08/16/2006 | W0ZQ/R This year the W0ZQ Roverlite mobile decided to take a more relaxed approach to RoverMania and to smell the roses ..... or the corn that is, .... along the way. Saturday I activate the EN44/43/34/33 grid corner located just southeast of the Twin Cities. Not only did I find lots of activity from the NLRS & CVVHF guys, but also some other local rovers who were out and about doing the same thing I was - having some fun playing on the high bands on a really nice afternoon. Perhaps the most enjoyable Q's were with my friend Bruce, W9FZ/R who was roving the grid line to my east over in Wisconson. We were able to work up through 10 gigs on the long kiddie corner diagonal from EN43 to EN52 on random. On Sunday I activated the EN35/34/25/24 grid corner located just northwest of the Twin Cities. From EN35 some of the better DX was over to K2YAZ in EN74 and down to K2DRH in EN41. Mike, KM0T (EN13), signals were BOOMING in on 222 through 10 gigs. Mike and I did try some longer shots on 24 gigs with no luck. A big thanks to Dave, N0KP and Gary, W0GHZ, for following me around and for all the Q's.

I think the following equation says it all:
{(Moderate power) + (short feedlines) + (a good location) + (five foot booms)} * (event PR) = lots of fun.

Overall the weather was just great, activty was high, rovers and fixed stations all over the place, and despite my "stop to smell the roses" approach, I ended up beating my score from last year. Guess I need to relax more often.

Please remember to send your logs in, and CU in RoverMania IV next year. -- W0ZQ