2010 ARRL September VHF Contest
09/13/2010 |
KD5IKG/R
Well, this contest really put the term "Limited Rover" on the test, limited contacts, limited to line of sight propagation, limited stations heard, Activated 7 grids, ~50 contacts with less than a dozen stations worked and over half the contacts with just two contest stations. Not good for the score board.
I have been a two band limited rover in STX with little local competition, well with limited rovers and limited fixed active VHF contesting stations on the air in the area which leads to the limited STX competition comment. Yes there are stations out there, they just were not hearing my little STOCK radio station. Upgraded the radio this year to get 50, 144 and now 432! Which helped the score for June/July/August contest. Doubled the 2 meter power and added the 432. All STOCK, hummmm wish there was a STOCK category to allow all us low budget stations to compete against each other….Then with this trip, added 222 halfway through the trip. Yes, you read that right. Added 222 when I stopped to visit a big Texas sized contest station in East Texas (Thanks K5QE for the loan!) Ok, We had been discussing this addition, and I had build and antenna and bought the cables and adapters, or at least I thought I had, some last minute soldering work by N5YA and scavenging by K5QE, we had a 222 added to the rover. Now I am a full "limited" rover. Does transverter output still qualify for “Stock”? Humm, someone else will have to work that out….. Activated EL39 with only one station worked, and EL28 with two stations worked. Most people worry about miles per gallon, here it is contacts per gallon….Lots of miles, less than one contact per gallon of gas, new all time personal low. EL28 was a compromise, my daughter rode with me for the contest in exchange I agreed to take her to the beach, I was seeing a win-win in this negotiation. She decided she want to get her license now! YES! Look for us as a Family Rover in January! Took a non-ham friend along for the drive, Ok, he was the driver, and that allowed me to work the bands, just wish there was more working the bands for the trip. Yes, future ham number TWO from this trip. So where did we score, low points on the score board, but high with TWO possible future of Ham Radio licenses. I see the family rover again (prior two member of the Family Rover are in college now) and the starting of a “STX rover pack, limited at best but it will be a pack of two! I would say this trip was profitable! 73’s de KD5IKG/R STX Don’t forget to turn your beams towards STX on the next contest, we are out there, just in the noise level, but having fun all the same! -- KD5IKGPhoto Gallery
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