[VHFcontesting] "stuck rover bonus points"

[Stephen Hicks, N5AC]

I can't emphasize how much fun it is to have a scanner in your vehicle when
you rove that will find a close signal.  Bearcat calls this feature "close
call" and it scans the band and locks onto anything with a signal above a
threshhold and automatically determines the modulation scheme whether it's
FM, AM, P25, etc.  I ride with a 996T.  The speculations from law
enforcement are so much fun to listen to!

Steve, N5AC  

-----Original Message-----
From: vhfcontesting-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Zack Widup
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 07:38
To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] "stuck rover bonus points"

On Mon, 20 Aug 2007, Dan Evans wrote:

> How about a mult for every law enforcement official that checks you out?
>

Wow, I'd have had quite a few points now and then!  The Champaign IL County
sheriffs had developed a reputation for kicking people off various roadside
sites but I haven't had that happen yet. I have had them take a look as they
went by.  Last year in the 10 GHz contest I had a police car stop when I was
trying to make a QSO across Lake Michigan. I got the idea someone in a van
had called the police on me.  I also gather the policeman had an idea what I
was doing.  They never approached me to ask what I was doing but the
policeman talked to the people in the van and then he left after a minute.

> Or a point for every curious non-ham with questions?   A new mult if 6
> meters is open during the visit...
>

I've had that happen too.  Again, last year in the 10 GHz contest when I was
roving along Lake Michigan I had a big crowd in a couple places.  I actually
had to give a small talk to a fairly big crowd at Sheboygan Point. I showed
up at lunch time and it is apparently a favorite place for people to bring
their lunches and look out at the lake.

> A new mult for each blown pre-amp, transverter, or rig during the
contest...
>

Or forgotten vital RF connectors, cables, antenna elements ... I did that
one year.  Drove 45 miles before I found out I'd forgotten the elements for
my 222 MHz "assemble-on-arrival" antenna. :-(

> Bonus points for each degree below freezing, or above 100 degrees F......
>

Several years ago when I was QRP-portable in the January contest I had to
put up my antennas in an ice storm. Ice pellets hitting your face start to
hurt after a while!  It stopped for a while but started up again right when
it was time to tear down.

This year I was lucky.  It was just above freezing and there was no bad
weather.  I didn't even get frostbite!

> An award for sticking to a planned schedule:-)
>
>
> Ahh, the joys of Roving:-)
>
> 73
> Dan
>

I think I've only started one contest on time.  Always something to delay
me. Maybe I should plan on being set up a couple hours before the contest
and I might make it for the start.

73, Zack W9SZ
_______________________________________________
VHFcontesting mailing list
VHFcontesting at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting