[Wswss] RE: [PNWVHFS] Where will you be for the 2008 June Contest?

Sun Apr 6 15:29:46 EDT 2008

This might be an unusual reply, if not a bit long.

I just acquired my new radio contesting rover vehicle - A Kawasaki KLR 650 
dual sport motorcycle designed to do highway and forest roads.  I will be 
mounting radio gear, battery/isolator, and some portable antenna setup soon. 
Only problem for the June contest is that I have to be here in downtown 
Seattle Sunday AM for a college graduation ceremony so will be range limited 
to a single day Saturday of the contest, or leave Friday night, operate a 
return route Saturday operation.

For June and cntests beyond the idea is I should be able to target very 
remote places, likely use my IC-706, with 6 (100W), 2(50W), 432(25W), maybe 
some low power 222 (5W).  Would be using loops and a 5 element dual band log 
antenna.  Will begin operations with a FT-817 in the tank bag and soon add 
side cases and a trunk case capable of holding more permanent gear and mast 
mounts.

With this years deep snow, many high places may be blocked to trucks, but 
maybe some passable by bike.  Given my 1 day limitation this June and the 
snow level, I should probably plan for September to be the ultimate remote 
grid activation rove this year. For June I can probably hit southern BC or 
eastern Washington, maybe go back to DN08 (Tunk Mtn) and also CN98 near lake 
Chelan (6000ft on a eastern view ridge forest road). If time allows, stop in 
CN97 Table mountain  (6000ft traditional contest location near Ellensburg, 
WA) since it is on the return route and quick to get to even at night.

Should be fun in any case, the key reason I am doing this.  It is much 
cheaper than the truck since  I get 50+mpg vs 13mpg, so I am more likely to 
go out roving, and a new packaging challlenge.   There are other 
opportunitiies all this summer where I will be out in the mountains and 
maybe even target 5.7/10GHz VUCC runs.  A challenge on the antenna part to 
overcome.

I will be posting any roves.  Likely to be short notice.   If you have 
requests be sure to let me know and I can add them to my potentials lists.  
BC, Alberta, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Yellowstone, and other northwest 
locations are valid.  I will be highway touring to Hells Canyon late in July 
and plan to take a FT-817 up Mt Howard tram (8000 ft.).   I saw the 6M rare 
grid list and that could become an obsession even - who knows, still early 
but the possibilities are interesting.

For fun, I will be taking the FT-817 to Whistler mountain in BC on memorial 
day weekend.  I have no idea what to expect from QRP there, or if I will 
ever get out of hte valley enough to get a signal out, but I will "be 
prepared".   I wonder how much gain the zip lines up there have? :-)

Last, I will be taking a long road trip with the FT-817 to Lake Tahoe area, 
Monterrey, San Francisco, and Cal coastline July 4-12 period for a family 
vacation trip in the car.  Pretty tight schedule but who knows. Maybe cross 
paths with someone.

73,

Mike Lewis
K7MDL
Grid Locator CN87xt
Member of Pacific Northwest VHF Society #C96 (www.pnwvhfs.org)
Member of Microsoft Amateur Radio Club (www.microhams.com)
Visit the K7MDL Amateur Radio Pages web site at 
http://mysite.verizon.net/michael_d_lewis/index.html
Elecraft K2 #2633

>From: "T. M." <k7xc at charter.net>
>Reply-To: k7xc at charter.net
>To: <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
>CC: "PNWVHFS" <PNWVHFS at googlegroups.com>, <vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu>, 
><Wswss at mailman.qth.net>, <6meter at yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: [PNWVHFS] Where will you be for the 2008 June Contest?
>Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2008 16:15:27 -0000
>
>
>Hi Folks!
>
>The time is finally here to begin promoting where your going to be 
>operating
>the June VHF QSO Party from....
>
>If I can manage it, I plan to activate Booker Mtn in DM18 on 6, 2, 222, 432
>and possible 902 & 1296. Lots to do between now and then...
>
>Where Will YOU be this year?
>
>Email me your plans or Post them here and I'll compile a list to send to 
>the
>group as time gets closer.
>
>73s de Tim - K7XC -DM09nm... sk
>
>
>
>
>
>
>"One who fears limits his activities. Failure is only the opportunity to
>more intelligently begin again." -Henry Ford
>
>
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