I operated W3CMP/R in the Sprint from the SE PA 4 corners (FN10, 2O, FM19,
29) near Gap, Pa., as a casual rover. Sites I operated from were all 800' ASL
or higher. Equipment was a FT-991A running 50 watts, sitting on front passenger
seat of my pickup and powered from cigarette lighter jack; antenna was a Wimo
Big Wheel. I was pleasantly impressed at how well I could receive, although I
knew 50 watts was was not going to be heard by many unless antennas were
pointed toward me. K1RZ, W8ZN, and WZ1V were loud. Best DX heard were K3SK in
FM07, about 230 miles and W9KXI in FN12, at about 150 miles. Heard them very
well, but they did not hear me. Majority of contacts were made from FN10 and
FM29. Never made FN20; analog ctivity seemed to drop off after 8:30 p.m. local,
so I hung out in FM29 until 9:00 p.m. Made 21 contacts from 3 grids. Last
contact was K1TEO in FN31 while driving home. Lots of ideas to upgrade, but the
wheel showed a significant improvement over the M2 HO loop I used last year. It
was frustrating to see/hear loud digital stuff at times when ssb and cw were
pretty much absent.73,Chris Patterson W3CMP
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