[NLRS] K9JK/R 222 MHz Fall Sprint Report

[John (JK) Kalenowsky, K9JK]

While not a "WOW!" as last week's 144 Sprint was, having TWO 
rovers out locally (WB8BZK/R and K9GY/R trying his new strategy) 
made a LOT of QSOs possible despite lower activity and band 
conditions that were basically "stinky" (and I believe that is a 
generous assessment of the band last night).

Murphy was also being very creative in what I was experiencing, 
using a recently acquired 222 MHz Brick amp for the first time 
and FINALLY discovering that I was "hearing" BETTER with the 
brick turned OFF and other stations were still hearing me with 
just the 25 Watts (or so) from my "old faithful" FT-736R (that I 
think I've had for 16 or 17 years now! Like an old Timex, it 
keeps on ticking). The beam antenna I was using, a Cushcraft 225 
WB, also seemed significantly "sharper" in it's pattern than I 
remember (which COULD be failing memory or "some-timers") BUT, 
at the same time, I made some QSOs well off the SIDE of that 
antenna (given the oddities that were happening with the brick 
amp and challenges in my ability to receive signals).

Significantly fewer stations were on and active (that I could 
hear anyway) than for 144, only 15 different callsigns in my 222 
log versus 49 different callsigns in my 144 log. Thanks to 
KC9BQA (farthest north), N9TZL, W9GA and WO9S for QSOs from each 
of the 4 Grids I visited. K2DRH (farthest west) for 3 of 4 and 
K9IJ, KO9A and W9SZ (farthest south) for 2 of 4. Single QSOs 
were with K8EB (farthest east), N9TF, N9UM, NT9E and W9IIX. Then 
K9GY/R and I completed a "full rover square dance" of 16 QSOs 
and WB8BZK/R and I missed one combination for "only" 15 QSOs.

I did TRY "northwest" on 222.105 at 0020Z and 0120Z (but was 
busy at 0220Z) with nothing heard (though it may? have been the 
Murphy effect). I think W9GA and KC9BQA mentioned that someone 
was on from EN43 but I didn't catch who.

61 QSOs total (30 without the benefit of two rovers being in the 
area) and 9 different Grids worked overall.

QSO Detail:
Grid  Qs  Ms  Grid Score
EN51  16   7  224
EN52  16   8  256
EN61  11   6  132
EN62  18   9  324

Total Score by SVHFS Fall Sprint Rover Scoring Method: 936 (2 
points/QSO)
By Spring Sprint Rover Scoring Method: 1830 (1 point/QSO)
By ARRL Rover Scoring Method: 1586 (2 points/QSO)

As always, THANKS to ALL who were on everywhere, especially 
those that responded to my CQs or otherwise found me (I hope I 
wasn't TOO much of an "alligator" when I had the Brick on for TX 
but was NOT hearing) and thanks to the
Southeastern VHF Society for their continued sponsorship of 
these Fall activity attractors.

Here's hoping for decent activity (and PRAYING FOR but not 
'expecting' conditions like last Monday's 144 MHz) for NEXT 
week's 432 MHz Fall Sprint...Wednesday evening, October 7, from 
7pm to 11pm LOCAL time.

73, JK