[NLRS] June contest plans and question about Rib Mountain

[David Palm]

Christopher and I will be roving for the June contest, using his call
KC9JTL/R.  Plans look good to have 100+ watts on 50, 144, 222, and 432 MHz,
so this is an upgrade from the last time we roved.

There is also a reasonable chance that we will have at least a toe-hold on
902 and 1296.  I have a DEM transverter for 1296--it has separate receive
and transmit IF and I have not yet read up on how to handle that.  But even
if I have to manually shift the IF from the receive to the transmit BNC, it
seems that we should have about 3 watts into an 11 element yagi on that
band.  I'm scrambling to finish the PA section for a W1GHZ transverter for
902 MHz.  If it all falls together, it would be 18 watts into a 10 element
yagi.  That's a little more iffy.  But we will do our best.

We plan to start the contest on Granddad's Bluff, overlooking La Crosse.
WV9E and we are going to try to get a nice local turn-out for the first hour
of the contest.  Then hopefully two more Activity Hours for local La Crosse
activity.  After that first hour, we'll rove north to the EN44-45-54-55 grid
convergence near Wausau, WI.  We'll probably stop in EN44 on the way up,
then work the grid convergence in the evening and into the night.  Will stay
the night in Wausau, up early to hear Mass at the beautiful St. Mary's
Oratory (http://www.institute-christ-king.org/wausau/) and then back out
into the contest.

Question:  Has anybody had experience operating off of Rib Mountain near
Wausau?  It has a commanding view, but it's bristling with antennas and I'm
concerned about RFI levels.  Any advice on that would be appreciated.

If it sounds like it will work, we'll probably operate from there for an
hour or two on Sunday morning.  Then start the drive home.  We'll stop in
EN53 on the way home for our sixth grid.  Then back home for some operation
from the rover rig, but probably just at our own QTH which itself is a great
op spot.

I will keep our plans current in the on-line spreadsheet.  I would really
appreciate if you would look for us on the air.

Really looking forward to this one.

73,

David  W9HQ