[NLRS] N9TTX/R January VHF results

[Dave Aho - N9TTX]

January VHF 2009

The original plan:  Full blown 5-band operation with maybe only 6-8 grids

The Revised Plan:  Due to work and cold weather, I only got the 6-meter loop on the car.  I had also planned on visiting the parents that weekend, so I figured a minor rove would work, with 2-meter and possibly 440 FM if I could get the feedlines redone on the existing car antennas.  I was planning on going out Saturday afternoon/evening for 5-8 hours and do at least 4 grids.  It snowed up there in EN55 and had a winter weather advisory for my proposed route…oh well.  I helped Dad out with chores around the house and spent time with my parents on Saturday instead.

Revised Plan II:  Decided to get up early Sunday and maybe get some coax issues resolved on HF (for NAQP) and 2 meters, then get out by noon or 1 pm and make a few grids – possibly down toward Madison then up I-94 to EN34/35 and back home to Eau Claire in EN44.

Sigh!!!

Eventual Realized Rove:  NO NAQP at all!  Coax not resolved (and only a 12 hour contest anyhow)…got up late Sunday morning.  Started out roving with only 6-meters at noon-thirty (18:30 UTC), heard a light CW signal and a couple scatter blasts on SSB from the parent’s house to town.  Gassed up, then tried to make scatter Q’s – Nope!  Hit the road at 1 pm and decided on the way out of town to surprise visit an old friend from high school.  We ended up talking about old and current times until 4:30.  Afterwards, I heard a few more light CW and SSB signals between Rhinelander and Tomahawk, then nothing.  Got through Wausau and Westbound on 29. Stopped at Abbottsford and checked the system as I was not hearing any activity.  SWR was through the roof (it was flat before).  I Checked the amp…not kicking in, hmmmmmmmm…checked the jumper I had to install between the amp feedline and the rig.  It seemed crackly, so I scrounged and only found a junky
 one with a note that said “please fix me” attached to it, but tried it for giggles, the signal cleaned up, and I was hearing Justin’s beacon in Eau Claire, and Rex’s beacon in Duluth. OK…IN BUSINESS!!!   I drove all the way to Menomonie and back to Eau Claire and got no returns on any of my SSB or CW calls.  I kept checking the beacons which were still there.  I know something was going out into the ether because the amp was kicking in on RF sense mode and lightly flickering the interior lights of the car, the PWR/ALC meter on the rig was banging away like normal with near flat SWR readings…as well as hearing a little voice or code come through the car speakers when I forgot to shut the stereo off.  So here is my score:

2009 January VHF contest:

Band	QSO’s	Grids	SSB	CW	Total
50 MHz	0	0	0	0	0

			Total Score:  Big fat raised Doughnut

Where was everyone on 6-meters between 6 and 10pm Sunday night??  I could hear the beacons, but no-one else.  I was flipping the dial from the calling frequency up to my 50.185 rove freq. But still nothing.  Did everyone have a big party to go to but forget to tell me about it  *L*?  Anyhoo, hopefully I’ll hear more next time out and on the rove.  Heck can I a get low score certificate if I submit this?  Dave…N9TTX/R


I modulate, therefore I am!
               ...73, and all that jazz,


                 Dave...N9TTX


Always remember:  "It could be worse.....it could be raining."
                             Marty Feldman from "Young Frankenstein"