2003 ARRL June VHF Contest
07/22/2003 |
N6ZE/R
For the second time in 10 years, I completed a "Coast to Coast Rover" effort. I am employed as an airline pilot so I often miss contests due to work commitments.
However my work duties and the June VHF QSO Party combined to permit me to operate for the start of the contest period in FN-20 (NNJ)from a park bench overlooking the Hudson River; I made several 6 & 2m QSOs including one 6m Sporadic E QSO in EL-86. I then traveled by bus back to my 27th floor hotel room located just 2 blocks west of Times Square (FN-30) (NYCLI)and made a few more QSOs.
I flew from JFK airport to Salt Lake City, UT for an extended stay. Salt Lake City lies very close to the junction of 4 grids so I rented a car and activated DN-30, 31, 40, & 41. I made some contacts from my DN-40 7th floor hotel room and from a hillside overlooking the Mormon Tabernacle. Some contacts were also made from an Interstate Highway 80 overpass just over the line in DN-30. I made other QSOs from a hillside near Farmington, UT (DN-41). I also operated from an Antelope Island State Park hilltop (DN-31) for a 'sweep' of the Salt Lake area grids.
On Sunday evening, I deadheaded on a flight to Seattle and had a scheduled arrival time of 8:04 PM PDT. For once, "Murphy" was with me and I arrived early at the SEA-TAC airport gate at 7:52PM PDT. I quickly took my 2 meter rig and made 2 QSOs from CN-87 (WWA) in the last 4 minutes of the contest.
I activated 7 Grids: FN-20, FN-30, DN-30, DN-31, DN-40, DN-41, & CN-87 and 3 Divisions: Hudson, Rocky Mt., & Northwestern.
As usual I utilized "2 watt and a 1/4 wave whip" rigs for both 6 meters (FT-690) & for 2 meters (IC-202). I also had 24 spare "C" cell batteries along as well.
My total score of 960 points is not large, but I may hold the record for miles traveled by a VHF Rover: 9951 miles.
I flew 3170 miles from my Los Angeles, CA area home to NYC via Orlando, FL; I rode 5 miles on a NJ Transit bus; I flew 1960 miles from NYC to Salt Lake City; I deadheaded 689 miles for Salt Lake to Seattle; I flew 4027 miles from Seattle to my home via Atlanta, GA
As usual, I had fun and got to talk with the 'locals' in 3 different divisions.
A special thanks to the Salt Lake VHFers who helped my locate suitable roving QTHes.
Pete, N6ZE -- N6ZE/R
However my work duties and the June VHF QSO Party combined to permit me to operate for the start of the contest period in FN-20 (NNJ)from a park bench overlooking the Hudson River; I made several 6 & 2m QSOs including one 6m Sporadic E QSO in EL-86. I then traveled by bus back to my 27th floor hotel room located just 2 blocks west of Times Square (FN-30) (NYCLI)and made a few more QSOs.
I flew from JFK airport to Salt Lake City, UT for an extended stay. Salt Lake City lies very close to the junction of 4 grids so I rented a car and activated DN-30, 31, 40, & 41. I made some contacts from my DN-40 7th floor hotel room and from a hillside overlooking the Mormon Tabernacle. Some contacts were also made from an Interstate Highway 80 overpass just over the line in DN-30. I made other QSOs from a hillside near Farmington, UT (DN-41). I also operated from an Antelope Island State Park hilltop (DN-31) for a 'sweep' of the Salt Lake area grids.
On Sunday evening, I deadheaded on a flight to Seattle and had a scheduled arrival time of 8:04 PM PDT. For once, "Murphy" was with me and I arrived early at the SEA-TAC airport gate at 7:52PM PDT. I quickly took my 2 meter rig and made 2 QSOs from CN-87 (WWA) in the last 4 minutes of the contest.
I activated 7 Grids: FN-20, FN-30, DN-30, DN-31, DN-40, DN-41, & CN-87 and 3 Divisions: Hudson, Rocky Mt., & Northwestern.
As usual I utilized "2 watt and a 1/4 wave whip" rigs for both 6 meters (FT-690) & for 2 meters (IC-202). I also had 24 spare "C" cell batteries along as well.
My total score of 960 points is not large, but I may hold the record for miles traveled by a VHF Rover: 9951 miles.
I flew 3170 miles from my Los Angeles, CA area home to NYC via Orlando, FL; I rode 5 miles on a NJ Transit bus; I flew 1960 miles from NYC to Salt Lake City; I deadheaded 689 miles for Salt Lake to Seattle; I flew 4027 miles from Seattle to my home via Atlanta, GA
As usual, I had fun and got to talk with the 'locals' in 3 different divisions.
A special thanks to the Salt Lake VHFers who helped my locate suitable roving QTHes.
Pete, N6ZE -- N6ZE/R
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