[VHFcontesting] Re: COME ROVER, COME ROVER Info for a New Rover

[KA0TP at aol.com]

    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 at w6yx.stanford.edu
vhfcontesting at 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 KMØT</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 at 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 at attbi.com
 WA7MLD at hotmail.com
 and of course WA7MLD at arrl,net >>