Kinda what I thought...
Mine has four "operating positions" but share a common power supply
(1200+Ah of battery for the 12V stuff, anyway) and a pair of antenna
support structures permanently mounted, and the option to install a tower
if required for a third.
This allows for "semi-independent" operation while stationary, as the 6
and 2 meter operating positions would have to mutually decide where to aim
that stack of antennae, unless the tower were erected and either a
separate, additional six or two meter antenna installed and cabled to the
appropriate gear.
The 222/432 operator can independently rotate those antennae from the 903+
gear if two hitch pins are removed and the 222/432 sleeve and crossarm are
elevated, then pinned back to the rotator mast. At that point the 903+
operator can "armstrong" their array into rough position, engage the dish
positioner and have limited, but precise electrical aiming from that
point.
As up to four transmitters can be "on the air" simultaneously, it isn't
overly hard to figure out "what band we are on" and generally not much of
a wait to switch between 222 and 432 or the "ultra-highs" as this
generally can be done by flipping a couple switches and verifying the IF
is on the right band and frequency.
With the antennas at "transport height" VSWR is still low enough to allow
operation on all bands, (although with some pattern degradation and a bit
less gain out of the 6 and 2 meter arrays) but with significantly higher
gain than is generally available with omnidirectional antennae employed by
more traditional rover setups. "Tropo" QSO's over hundreds of miles have
been made with the antennas "down and forward".
Eric
KB7DQH
> Being one of the folks who helped write the rules for the unlimited rover,
> I
> have to ask, what about the unlimited rover class "ISN'T designed to take
> this into account currently"? It was certainly our intent that such a
> "Rover Bus" operation be allowed in the unlimited rover class.
>
> 73
> Jim, W4KXY
>
> It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how
> smart
> you are. If it doesn't agree with experiment, it's wrong.
> Richard P. Feynman
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: vhfcontesting-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of James French
> Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 11:18 AM
> To: Nate Duehr
> Cc: VHF Contesting email
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Rule 3.3.1....
>
> On Sat, 2009-06-27 at 17:09 -0600, Nate Duehr wrote:
>
>> I've always loved the idea of a "Rover Bus" with a bunch of friends.
>>
>> --
>> Nate Duehr, WY0X
>> nate@natetech.com
>
> That's what I am thinking, Nate. But per the rules, we are not allowed
> to do that. This I think would help bring out other operators plus get
> those operators that can 'borrow' a loaner station the chance to make
> a few contacts and have questions answered at the same time and be given
> advise on how things work, are planned and arranged, and to see how
> other stations do things.
>
> The Unlimited ROVER class ISN'T designed to take this into account
> currently.
>
> James W8ISS
>
> _______________________________________________
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> VHFcontesting@contesting.com
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>
>
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>
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