[VHFcontesting] ARRL 2 Mtr Sprint

[w3cmp]

I operated W3CMP/R in the  Sprint  from the SE PA 4 corners (FN10, 2O, FM19, 29) near Gap, Pa., as a casual rover. Sites I operated from were all 800' ASL or higher. Equipment was a FT-991A running 50 watts, sitting on front passenger seat of my pickup and powered from cigarette lighter jack; antenna was a Wimo Big Wheel. I was pleasantly impressed at how well I could  receive, although I knew 50 watts was was not going to be heard by many unless antennas were pointed toward me. K1RZ, W8ZN, and WZ1V were loud.  Best DX heard were K3SK in FM07, about 230 miles and W9KXI in FN12, at about 150 miles.   Heard them very well, but they did not hear me.  Majority of contacts were made from FN10 and FM29. Never made FN20; analog ctivity seemed to drop off after 8:30 p.m. local, so I hung out in FM29 until 9:00 p.m.  Made 21 contacts from 3 grids. Last contact was K1TEO in FN31 while driving home. Lots of ideas to upgrade, but the wheel showed a significant improvement over the M2 HO loop I used last year. It was frustrating to see/hear loud digital stuff at times when ssb and cw were pretty much absent.73,Chris Patterson W3CMP