You can do good as a Rover, or you can have fun as a Rover...
So keep your goal in mind. The Top Rover stations run 12-14 grids or more.
One team worked 23+ grids in the past. That is awful tiring!
I have been doing the VHF contest, mainly as a Rover only since January
2001. I'm usually just in two or three grids. Usually with the main Three
bands, 6M, 2M, and 70 CM but once with 5 bands... 6M, 2M, 1.25M, 70CM, and
1296. ,Two of those bands were using Handhelds... It worked for a few grid
multipliers! 100 miles is possible with a handheld from a good (HIGH)
location to the "Big Guns) with Gain antennas, so don't give up on a band
just because you don't have the latest equipment.
Some links to my pages. Check out setup!
<A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/ka0tp/JanContest.html";>VHF Contest</A>
http://hometown.aol.com/ka0tp/JanContest.html
<A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/ka0tp/JuneVHF01.html";>June 2001 VHF Contest
</A>
http://hometown.aol.com/ka0tp/JuneVHF01.html
I chose to do Rover as moving around for the contest allows me to work
all hearable stations more than once... Every time you change grids, you can
work everyone again...
Main thing is to Operate! That means get to your first point BEFORE the
contest starts... So you can be ready to go when the time starts... Talk up
the contest on the air beforehand, even if it is just a few minutes...It
insures you know the equipment is operating, lets the other Contestors know
you are out there, etc.
Know where you are going. Whether that means good maps or scouting
beforehand or both.... Getting lost or having to back track makes for a
rotten trip...
And get your equipment setup so you can be comfortable when you operate.
So antennas that have to go up, go quick, and you don't get too tired trying
to operate, etc...
But most important, HAVE FUN!
VHF Weak Signal Email relector - vhf@w6yx.stanford.edu
vhfcontesting@contesting.com
I'll send this email along to the Reflectors as it should encouarage more
advice...
here are links for some of the Guys who have a lot more expertise...
<A HREF="http://users.rio.com/kg7fu/wsop.html";>KG7FU Weak Signal VHF
operating</A>
http://users.rio.com/kg7fu/wsop.html
<A HREF="http://www.qsl.net/km0t/goodburn1.wav";>The Amateur Radio Home Page
of KM?T</A>
http://www.qsl.net/km0t/goodburn1.wav
<A HREF="http://k7xc.tripod.com/K7XCweaksignal/";>Weak Signal VHF by Tim
Marek - K7XC</A>
http://k7xc.tripod.com/K7XCweaksignal/
Enjoy and feel free to ask questions
In a message dated 9/2/02 10:51:08 PM Pacific Daylight Time, ch84@attbi.com
writes:
<<
I'm interested in going as a Rover in the upcoming ARRL VHF/UHF QSO Party.
Any and all tips on what to do are appreciated. I have looked at the Pacific
Northwest Sidebanders website, but if you know of other URLs that would be
useful...I'm "all ears".
I'll be chaufferred by my teen daughter...she wants to do "a road
trip"....that's fine with me..gives me more of a chance to talk and sleep. I
have picked a few spots in CN86, CN85, and CN84. There is a couple of Ranger
Towers in CN95 that I'll check out soon as I talk with the Forest Service.
My plan is to stick with easy access points my first time out.
As for equipment and antennas...I'll be running kind light. Will be working
SSB on 2 and 6 meters with just 25 watts from my TenTec 6N2. 2 meter and
70cm FM simplex is covered with my Yaesu 7100M. Antennas ...tha's a little
iffy right now...a couple of items haven't arrived yet, but should before the
13th. If they do..I'll be using 2 and 6 meter loops on SSB while traveling
and small compact 6 and 2 meter beams when I'm stopped. The beams will only
be up about 12 ft though, supported on PVC towers that I have built for them.
Haven't decided what to take for the FM...besides the mobile whip.
Power is coming from a couple of 12v deep cycle marine batteries in parallel
...not certain how I'll keep them charged.
This time out will be just to get my feet wet, so to speak. Keeping it
simple and easy...no plans to make a killing in the points...just have some
fun and make some QSOs that I wouldn't normally get to make.
Anyway...any words of wisdom or professional tips that you would like to
pass along would be greatly appreciated.
Cordially,
MARVIN DIXON
de WA7MLD, "Marv", CN85ro
ch84@attbi.com
WA7MLD@hotmail.com
and of course WA7MLD@arrl,net >>
|