09/19/2003 | KC8HZM Wow, this was both my first contest and first time as a rover station, and I'm definitely hooked! 500+ miles and 6 grids in one day and we not only survived, but we had an absolute blast!

Fellow operator Jeff (KC8HZQ) and I spent a lot of time asking questions, planning, and putting together a rover station in my little ol' Ford Festiva. It all paid off because everything went very smoothly!

It was truly a 'no budget' effort. Almost all the equipment was borrowed and all the antennas were homebrew, including a 7 element yagi for 2m, a 6 element for 440, and an unnamed 6 meter 'bent' dipole.

Many thanks to the VHFContesting reflector, Todd for loaning us equipment, and to the many stations that we contacted. Highlights include working KC8RBR, W8LON, WA8RHS, and many others.

We learned a lot and we'll be back again!

More details at http://www.goshen.edu/~martentb/rover/rover.html

Marten
KC8HZM
http://www.goshen.edu/~martentb -- KC8HZM