 6M. Then back to DM63 and DM64.  
Activity was dead during the playoff games, but picked up at half  
times and between games. Had supper with my daughter and then we  
headed home.

Thanks to Virginia for driving and taking photos. I will post photos  
to the Soapbox when I get a chance.

I cross posted this to several lists. Sorry if you get it twice. -  
Duffey
--
KK6MC
James Duffey
Cedar Crest NM