[NLRS] RoverMania VI Updates

[John P. Toscano]

I've made numerous updates to the RoverMania VI pages on www.nlrs.org to 
bring forward the most current information that I have seen on the 
reflectors concerning participation in the contest.

   L:\WebSites\www.nlrs.org\RoverPlans\2009-08\RoverMania.htm

The biggest changes have been to the rover schedules themselves, because 
several of the rovers have changed their plans, or I originally got 
their plans wrong (accidentally leftover information from prior years).

For the benefit of EVERYONE who plans to play in the ARRL UHF Contest on 
08/01/09 and 08/02/09, I would beg:

1) If you plan to go roving, please check the pages, and let me know if
    I got any part of your information wrong.

2) If you plan to go roving, and are getting closer to deciding on a
    schedule (what grids at what times), please let me know.  No one is
    going to hold a gun to your head and say you must keep to that
    schedule, it's just an estimate, not a promise. And you can change
    your mind as many times as you wish, and I'll do my best to keep
    up with it. Most rovers that I know about have at least picked out
    the grids they plan to activate, and some have said which grids
    they plan to do on Saturday vs. Sunday, but very few have announced
    an hour-by-hour schedule. Again, it's not intended to limit you in
    any way, it's intended to maximize the chances that someone else
    will have a clue of which direction to point their antennas and
    call you when they have a free moment.

3) If you plan to go roving, and I've somehow missed you altogether,
    then PLEASE let me know your plans in as much detail as you can,
    and I will get you added to the mix.  And you don't have to ONLY
    reply if you're mostly in NLRS territory, I would hope my pages are
    also helpful to the Badger Contesters and Chippewa Valley VHF Group,
    plus anyone in the Upper Midwest, affiliated or not!

4) If you are planning to operate as a fixed station, I also need your
    information. I want to get all the rover grids plus all the fixed
    station grids onto a comprehensive grid map, so everyone knows just
    who will be available somewhere sometime during the 24 hour period.
    As you can see from the (sketchy) information I've complied so far,
    I am interested in your call, your 6-digit Maidenhead grid, and
    which bands you have (or hope to have) operational for the 'test.
    If I put you on the page and you don't really plan to operate, let
    me know and I'll take you off.

5) If you ever have the occasion to check into one of the FM nets in
    the area, please mention the contest for the next few weeks, and
    invite folks to listen and/or call that weekend on whatever bands
    they may have, from 222 MHz and up.  The frequencies 223.5 MHz FM
    and 446.0 MHz FM with no offset are simplex calling frequencies
    that should see some activity. (I mention "no offset" because
    every Yaesu radio that I own which can transmit on 446.0 MHz FM
    "thinks" that it is a repeater frequency, and wants to automatically
    set up a 5 MHz repeater offset! Other brands might do the same.)
    Casual operators are welcome. You don't need to be submitting a
    log or even be competing, we'd love to work you for the extra
    points that we earn from your QSO. But if you DO want to submit
    a log, so much the better, and numerous people will be happy to
    help you.

Careful perusal of the new pages will reveal that, for the moment, I 
have dropped W0JT/r from the schedules. I will NOT be starting in the
EN12/EN13/EN22/EN23 grid corner as I originally proposed. Gene, N0DQS 
will be covering those grids (and more). I'm still mulling over new 
travel plans.  See, you really **CAN** change your mind after you make 
your initial announcement!  :)

73 de WØJT
NLRS webmaster