[3830] LaQP W5WZ Rover LP

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                    Louisiana QSO Party

Call: W5WZ
Operator(s): W5WZ, K5ER
Station: W5WZ

Class: Rover LP
QTH: ROVER/MOBILE in LA
Operating Time (hrs): 12

Summary:
 Band  CW Qs  Ph Qs  CW Mults  Ph Mults
----------------------------------------
  160:                              
   80:           5                 4
   40:         120                24
   20:   41    223      21        41
   15:           4                 3
   10:                              
    6:                              
    2:           3                 1
----------------------------------------
Total:   41    355      21        73  Total Score = 83,056

Club: Twin City Ham Club, W5EA

Comments:

( 874 ) QSO points x ( 94 ) multipliers  =  82,156 points
             One-time bonus for working W5YL  =     100 points
       ( 16 ) parishes activated x 50 points  =     800 points
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                         FINAL CLAIMED SCORE  =  83,056 points

Parishes Activated (QSOs):
UNION (35), OUACHITA (16), MOREHOUSE (17), RICHLAND (35), WEST CARROLL (11),
EAST CARROLL (47), MADISON (20), FRANKLIN (23), TENSAS (38), CONCORDIA (60),
CATAHOULA (32), LASALLE (42), GRANT (3), WINN (7), JACKSON (6), LINCOLN (4)

K5ER and W5WZ operated the LA QSO Party on 12 February 2005 as a LA Rover. The
operation used the call W5WZ. We successfully activated 16 parishes in northeast
and north-central Louisiana. Our effort was concentrated on 20 and 40 meters; we
had a handful of QSOs on 80m and 15m SSB. We did work both SSB and CW. 

Our 300-mile route took us through some of the most rural areas of northern
Louisiana. Near the end of our route, we passed just east of Mt. Driscoll, the
highest point in Louisiana. This route took about 6 hours to drive, so we also
had 6 hours to loiter along the way. Several parishes had nearly an hour of
driving time just to cross, so we operated those on the fly. Others, especially
the most rare, we loitered on site for a time. 

We towed a small trailer with a 30-foot crankup mast and used the driven element
of a tribander, along with a wire dipoles on 40, also attached to the mast.
While mobile, we planned to have one antenna available to the 706 and two
antennae available to the 756. We planned to be on 40, 20, and 6 while mobile.
The crankup mast worked great; we could stop and have it up and ready to use in
under 5 minutes.  It sure beat the Ironhorse whips!

We used an Icom 756 ProII and 706MkII-G, each with full rig control via NA by
K8CC on a couple of laptop computers. Complementing each rig were appropriate
Heil headsets, footswitch PTT, and on the 756 CW sending via PC. We initially
powered this setup via a pair of Titan RV/golf cart batteries, which were
charged from the tow vehicle alternator circuit. A 1000-watt inverter provided
the needed AC power to keep the laptop computers running. 

Scott's (W5WZ) commentary:

Our preparation and planning seemed to have left nothing to chance. We had tried
to think of every conceivable challenge that could occur along the way. The
afternoon before the LAQP, we did a "shakedown" - we assembled everything;
checked antenna matching for all antennae; checked, double-checked, and
cross-checked a loading/to-do list; powered up the 2 laptops; verified that rig
control, CW sending, and voice keyer all worked. We were certain that it would
be a smooth operation. 

We headed to Union parish for the start of the contest. I was in a casual
ragchew with a station on 20m SSB on the mobile antenna, while Mark was cranking
up the mast to prepare the driven element for fixed operation. At the start, the
band noise was S9; I could tell that stations were calling, but just could not
dig them out. A local ham called my cell phone to ask me if I could hear the
pileup. No, I couldn't make it out. Just a few minutes later, my laptop for
logging, rig control, and CW sending literally died. Out came the notepad and
pen; good old-fashioned paper logging. Mark worked on the laptop for a few
minutes and got it going again. However, I noticed that the band noise was 2
S-units lower with that laptop turned off; Mark still had another laptop in the
front seat. 

We loitered at that location in Union parish about 40 minutes, then went mobile
thru Ouachita, Morehouse, and into Richland parish. The severe S7 to S8 band
noise was still there, and I was getting frustrated. Almost an act of
desparation, I switched off the inverter. Instantly the band noise was gone! How
did we miss that in the shakedown the day before? At this point, it was paper
logging for both of us the remaining 11 hours or so. 

Later, we has some crossband interference from one another that appeared during
our travels, as did some strong ignition-type pulse noise. Mark's mobile whip
antenna's match seemed to degrade over the drive. Other than those challenges,
Mr. Murphy stayed at arm's length. 

I don't think anything could have prepared us for the feeling of having dozens
of the same stations following our progress throughout the day. It was unlike
anything I'd ever experienced in ham radio before. A few of them, especially
N4PN, K4MUT, and K7INA, seemed like guardians for our trip. They were always
there, and called us by name to check on our progress. 

I enjoy high QSO rate contests-the faster, the better. The average rate in the
LAQP was 33/hr - but I REALLY, REALLY had a great time. The work in preparation
was worth it! The somewhat cramped operation position didn't hinder anything. I
don't think it will be hard to convince Mark that we are going rover again next
year!

The only question is: Where to this time? 


See my website for a map of our route, QSL instructions, and photos.
http://www.qsl.net/w5wz/laqp05.htm


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