[NLRS] KC9BQA in EN63 ON for CQ WW VHF

[Todd Sprinkmann]

    Last year, I was amazed at all the new calls that got on from WI and N 
ILL for the CQ WW VHF.   Calls I didn't recognize after 6 years of 
contesting.   Since we're still heavily promoting weak-signal V/UHF in July 
of 2010, I'm optimistic we'll see another strong turnout.   I've sent email 
in at least 15 directions this morning, to various groups in my logs over 
time, and to general ham groups that have developed pockets of weak-signal 
interest.   This works if you're friendly and persistent. 

    KC9BQA.com was updated early this morning with known rover plans within a 
few hundred miles of EN63.   Of note to NLRS members is K9MU and K9DRO 
activating EN55 (primarily) and EN54/45/44 this afternoon.   WB8BZK will be 
roving the Chicago/Milwaukee corridor and K0PG and K9ILT will be doing 
multiple grids, as well.   Full details are at kc9bqa.com. 

    Another potential hotspot will be the La Crosse/Winona and SW WI area.   
If you have a vertical beam and point at that direction on/near 146.55, you 
might make Q's you won't get any other way.   Some of those guys are newer, 
and are still making the transition to SSB.  There will also be SSB activity 
from that area.   I've also been networking with some fellows in the EN33 
Albert Lea area; hope they get on this weekend. 

    Hopefully conditions will be so good that even omni-omni contacts will be 
possible.   This happened overnight during the July 2006 CQ WW VHF.   After I 
had played out the SSB'ers, I was up all night working guys from the 
Chanhassen NWS office, to Terre Haute, IN, to Burlington, IA on 146.55 FM in 
a great tropo opening. 

    I see that MN is again under the gun for severe weather come late 
afternoon or evening.   Hopefully that forecast will be wrong.   I'll be 
looking often to my NW before the weather develops. 

    I do have a problem with 6m.   My 7 el M2 is fixed east -- rotor box is 
shorting out, suspect it's lightning damage from Wed. night.   But I still 
have a long yagi on a separate tower for 2m, so I *can* look a full 360 on 
144. 

    I see no prohibition on using internet helpers in the CQ Contest.   As 
such, I'll be enjoying the on4kst.com chat for 144-432 MHz (IARU Region 2 
room) 

    73, 
    Todd  KC9BQA    EN63ao    40 N of Milwaukee 
    www.kc9bqa.com  For Frequent VHF/UHF Updates 
    www.wivuch.com  WI VHF/UHF County Hunters Award