[NLRS] 2011 Microwave Fall Sprint report - K9JK/R

[John (JK) Kalenowsky, K9JK]

For a fourth Fall Sprint attempt in the CoROVERolla, it ended up 
as another positive, though low scoring, experience.

I wasn't able to get on until the last hour due to some other 
work I really needed to complete (or the 2011 August UHF Contest 
Results article might not appear in QST until February, 2012, 
instead of January) and that only allowed time to visit two 
Grids, EN52 (though two sub-grids, xc and xd) and EN62ad.

I was 1.2 GHz only and used my old faithful FT-736R with it's 
whopping 10 Watts to a 25 element (6' boom) Directive Systems 
Looper set at about 10 feet using the roof rack and platform 
that I've assembled and used for multiple omnidirectional 
antennas when "limited" roving in September. Liaison radio for 
2m was my FT-100D, also barefoot, to a KB6KQ 2m Loop about two 
feet below the Looper.

My first 1.2G contact was reported as very distorted, possibly 
FMing, by Jim, KO9A, but he indicated that it seemed to improve 
as we talked AND once I made sure the voltage to the 736 was 
"up".

I tried with N9LB from EN62ad but neither of us heard a peep 
from the other.

My greatest DX ended up being from EN52xd (along the side of the 
road and in the LAST minute before 1pm) to W9SZ/R who had only 
recently arrived and gotten set up at Willow Hill, EN62cc...21 
km woohoo!

Total DX from 8 QSOs, 92km but the one zero kilometer QSO gets 
ONE point so I'm claiming 93 points for my score.

Thanks to ALL who were on but especially to the THREE Rovers 
(W9SNR, W9SZ and WB8BZK) and Fixed station KO9A who were 'local' 
and able to hear my puny signal. Thanks also to N9LB who tried 
to hear me from 88 km away and to the Southeast VHF Society for 
their continued sponsorship of the Fall Sprints.

Next Saturday evening for the 50 MHz Fall Sprint...I'll be out 
there "slash-R-ing" and looking for others!

73, JK