10/03/2008 | K3LFO/R Dave, W3DIO was not available this time for a full rove so I took advantage of the situation and turned it into a 2 grid training outing for my XYL Sue, N3MZM. She has mentioned the desire to go out roving and give it a try in the past so it worked out just great.

We took the rover out to FM09 at Sideling Hill just outside of Hancock, MD on Saturday. I coached Sue through a bunch of contacts on the main position (6m 70cm). Finally, we ran across someone who could run the bands with us up to 3456 and she coordinated on 2m while I worked the upper bands with WA3PTV. This was a little awkward but it gave Sue some good experience and insight of how we operate during a contest. Thanks Joe for your patients. The band conditions were not very good. The remnants of a tropical storm had just passed into New England breaking up any hopes for good tropo. I heard K1WHS one time but lost him in the noise before I had a chance to work him. W2SZ was in there also but I just couldnt get their attention.

Sunday I got on from the driveway for a few hours. The conditions improved a little bit but not really great. Activity was up but still really short ranged but for a couple of contacts into FN21 and FN31 (NJ and CT).

We sure didnt break any records but it is always fun to get out in the rover during a contest and heat up the ether.

73,

Jim & Sue

www.K3lfo,org -- K3LFO