Michigan QSO Party
Call: K8MR/M
Operator(s): K8MR, AC8E
Station: K8MR
Class: Mobile Multi-Op LP
QTH: 24 Counties
Operating Time (hrs): 12
Summary:
Band CW Qs Ph Qs
--------------------
80: 207 85
40: 391 69
20: 142 24
15: 0 0
10: 0 0
--------------------
Total: 740 178 CW Mults = 64 Ph Mults = 57 Total Score = 200,618
Club: Mad River Radio Club
Comments:
By county, in order of operation:
CTY CW SSB
MIDL 22 2
GLAD 27 3
BAY 32 0
AREN 27 6
OGEM 30 8
IOSC 26 4
ALCO 37 8
CRAW 44 20
ROSC 54 21
KALK 15 3
MISS 43 19
WEXF 31 13
OSCE 25 1
CLAR 32 4
ISAB 20 2
MECO 30 7
MCLM 39 2
GRAT 59 3
CLIN 30 3
SHIA 27 5
INGH 11 10
LIVI 12 14
WASH 26 3
S/P/C 39 29
CTY 25 28
Another nice visit to Michigan. The weather was colder than the past few years
and rather windy, but it was a good day for everyone else to be playing radio
and not mowing their lawns. I often see my last snow of the year on my MiQP
trip, in some shady areas in the very north. This year we saw snow, but in the
form of a few flurries in the air.
This year with K8IR covering the northern part of the lower peninsula were were
able to do a nice compact route around the central lower peninsula. I
successfully used the "gray line" mode of route planning: if a non-numbered
road is shown on the state road map (as a gray road) it is probably a decent
road. Found a nice such shortcut through Alcona and an good efficient route
through Kalkaska and Missaukee. I needed to be back to Cleveland for some early
family events on Sunday, so we ended the contest closer to Ohio than in most
years. Sort of a waste putting on common places like Livingston and Washtenaw,
but I couldn't afford to end up any further north.
The sunspots that have been around most of the year of course disappeared for
MiQP, but still conditions seemed pretty good by recent year standards. 40 was
a bit shorter, with guys in places like Indy and Cleveland being loud for much
of the day. But most of the rest of MI was missing on 40. However we were
prepared with both 80 and 75 available full time, and on 80 CW with the help of
the mobile frequency on 3545 we were able to find some activity throughout the
day, and move most of those guys to SSB. Worked N9NE several times, and W8CAR
and WI9WI once each among the other mobiles.
It was fun watching, and being part of, the horserace between N4PN and N0IJ.
Both were very good at finding me and moving me between modes. DL3DXX showed up
a lot in my log, as did OM2VL. I even had three 80 meter qsos with OM2VL, and on
the last one, ten minutes before the end, he was pushing S9 on my meter.
The bummer of the trip was a qso with a deer on M66 in Mecosta county around
0100z. Body shop estimate is $2600 (covered by insurance), but luckily we were
able to continue the drive home, carefully watching the temperature gauge all
the way.
Our score was up about 10% from recent years, and if it holds up with log
checking will be the second highest in my 11 years of MiQP mobile operations.
Thanks to all who participated. Hope to see you all in the Ohio QSO Party on
August 28, and possibly from West Virginia in June if I can find a bike riding
driver/operator to make it a twofer trip.
73 - Jim K8MR
Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
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