06/13/2006 | N1KPW Best VHF Contest I've ever had the opportunity to operate! Made only the 2nd ever contact to a non-US ham direct via 6m, had plenty through 2 & 440 linked to 10m repeaters, but nothing beats the good old direct simplex contacts! Started the day off Saturday with a trip from Connecticut to the "Toy Store" in Salem, NH. Made a few contacts on 6 with the 5/8 verticle before the contest started, but really no activity noticed before the upgrade in antennas. Purchased the 6m Loop, installed it in their parking lot and just as I finished installing it, the contest started. 1400, check the tune and first contact for the contest and the new antenna was EL96 from FN42 and away it went from there. Traveled about 30 miles north of there and activated FN43 for a little over an hour, and then made the trek back to Southeastern Connecticut, FN41. Last contact of the night on 6 for me was EN10 from FN41 (my driveway), which may be the longest one of the opening for me.
Almost all the contacts I made for the entire contest were while moving, no real stops in any one place. Ended up activating FN31 and FN32 on Sunday. Seems that state budgets being what they are, the 'good spots' all had gates closed, that would be the Dennis Hill and Haystack Mountain State Parks. I had wanted to 'run the scores up' from those sweet spots on 432.
The mast I was using for the loops broke Sunday afternoon, so I had to make a repair and move the 6m Loop, but still had it running for the end run home from FN32.
Overall, not too shabby a weekend for a Rover station that I put together with the intention of being an 'everyday' station, not just for contests....ended up with 26 new grids, 106 QSO's and a little over 500 miles on the odometer. Maybe next time I'll have some time to plot a better course and spend some time in the hotspots instead staying mobile and moving the whole time.

73 and thanks to all that contributed to a very fun filled weekend,
Greg
N1KPW -- N1KPW