[VHFcontesting] "stuck rover bonus points"

[mattpatt at 1starnet.com]

I got stopped one time by a cop when I pulled in to get some gas.  He was just
curious as to what I was doing and after I explained everything come to find
out his dad was a ham radio operator.  So we sat and chatted while I was
filling up with gas.  Very nice guy... 

Now I have a magnetic sign I had made that I put on the back of my truck while
rovering.  It says "Mobile Amateur Radio Contest Station"  Also has the call
frequency for two meters as well as my e-mail address and where I'm 
from.  Now,
all the cops do is tailgate me long enough to read the sign then they usually
back off. 

73 Matt
W5LL

Quoting "Stephen Hicks, N5AC" <n5ac at n5ac.com>:

> 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
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