[NLRS] 10 GHz Aug 2020 Report for KC0P & N0HZO

[Melvyn Larson]

10 GHz Aug 2020 Report for KC0P & N0HZO 16 Aug 2020In a word, Exciting ! To support the Rover Pack to the SE and
fixed stations to the N we needed an omni spot. The Dodge Center
location EN34oa has worked many times to WB0LJC when he was set up
at Mall of America Park & Ride for rig trials at a distance,EN34ju.
There is a field turnout at the crest of a slight rise on Dodge County
9 just north of US 14 and this provides a good take off in all 
directions. This year it has corn but with the tripod & dish set
up in the back of the pick up we can see over the corn. We were set up in the normal spot by 9 am and worked all four
stations fixed in St. Croix Falls EN35rj with good loud signals,
Chris & Holly in EN34iw good signals and finally the rover pack
at N. Harmony EN33xo by 10:26. Off to a good start. Then a small helicopter flew over but had the spray bars in the
retracted position, followed by a support truck with tanks and a
nice landing pad on the back. But they went on by. I noticed they
were spraying the field next to us. Spot spraying or the whole
field ? Our field turn out and the corn field are on the west
side of Dodge county 9 but the east side has a 13 KV power line.
It was a beautiful site to see him spray corn then pull up
short of the power line, turn around almost in a stall and then
swoop down again to start another pass. But he was getting closer
& closer ! At the end of a pass, he circled around by us very low
and Carol said "I think I can see him waving at us". I said "I
think he is saying--Get the Hades out of there" ! No time to pack
up the station, I had Carol sit on the aiming stool and hang on to
the rig and Mel backed out and drove the truck slowely down the 
road past the end of the corn field, about an eigth of a mile. They moved the support truck into "Our" Field Turnout and we 
watched them reload several times. A popular spot Saturday AM.
Got a phone alert from Bruce W9FZ, they were ready for us at
E. Prosper. Pass, we got blown away by a crop duster! I walked
back and asked the truck driver "How long until you are done, an
hour" ? He answered "Less than that". After they finished, we moved the truck and rig slowly back
up the road (again with Carol hanging on to the rig) recovered
the aiming and worked the rover pack again at Spring Grove with
good signals. Some times the action above the corn is more important
than just being able to see over the corn. Sunday with the rover pack to the SW, we used a spot on the north
edge of Rochester that would work, EN34sb. Worked the fixed groups
again from the new location and the rover pack at three stops.
Total of 24 Q's on Sat and 30 Q's Sunday. Carol remarked "That
is the hardest we ever worked for less than a page of contacts".We know that it is a lot of effort for all the various operators
and without the effort there would not be anyone to talk to. Thanks, Mel & Carol