Good Morning to all
The W4SHG/R was out in trek mode for the running of the 222 mhz Fall Sprint
2007.
>From the looks of this test at the start it appeared conditions were up
slightly to the Northeast but flat elsewhere. I started in FM18XX at Sky
Meadow State Park and from 7:00 to 7:40 called CQ pretty hard. K1TEO was
very loud, more so than normal from FN31 and WZ1V was equally loud leading
me to believe conditions were up a bit. The CCX beacon from FM18XX was S2 to
S3 which is not bad from the rover with the antenna only 11 feet off the
ground.
After 30 minutes I managed to run down 12 contacts and 7 Grids an noticed
long calling on 222.122 lead to nothing and if I wanted to find some Q's I
better go down to below .106. When I did that I gathered up FM16 and found
WA4PGI in FM07. These are reasonably rare grids during the sprints so
getting them would not have happened unless I left my calling frequency. It
appears the hunt and pounce method must be used in the rover as folks just
don't seem to leave their calling frequency.
I was a little disappointed in the activity but all in all 12 and 7 from
FM18 wasn't band and I knew that Mt. Weather was going to be much better so
off I go. I called CQ in route on .122 the entire event. That often yields a
QSO or two but in this test it yielded very little. I only worked W3ZZ on
the way up the mountain and once their, I pointed NE and nothing. It
appeared that the band conditions changed a bit as the CCX beacon was still
S3 at 1800ft ASL. What was going on here? So I found WZ1V and K4QI called
from the back of the rover beam and right then a knocking with a flashlight
on my window startled me.
It seems in my zest for finding that rare grid I didn't notice the blue
flashing light directly behind my vehicle. This is because "Barney" pulled
up right up on the bumper. Yes, "Barney is a Mt. Weather policeman standing
about 5' 2" balding with a bit of a stutter. He asked what I was doing and
who I worked for, yes he was sure I was a Spy of some sort. I gave him my
information and he immediately asked me to get out of the car. Then two more
Mt. Weather police show up as "Goober" and "Gomer" get out and accuse me of
direction finding at a National Security site. Then they put me on the car
and frisk me sure I was packing some arsenal of life threatening hardware.
K4QI was in the middle of a QSO and didn't understand why I did not respond.
As you can see I was a bit busy.
After the "Law" settled down they called "Andy" who showed up in a pickup
truck, more blue lights. He asked again what I was doing and why I was doing
it and gave him the sponsors (SVHFS) web page. They called in my license
plate wanted my proof of insurance, wanted my registration and a number
where I work.
Now at this point I am getting a little "ticked off" and I told them I was
going to operate while than ran my wrap sheet. To my amazement "Barney"
stated "At this point you can operate but you must cease upon my order" Ha
Ha cracked me up, I wonder if his gun was loaded? :)
So while the blue lights were in abundance I re-worked K4QI, picked up FM16
and WZ1V in FN31 but when I moved the antenna back to the Northeast it was
more than "Barney" could handle. He came back and "ordered" me to stop and I
promptly asked him specifically what law I was breaking? He had to go back
to the car and call in because he didn't know. I continued to operate for 10
or so minutes then "Gomer" came up and said you are "OK" but you need to
leave. I asked him why do I need to leave this public area outside the gates
on Mt. Weather and what law was I violating if any? He went back to the car
and finally "Andy" came over said, Sorry for the trouble and asked how long
was I going to be there? I said 2 more minutes as I am behind my schedule.
Upon my departure I told them it was fun and I plan to do it again next week
for the 432 Sprint. The three of them "Andy", "Gomer" and "Barney" just
looked at each other. I wish I had a picture of this, it was classic. Maybe
next time I can round up "Goober"
My goodness, I have used this spot for three (3) years now. Ahrggg . I guess
the only thing this tells me as that there are no wants or warrants on me
personally and the car isn't stolen and my insurance is OK, I guess. They
really tried to take the W4SHG/R out of play but off the FM09 with another
painfull 11 Q's and 9 grids regardless of the "Mayberry Effect".
After surviving this ordeal I thought FM09 might be OK as it is rare in
these events, I found my spot and then a little better knoll at the top of
the hill. FM09 was OK but just OK as 11 Q's and 8 Grids finding K3CB in FM28
pretty rare in the sprints.
So off I went to FM08 to Hogback at 3500 plus feet and while in flight
calling CQ the entire time. I Worked W3ZZ and Bob K8TQK in EM89 while low on
the way up. Bob was very loud so I figured maybe some enhancement to the
West. While in route the entire way up the mountain no one else except W4DEX
in EM95 again loud. Getting excited I got to the Devils stairs where I stop
for a look South and called for 20 minutes on .122 and then .100 and .103
looking for southern stations. I found nothing at all. Then off I went the
Hogback where I found the CCX beacon and S1. Ahrrrg this is not good. And
with some nice exceptions including VE3TFU in EN92 and K1WHS on CW in FN43,
K1PXE in FN41 and K1TR in FN42 conditions were very flat if not poor from
that site for this event.
Thanks for K4QI, W3ZZ and WZ1V for the sweeps. Toward the end some poor soul
was sending me CW. A 2 call and no matter what I could do O could not get
the call. The peaks and valleys were so bad it was like the RF was being
vacuumed up there last night.
I hope to see you all next week on the 432 Sprint, if I can stay out of
jail. I haven't totaled everything yet but 60 Q's and probably 38 grids or
so. Not bad but certainly not great. That score added to the "Rover being
frisked and being accused of direction finding at a National Security Site
Bonus" of 100,000 points I think I won this event hands down :)
Respectfully submitted
Steve Gilmore - W4SHG/R (the outlaw)
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