[Nodxa] K8MR FQP Trip

[jimk8mr at aol.com]

I'll be wrapping up the Florida Snowbird season with a mobile effort in the Florida QSO Party this weekend. I'll again be doing a single op, no driver effort. I'd like to pass on a few words on my operation to let you understand what is happening, and why.
I spend about 60% of the time operating while parked, 30% while driving, and 10% driving and not attempting to operate. I try to avoid massive new-county pileups while driving. When crossing into a new county, I go radio silent, either by ignoring the radio, or going to a band (15 meters) where any activity will be a great surprise. I then try to find the first practical stopping place, park, get out the computer, and go at it. When the pileups recede to a quiet stream of callers, then I move on. When driving I have a paddle on the center console and the WinKeyer on the passenger seat, and record the audio for later transcription. On the straight flat roads in rural Florida, I don't consider such operating a significant safety hazard.
The FQP allows county line QSOs. So be sure to log both counties (in N1MM+ "CLR/HEN" in the county field will do all you need to get both in the log.)

When driving I don't do phone. Too much distraction from a microphone, footswitch, and the need to more often reach down to look at the radio to change frequencies, modes, etc.
Unless I'm in a really intense CW pileup, I don't mind moving to SSB for a few quick QSOs. If somebody moves me while you're trying to work me, feel free to follow me to SSB as well. I find this is often the most efficient way to make SSB QSOs, vs. trying to find a run frequency on my own. And if I ask you "PSE SSB?", I need you for a phone multiplier, so a QSY will be greatly appreciated! I usually try to go to 14151 on 20, or somewhere around 7130 on 40. 

As I mentioned, I don't expect much from 15 meters, but if it is open, let me know. And if really shocking things happen - 10 is open, or I just happen to be nearby, I can try forcing a few watts of 10 meter RF into the 15 meter Hamstick.

In some places I don't even try to operate, the longest such stretch being the trip through St. Petersburg and Tampa on I-275, around noon on Sunday. There are shorter stretches where I Iikewise go QRT, and at any time when a traffic issue demands attention, it takes precedence over the radio. Several times during the weekend I'll have a situation where somebody sends a perfectly readable call or exchange where I do nothing, paying full attention to the road.
In any mobile contest there will be areas where power line noise or other QRN is intense. Usually I'll try to keep calling some CQs in such areas, hoping that a sufficiently loud station will call, or merely mortal ones will hang around until I can copy again.

I hope to catch lots of you this weekend. And don't hesitate to work the other folks in Florida, mobile or fixed. 


CU!
Jim    K8MR