09/14/2006 | KC2LLT/R This was my first attempt at roving and only my second contest overall. Thanks to all the guys with W2SZ (specifically WA2AAU, KC2HIZ, and KB1EKZ) for providing me the guidance and equipment necessary to make this happen. I worked various sites which included grids FN21, FN22, FN23, FN31, FN32, and FN33. Mohawk Mountain in FN31 was an awsome first site, and made me realize just how I had no clue what I was getting into! Nothing like making a QSO with W2SZ while the sun was shining and hearing them talk about the "marble-sized" hail that was bearing down on them.

Sunday was a little smoother and my focus was around the Saratoga, NY area. Setup became a lot easier and I found my "groove" with CW. Working 24 GHz FM had to be the highlight of the entire contest! Talk about a difficult time pointing in the right direction!

Haven't had time to add the QSOs to RoverLog yet, but I have realized that it would be a lot earier just to learn the software better and enter the QSOs as I make them. No score tabulated so far.

Thanks to the guys from FN43 (K1WHS, N1JHJ, AF1T, KA1LMR) that made the last 40 minutes of the contest an interesting time for me as I was climbing 1/2 way up the mountain painting west to make some final points. Sorry about 50m being difficult, but the 1.5 kW from Zed made it hard to hear anything but them on the band.

And to everyone I had QSOs with, thanks for your patience. I really felt that even in a competition, we are all doing this for the advancement of the hobby.

73 de KC2LLT/R -- KC2LLT