Our K5SRT/R ARRL January 2020 VHF contest unlimited rover (Ross-K5SRT, Bob-K3NT, & Alex-KG9DUK) with fellow http://OKRover.info friends N0LD/R (Randy-N0LD & Harvey-W0HGJ) and KB0YHT/R (Nick-KB0YHT, Jim-KC0QIE, & Jason) travel  plan was developed in part around a plan developed during the fall of 2018. That trip expected in January 2019 didn’t happen because of ice storms between Oklahoma City and Dallas Texas. As it turned out those grid squares and additional ones where added to our January 2020 VHF contest trip plans. Things change and we must remain flexible and you never know how things will turn out but this trip was a special one.

First thanks must go out to Randy-N0LD for adding additional organization and coordination dynamics, support, and details to the 2020 trip. Randy added additional four squares farther South. Our second four square, our plan start for our January 2019 trip will leave us with a few stories we will remember around a lake on some tight tree lined back roads in the dark (I recall thinking are we being followed by that trunk?, is that a Sasquatch?, and was glad to be moving North up Hwy 75 back toward Sherman, TX). I was glad to see Nick-KB0YHT who had moved to Wichita KS and it was special to work him in Tulsa where we had tried to activate squares late in contest before. We even squeezed in a sit down eyeball QSO (picture attached). If Nick who encouraged me to start roving  had to move away or be in another rover at least he was now introducing others to the sport.

Maybe it’s the engineer in me but some of the highlights in the Jan. 2020 VHF contest include eye-ball QSOs with other rovers that were making their own treks. On a sunny Sunday morning in South East Oklahoma we contacted K5ND/R (ran solo by Jim-K5ND, how do they do it?). Here is a tip learn more about his rover and operation from his blog was glad to meet and see it. While Jim had contact with low hanging tree limbs, we believe Randy and Harvey may have hand trimmed them later (we need to bring extra tools for that next time to clear ways for others). At one stop I saw Jim climb up on top of the SUV to adjust his 6M Moxon at the top of his antenna stack (see pictures). I don’t think my New 2016 Expedition would want me up on top so I added a small ladder to my equipment list this year which was used on Friday night equipment debug shack down and antenna mast refinement.

Hard to believe that things all came into place on the K5SRT/R rover for Jan 2020,  a week before the contest the rover still had no radio or antenna equipment installed and power was only part way in place (but ideas were engineered and developed during the 2019 holidays and equipment racks built from items off my prior rover, holes got drilled, and wood table and mast put together in the cold rain before heading to North Texas with frost instead of ice). Several ordered items didn’t arrive in time for use but the hitch mount did so had to remain flexible and develop work arounds, it was almost a winter rover field day exercise of sorts (room for future  improvements and they can go together when motivated).

Wow what a fun finish and fantastic setup K2EZ/R (ran solo by Andrea-K2EZ) had which operates unique software aided tools and customized switches and transverters system. While it was dark at least someone got pictures as my smart phone camera was back on the charger (but didn’t want to miss seeing the show and tell). While it was late in the trip in less than ideal weather I had earlier in the evening taken a selfie of Ross-K5SRT, Andrea-K2EZ, and Randy-N0LD when we first meet as she pulled into Tulsa area near us. Would say for late in the contest Andrea pulled off some of the most time efficient contacts and four-square dance with our rover as the Jan. 2020’s VHF contest drew to a rapid close. Reminds me once again a rover (from single operator to unlimited) must remain flexible and keep improving setup and capabilities. Ask yourself did I check all those connections (know we took pictures of an LMR-400 connector issue we had to resolve Friday night when ours got to bed early), can we make it work better, will it travel and hold together on back roads or at highway speeds in various weather conditions? Don’t forget to ask how you can help others as well?

Finally am thankful for contacts on the road both in North Texas and Oklahoma and while I can’t remember them all (we have them logged), I do recall the Collins Amateur Radio Club operating their first VHF contest using a new call sign N5CXX out of Richardson, TX (prior W5ROK club was where I got my first ham ticket before relocating to Oklahoma), N5CXX stay in touch and I’ll continue to watch for your Signals newsletter one of the best newsletters out there.

Lots of lessons learned, pictures taken, and more will be added as time allows. Be sure to see more from the trip on OKRovers.info (glad we had the signs on the Rover for those that questioned who or what we are doing at times, know a few cows looked as well). Tip you can also see more tips under Amateur Radio or VHF Rovers on Facebook. Hope you will share what you learned, stories and pictues as well as asking questions you have. There are some smart people that will help you learn what might seem obvious later. You become smarter being around smart people. A key rule to have fun and give back to or help others when you can.
Another reason the trip was special was we had planned to start  near Greenville, TX the year before That 2019 plan was for three rovers KG9DUK/R (Alex-KG9DUK, & Nick-KBOYHU), N0LD/R (N0LD, W0HGJ & Marcus-N5ZY) & K5SRT/R (K5SRT & K3NT long term friend and mentor) but ice storms during days before the trip start ended the trip to TX before we started

I had plan to pull out in Jan 2019 on a backup circle trip in Oklahoma as my navigator/digital operator Bob-K3NT was stuck in TX with ice between here and there (not a good combo). My laptop setup was acting up as well and backup computer was in TX with Bob. The red F150 K5SRT/R for that trip (turned out to be the last as high miles and faulty AC eliminated its use in the summer months. While finally ready a weekend in advance after a long weekend in Kingston, OK (site approx. between Oklahoma City and Dallas) the ice storm showed up.
The morning of the January 2019 contest while drinking coffee and looking into the freezer laptop I received an urgent call from Nick-KB0YHT that antennas had been blown off Alex-KG9DUK/R rover while in route on the highway to Nicks, could I come help? I threw things in my rover and we operated it as KG9DUK/R in Jan 2019 pulling together our pool of equipment in route to the cotton bail start (picture I recall from near the start) so Alex would still get to go under his call sign. So now you know the rest of the story, rovers and fiends working together make for great times and memories.

Thanks to all the OkRovers for all you help in Jan. 2020. I couldn’t have done it without your organizational skills, encouragement, support, and radio (thank Harvey) /antenna/adapters/advice (thanks Bob, Randy and Alex) at times. Just goes to show if budgets are tight (on a new rover) and you have helped enough others then they will be there to help you in return.

Happy New Year  and glad to have the Jan 2020 VHF Logs in the book! Let me know if I can help,

K5SRT- Sidney Ross Terry