[Wswss] Fwd: Re: [VHF] Rover Tips and Locations in California

[Ron Patterson]

Hi Kyle,

I haven't done any rover operations but have been contesting for years. 
I have also posted this on the VHF and WSWSS reflectors. WSWSS is a good 
place to reach west coast operators although it is pretty quiet these 
days. Have you discovered https://vhf-chat.slack.com/ ? Slack is an 
excellent platform and I would highly recommend that you join.

John, KM4KMU, gave you excellent advice. This contest runs at a 
comfortable pace unless there is a good Es opening on 6m. Take time to 
enjoy!

I will be active on 50/144/220/432 on CW, SSB, FT8 and FM QRO from 
CM95qj. The FM frequencies are 146.52, 223.5 and 446.0 MHz. I assume you 
know the SSB calling frequencies. I operate all horizontal as my FM 
vertical on the top of my tower has died of old age.

I will look for you on n6sjv.org or preferably on Slack. Good luck in 
the contest,

73, Ron W6FM

On 9/5/20 2:36 PM, vhfcontesting-request at contesting.com wrote:
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2020 17:03:52 +0000 (UTC)
> From: nosigma at aol.com
> To: kyle.hamilton at gmail.com, vhfcontesting at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Rover Tips and Locations in California
> Message-ID: <585282855.3579845.1599325432418 at mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
>
> I can help with FM.
> 50, 220 and 432 are QSY only.? Dont waste time calling CQ there.? 
> Focus on 145.520.? Only call CQ there for FM.?
>
> Even saying CQ Contest will give people mile fright or offend them.? 
> When you get a reply go a round or two and then ask what they have for 
> other bands.? You need to tell them where to QSY.? Always say meet me 
> back on .520 if the QSY fails so you can try another band that they 
> have.? Be prepared to give them THEIR GRID to repeat back to you.? 90% 
> wont be contesters so they will have no idea what you are doing.? The 
> nice thing is lots of hams will be scanning over .520 and will come up 
> on the air for you if you make it fun.?
>
> If your up high doing FM simplex contacts at 100+miles it will 
> generate a lot of attempts from people who want to do a Q at such 
> "extreme" range.? You can get a pile up going if it sounds fun.
>
> Do not call CQ Contest every 15 seconds on .520, you will just annoy 
> people.? Chat them up, make it fun, tell them where you are.? Be Honey 
> not Vinegar.
>
> 73 and good luck
>
> John
> KM4KMU
>
>
>
>
> On Friday, September 4, 2020 Kyle Hamilton <kyle.hamilton at gmail.com> 
> wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I've been getting more and more serious about operating as a rover station
> during contests and I'm looking forward to being a rover station for the
> upcoming ARRL VHF contest. This year I'm planning to run SSB on 
> 50/144/440;
> FM on 50/144/220/440; and FT8 on 50/144/440. I'm planning to try and make
> some voice contacts while driving (as long as I can do so safely) and
> stopping in grids to try and make some contacts. In previous contests I've
> gone from my house out to UCSC in grid CM86 and then meandered back home
> though CM87, CM96, and DM06.
>
> I've sort of been figuring things out on my own and gotten a little advice
> from the folks over at https://n6sjv.org/. I was wondering if anyone had
> some general rover advice or could share with me their rover setup. 
> Also if
> anyone knows of some good places where I could park and make contacts. 
> I've
> been going over Google Earth and have been picking out places that look
> like they're high up and have a good range. I haven't fully fleshed out my
> route for the contest yet so I'm pretty open to going almost anywhere
> within reason in California and maybe western Nevada. I've looked up some
> of the needed grid squares for the FFMA but wasn't sure how up to date 
> that
> list was or if there were even good locations in some of those squares.
>
> Few minor silly questions, what are some good frequencies to monitor for
> SSB and FM? Is there a lot of 220 FM activity? Is there any resources on
> building directional antennas? I've found things online but was more
> interested in antennas that would be good for rover work or that can 
> fit in
> the back of my pickup truck and be set up by one person.
>
> Thanks for everyone's time, I'm still pretty new at this and I'm having a
> blast!
>
> Kyle Hamilton
> KG6BXW
> www.kylehamilton.com
> _______________________________________________
> VHFcontesting mailing list
> VHFcontesting at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2020 17:11:54 +0000 (UTC)
> From: nosigma at aol.com
> To: nosigma at aol.com, kyle.hamilton at gmail.com,
> vhfcontesting at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Rover Tips and Locations in California
> Message-ID: <425022448.3579581.1599325914231 at mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
>
> Typo big time:
>
> 146.520
>
> NOT
>
> 145.520
>
> Sorry.

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