[NLRS] K0PG/Rand K9ILT/R UHF Preliminary report

[aduhawk at comcast.net]

We had a good time. The event was overshadowed by the frying of the 222 xvrtr Friday night, which meant we would only have three bands. Our usual tactic is to crank on 222, making the initial contact and moving the stations we work through the bands. I was afraid that without it the normally relaxed UHF contest might be comatose. 

I made 87 contacts through mostly flat conditions. As always happens we didn't make the same number of contacts. This time I made one more than Pat. Sometimes it's the other way around. 

Highlights included contacts into EN70, 71, 80 and 81 from Upper Lake Park, Port Washington, WI on 432. All stations were quite strong. We couldn't find anyone on from EN72 or the usually omnipresent K2YAZ from EN74. Ken, W9GA remarked that there may have been some type of inversion over Lake Michigan because microwave contacts between us were difficult from dependably workable distances. 

We have to comment about those who follow us around. N9DG's panadapter on his SDR let's him know when we're on our run frequency and he's usually the first to call when we are in a new grid. W9GA seems to be there all the time and ready with observations about our signal. Although this time he mentioned how much better Pat's audio comes through than mine. Hmmph! 

Our best DX had to be K2DRH in EN41 from EN64. We managed to Bob and Fran, N2KMA from EN64 along with W9GA, and N9LB. It took a lot of work, and tries but we were finally able to do it. 

We were delighted with working the father/son team of W9HQ/R and KC9JTL/R is several grids. Chris' operating skills have come a long way over the past few years and it's great to have that family bonding. We were hoping to work N0NE and others in MN, but never heard anything. We were happy to make contact with W9SNR, the "father of roving" in these parts, even if it was only one time. 

Let me tell you about our surprise grid. We weren't doing well from our spot in EN63 Sunday morning, so Pat, who always wants to take the scenic route suggested that we run up to EN64. We did, to good effect. Then, with about 30 minutes to go she observed that we were only a few miles from the town of St. Nazianz. Let me explain. Pat is a photographer, and she likes 19th century small-town churches. She figured that is the town is named for a saint that there's bound to be a good church and an old cemetery. She was right. It's quite an impressive church. I pointed out that the GPS said that we were only a few miles don the road from a new grid, EN54. So, we went there first, worked N9DG called us first (of course) and then realized that NK9Z was from that grid. He was on frequency, so we completed with a few minutes to spare. 

We turned south, had lunch at an English pub in Sheboygan and made it home through I 94 traffic by 5:00 PM. We drove 654 miles at (ugh) 16.4 mpg and we are pumped for September. 

Thanks for riding along! 73, Tim K0PG/R and Pat K9ILT/R the Rovairs Extraordinaires