[NLRS] FZ/VVQ Aug 10g Weekend recap

[Bruce Richardson]

We had two hard days of playing radio!  What a great way to see Wisconsin!

 

I've whipped up graphics of the two days activity for us. When I combined
them into one graphic, it was difficult to see much detail.

https://w9fz.com/hamtrips/images/2021aug10g/2021AugmicrogridmasterSat.jpg

https://w9fz.com/hamtrips/images/2021aug10g/2021AugmicrogridmasterSun.jpg

 

Saturday started with light rain. We were able to set-up and not get too
wet. We were ready early for the planned 7:30am start time. I cq'd (in the
blind-just throwing RF around) into a mass of rain southeast of us near
Madison, WI.  When I unkeyed, Zack, W9SZ replied from EN50rl (387km away).  

 

In every subgrid, we had to set-up two and three times in order to work the
directions we needed.  That's a good problem that there were operators
within range in so many different directions.  On Saturday, we worked from
basically four subgrids but had to set-up 8-10 times to accomplish that.
Sunday had at least nine set-ups.

 

It was nice to work all of our friends who we've come to know in this hobby
and hear their voices or their fists.  We were glad to hear that WA9TT,
AA9IL and KB8U had relatively new 10giggers with them (K9JCZ, K9TMS, and
??).  While we were only successful contacting K9TMS, mentoring new stations
is essential for the future of 10G contesting. Rick, N9NYA, visited us at
our first spot on Saturday and hopefully he will jump off the cliff into 10
giggin'.  Further, with WA9TT, KA9VDU, WD9BGA, N9EM, and N9LB now QRV on 10g
in Wisconsin, one can stay busy working Wisconsin operators!  So a challenge
for all of us is to bring along mentees on our future events.

 

We enjoyed working and coordinating with other rovers like W0ZQ/WB0LJC,
KA9VDU, and WA9TT.  More Q's equals more fun!

 

On Saturday, while heading back to the cabin, we came across a sculpture
called "Ex-Communication" on Hwy 56/82 just east of Viroqua, WI.  We think
10G operators can get a chuckle out of it.

https://w9fz.com/hamtrips/images/2021aug10g/10gsculpture.JPG 

 

On Sunday, Russ, KB8U contacted us by phone to let us know that he was on
the east shore of Lake Michigan and available to run.  We are so glad he
did!  We completed with him from three different locations.  The first time,
we were at a fabulous location called EN43wb just north of Gov Dodge State
Park (on Hwy ZZ).  The only problem was the Microwave tower site there kinda
blocked the view towards Russ. We tried anyway and we were successful.
(photo here:  https://w9fz.com/hamtrips/images/2021aug10g/kb8u_1_1.JPG  )
In our next two contacts with Russ, that continued to push the distance, we
had pretty good horizons in his direction.

 

We finished up Sunday evening from an outstanding location just west of
Fennimore, WI called EN42px.  From there we worked W0GHZ and, with some rain
enhancement, K0AWU.  

 

We each made 78 QSOs and don't know our score yet (and don't really care).
The fun each day was the payoff.

 

73

Bruce W9FZ and Janice KA9VVQ