[VHFcontesting] Useful rover tips for the new guys

[frank bechdoldt]

Mounting antennas depends on your strategy.  If you are leaving them up against the wind of the highway, then double nut them with a wrench.  If you are going on back roads, carry extra nuts.
Check your antennas periodically.
Measure the size of your elements and keep spares, such as 4 foot AL. rods from Home Depot.
Tighten your elements before you go, they will loosen.
Put dabs of paint on your elements while assembled correctly so when (not if) you have to re align something it will be marked in paint. No tape measures or instruction sheets.
Carry a goop pair of dykes.
Carry at least one spare piece of coax the length of your longest piece in use.
Using amps carry spare jumpers.
Take a swr meter and carry it in a box.
Get coax adapters and keep em in a tackle box with some of this other stuff if needed.
Get topo maps and put them in a case.  Or something similar.
Carry lots of pens, you will loose them.
Carry a second cheap keyer.
Scratch paper lots of it.
Toilet paper, in case nature calls.
Don’t eat the greasy food or you will need the above.
Hemorrhoid pillow?   You make the call….
If you are using a laptop, buy a ram mount so you won’t trash your lap top when you apply the brakes.
Cushion your gear to some degree.
Make it easy to see and operate.  When you get up to 6 bands you will know what I mean.
If you can find some poor soul to go with you, take them.  But tell them they can’t go home until you’re done.
Sleep in your car, leave the radio on.
2nd driver/ op and a laptop?  Consider WSJT while underway. (Use loops for this)
Plan your route around the squares. IE don’t go 100 miles in a square to get to a spot and travel back down the same square to go back. 
Tywrap everything that’s loose.
 
Check out n7cfo’s web page, just google his call
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