2005 ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes
01/29/2005 |
WB8BZK/R
On Sunday I roved from Cleveland (EN91) through EN81, EN71, and EN61 on my way home to the Chicago area. When I arrived in Chicago I quickly ran the four local grids.
Murphy hit hard with the winter storm and also by taking out my lower three band (6/2/432) transceiver PA. The PA went belly up just after about an hour of operating! I was very lucky and happy to have QSOd with my old friends WA8RJF and WA8SRA before the rig died. Next time out Ill do my best to round up a backup rig for the lower bands (still lots of things to learn about successful roving ventures).
Nobody heard my 903, 1296 and 220 signals while I went through EN71 along I-90. It just goes to show that you really need good 6, 2 or 432 signal to set up contacts on the upper bands. Then it dawned on me that I could shut down my 903 and 1296 bands and use the low power 2 meter IF rig to make a few 2 meter contacts. Things picked up for the rest of the ride home however I heard a lot more stations than they heard my 5 watts. It was great to get into the Chicago area and offer some fresh opportunities for all of the regular participants there.
Overall this was a very challenging contest for my rover station. I look forward to doing a lot better during the rest of the 2005 VHF/UHF contest season (with a new transceiver!).
73 Mike -- WB8BZK
Murphy hit hard with the winter storm and also by taking out my lower three band (6/2/432) transceiver PA. The PA went belly up just after about an hour of operating! I was very lucky and happy to have QSOd with my old friends WA8RJF and WA8SRA before the rig died. Next time out Ill do my best to round up a backup rig for the lower bands (still lots of things to learn about successful roving ventures).
Nobody heard my 903, 1296 and 220 signals while I went through EN71 along I-90. It just goes to show that you really need good 6, 2 or 432 signal to set up contacts on the upper bands. Then it dawned on me that I could shut down my 903 and 1296 bands and use the low power 2 meter IF rig to make a few 2 meter contacts. Things picked up for the rest of the ride home however I heard a lot more stations than they heard my 5 watts. It was great to get into the Chicago area and offer some fresh opportunities for all of the regular participants there.
Overall this was a very challenging contest for my rover station. I look forward to doing a lot better during the rest of the 2005 VHF/UHF contest season (with a new transceiver!).
73 Mike -- WB8BZK
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