[Wswss] N6ZE/R in SBA, LA, WWA Sections: ARRL Sept VHF Contest Comments

[n6ze at aol.com]

N6ZE operated the ARRL September 2013 VHF Contest as a Limited QRP Rover (a masochist) from 4 grids: DM03 & DM04 and CN87 & CN88. Most QSOs were made from the Western Washington Section. All QSOs were made on SSB except for one 2 meter FM QSO. Only one 222 MHz FM QSO was made. Except for the lone 220 MHz FM QSO, all operations were made with an FT-817 with a Madol 50/144/430 MHz whip antenna. 
 
Operating elevations ranged from sea level @ Clinton, WA ferry boat dock (CN87tx) , 200 ft ASL in LAX airport parking structure (DM03) , 200 ft ASL in Freeland, WA (CN88ra) , 500 ft ASL in Clinton, WA CN87tw, & 850 ft ASL in Thousand Oaks, CA (DM04ne).
 
In SoCal, weather had clear skies, visibility unlimited 85 deg F; In Washington state, weather varied from W0X0F: TS/R++, windy, otherwise known as Weather 0 foot ceiling (X) obscured, 0 visibility with Fog, Thunderstorm, heavy rain, and gusty winds, to cloudy skies with temperature in the lower 60s. My "station" operating position was the roof of my car. Logging sheets were usually very wet! 
 
Despite social and family commitments during the contest period & operating with just a small QRP portable rig/whip antenna, I did manage to have fun during the VHF Contest. 
 
I made contact with a  number of other rovers: K6LMN/R (3Q), WW7D/R (6Q), W7GLF/R (2Q), N7EPD/R (1Q). 
 
As usual, I had fun Roving while my XYL, Robin, enjoyed using her “I-Whatever” = I-pad/I-phone when I operated from CN87/88.
 
 
Statistics:
 
6m: QSOs Made From Grid: 3Q/DM03; 2Q/DM04; 10Q/CN87; 4Q/CN88 - Grids Worked: 4
 
2m: QSOs Made From Grid: 3Q/DM03; 6Q/DM04; 16Q/CN87; 6Q/CN88 - Grids Worked: 6
 
135cm: QSOs Made From Grid: 1Q/DM04 - Grids Worked: 1
 
70cm: QSOs Made From Grid: 2Q/DM03; 3Q/DM04; 10Q/CN87; 3Q/CN88 - Grids Worked: 5
 
Total QSOs:69
 
Un-smoothed score: ~1770
 
Entry Class: QRP Rover
 
Hours + Minutes of Operation from Grid: (0+08) DM03; (0+30) DM04; (1+15) CN87; (1+09) CN88 
 
Total Operating Time: 3 hours + 02 minutes
 
bt73deN6ZE