[PaQSO] Newbe Rover

[John Getz]

​Hi Pete:

Jim, K8MR, has given some good advise.  He is one of the Big Guns of mobile
and rover contesting.  I'll add a few things that I have learned over time:

1.  Pay attention to how you get 12 volts from your car.  If you use a
cigarette lighter for power, it or the plug will fail when you start making
lots of contacts over a long period of time.  Even the solder in 3AG fuses
will melt.  I come directly off the battery with a heavy duty fuse holder
and a large size fuse.  There are no other fuses in the 12 volt power cord
to fail.

2.  Pay attention to any noise coming out of the power supply for your
laptop.  If you have a laptop that runs on 12 volts, you are in good
shape.  My laptop requires 18 volts so I have to use a converter.  I tried
a lot of them before I found one (and a spare) that were quiet.

3.  As far as locations, I've found that being out in the open is more
important than being high.  On Saturday's I like church parking lots as
they are usually empty and most have a single big tree when I can hang my
inverted Vee's if I'm doing a rover operation.  On Sunday's I avoid church
parking lots and use other locations.  I always avoid being near a bank.
After dark I like a space near the edge of a Walmart parking lot so I can
park under a light.

4.  I've found that for a successful solo mobile or rover operation, you
need to spend a lot of time mapping out a short route that lets you cover a
lot of counties with very little driving.  Using Google Maps I can do a
satellite zoom in on the route and usually pick most of my operating
locations in advance.  From my QTH in western NC, I can hit a bunch of
state contests in an hour or two.  I usually start at the farthest point
and work my way back home during the contest.  Pay attention to the hour
before and after sunset as you want to be operating and not driving.  That
will be the highest rate period and most fun of the contest.

5.  I hang signs in my car windows saying "Amateur Radio".  This keeps the
police and others from stopping to see if you need assistance.  With the
spots I pick to operate, I very seldom have anyone stop by.

Welcome to the world of mobile and rover contesting.


​
John Getz
​, AD8J​
24 Stony Ridge
Asheville, NC  28804