With all the recent discussions about rules, I thought I'd post a topic that
gets back to actual operating. I'm trying to decide where to rove in June
this year. Last year, I made a few mistakes with my operating and travel
plans and while I still did well, I could have done better. My big mistake
was to not take full advantage of the 6 meter E skip openings that lasted
for most of the contest. I made a good number of 6 meter contacts, but
spent too much time calling on 2 meters. I should have just did S&P until I
worked all the stations and then set up to calling CQ myself.
The recent January contest also opened my eyes to how well a Limited Rover
can do with some elevation. Even without tropo skip and with low numbers of
stations in January, I ran pile-ups from Skyline Drive. The number of Qs
was MUCH better on 144, 222 and 432 than they ever had been. I had operated
from the same spot before, but it wasn't until that day that it really
showed a demonstrable difference with my other rover locations.
This morning I was reading the latest QST where it discusses the most needed
6 meter grids. Being on the East coast, there isn't a lot of rare grids,
but there are 4 that are fairly desirable. None are anywhere near any
mountains or good elevations. A rove to these grids (FM13, 25, 26 and 27)
would mean a contest without much chance of setting the world on fire on the
higher bands.
So I'm just trying to figure out the route that would be the most fun and at
the same time, make the most of the effort. For those chasing the FFMA, I
could be a real help with the coastal run. If the bands are open, I could
spend most of my operating time on 6 meters and rack up some big mults. The
lack of elevation wouldn't hurt me much. If the band is not open, it could
be a very quiet and boring contest. I would regret not being up in the Blue
Ridge or Pocono mountains.
I'm just brainstorming right now. I'd like any suggestions or anecdotes
from others on this.
Steve
K4GUN/R
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