I will be entering the Limited Rover Category in the ARRL September VHF Contest, September 9 to 10.
I will stop and set up operations at each grid location. Running 2 meter and 70 cm SSB and CW only.
I’ll be running an IC-910H at 100 watts into a 2 meter 5-element yagi at about 18 feet and 75 watts on 70 cm into a 15-element yagi just below that. I will also have Par Electronics Omni-Angles for both bands in case I decide to scatter my signal for CQs. On the drive between rover locations I will be listening on 446.0 MHz FM using an Icom ID-31A and mag-mount vertical.
Here’s my route:
Saturday, September 9
- EM22ai, at contest start 1800 UTC, 1 PM Central
- EM12xi, mid-afternoon, location is across the lake from the EM22ai location
- EM23eh, late afternoon
- EM13xe, early evening
Sunday, September 10
- EM03wd, early Sunday AM Central Time
- EM02xt, mid-Sunday AM
- EM01wv, early Sunday PM
- EM11dv, mid-Sunday PM
- EM12ea, late Sunday PM
To find the right bearing from your location to each grid, use N0UK’s Distance and Bearing Calculator.
During the contest I’ll provide my updated location on my Twitter account at https://twitter.com/k5nd
Over the past two weeks I’ve tested the route and found good reception of the W5HN beacon from EM13 and typically the K5RMG beacon from EM00. So I should have great coverage into Dallas-Fort Worth and into Austin. I will also be looking for Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Click on the map below for further information.
