07/06/2004 | K1DS/R & N1XKT/R After living in Providence, RI for 23 years there is a certain pull to go back there for roving. As the weekend grew closer, our plans changed, as we realized that it would be over 7 hrs of highway driving to get to our furthest stop, FN51aq, in Chatham on Cape Cod. I actually took 8 hrs. We took off at 6:40PM and made great time until we hit the end of the Cross-Bronx Expressway, where a 4-car pile-up blocked the route for an hour. We sailed on across CT and RI to the Cape, finally arriving in West Yarmouth at 2:40AM. We sank into our motel beds and slept til 9, got going after breakfast and headed to our first stop on Harding Beach, FN51aq. We chatted with a few locals on the bands before the contest, a station at the Marconi site and another on Nantucket, but heard very little else. Even as the contest started, things were quite slow. No doubt we were in a marginal QTH, as few would be pointing this way, despite having announced our plans far and wide. Everyone was in the first few hour frenzy on 6 & 2. An hour later, we heard K1TEO, and promptly ran him on all 10 bands with ease, followed by K1GX for 10 bands also, but still no sign of W3CCX. We finally heard the Packrats on 222, and were able to work on 5 bands, but were disappointed that the highest band worked was 1296.
Onto the next grid, almost a 3 hr drive back to FN41 at Watch Hill, RI, where we would set up right at the lighthouseat sea-level again, but a great water shot to the west. It took circling around three times to find the driveway between the bushes that leads to the sitewe had notified the local police that we would be there, and no one came to visit. We were able to easily find lots of contacts, now that the first 6 hours of the contest were over, and folks were actually taking some time out to track us. We easily worked Camelback thru 10G, as well as K1TEO and others, and headed to our next grid, FN31 near New London, CT. We really didnt have a specific spot in mind, but we sought a waterfront location. The best spots were all closed, as they are in the state parks that are closed at dusk, and it was about 11 PM when we arrived. We did find a parking lot for a beach and amusement park, but the waterfront view only looked south and there was a slight hill and a stand of trees to the west, but we were able to work the gang thru 1296 again, knowing that K1TEO would supply the mults for FN31 on the higher bands. We took off to head up toward the MA state line and find a motel room for the night.
Mt. Wachussetts, FN42 is a spot similar to Camelback, a ski area, drivable to the top, loaded with commercial communications, and a breathtaking view of the countryside. It opens for visitors at 9AM, and when we arrived at 9:20 W1FKF and KA1OJ were already setting up their microwave dishes for 10, 24 and 47G, aimed north to N1JEZ in FN44. I set up our dishes also, and very quickly had them all in the log on 10 & 24G. Leon and I were quite surprised with our first 24G SSB QSOs at 20db over S9 on a path of about 130 miles. After an hour we find the W3CCX gang and worked them on all bands, although the QRM was rough, especially since we use 144MHz IF, and the other stations close by were on 2m as liaison for their micro contacts. KA1EKZ/R and his rover partner arrive and set up their multi-feed dish for their contacts with W2SZ. They had spent the previous day in 4 Maine grids. We also made contact on all bands thru 5G (their top end). It was nice to share some roving experiences with Justin and give each other a tour of our respective rovers. Time to move on.we stow the dishes and lower the main mast and head down the mountain, I stop at the lower parking lot to check directions to the next stop, and then we head for the Mass Pike West. A mile or two later we both get a nose full of something burning, quickly turn off all the gear, charger, and open the windows to try and sense where the odor is originating. Two miles later we finally come to a spot in the road where we could pull over, turn off the engine and lift the hood and make sure the rover is OK. Well, the engine looks fine with the hood up, but, Hey dad, look at this smoke coming from the wheeldid you leave the emergency brake on? Luckily, that was the issue; I need to get the brake light warning fixed and the linings checked.
It seemed like too long a drive to get to our next planned stop in FN32 on the MA Pike, and after we arrived, it was difficult to find a decent parking spot in which to operate. The usual car lot was very full with folks coming and going, and the truck side of the area was lines with 18 wheelers, about as high as our antennas, and in the direct path of our most desired directions. We did work a bunch of stations thru 1296, but nothing higher, as the trucks, trees and a close-by ridge seemed to keep the microwave RF contained.
Onto the homestretch, we headed down to Rte 8 thru Winsted, CT, where we had spent many happy summers in camp. I was even the ham radio counselor there back in the 60s. Great memories We continued making QSOs on the lower 4 bands as we passed thru FN31 and FN21 on our way to the next stop in FN20. This was a new spot for us, and as time was running low, we decided to use the west-bound rest stop, rather than spend the extra time to get to the east-bound stop. Although we were able to make QSOs thru 10G, we missed 24G, and were sure we could have done better from the other side, about 60 higher. Ran into that buzzing noise mode again as the battery voltage was low for the FT100D IF, but it rapidly cleared when we switched on the engine and charger for that marine cell. Crossing again into FN21, we completed our last stop in Tannersville. Eleven hundred miles for this weekend rove, but the QSO rates and multipliers were not spectacular. We had great weather, reasonable road conditions, and only the minor issues mentioned---and accomplished most of our goals. K1DS/R & N1XKT/R -- K1DS