CQ Worldwide VHF Contest 2016
 category: ROVER
 callsign: N2SLN / R





OPERATORS

    N2SLN -- 6m op
    KC2SFU -- 2m op






ANTENNA SYSTEM

6m
custom 5-el rover yagi with 3-piece boom
2m
6-el Directive Systems Rover Special yagi (now Directive Systems and Engineering DSE144-6RS)
mobile whip antenna for 2m FM simplex





RADIO EQUIPMENT

6m
driver side Icom IC-7000

Advanced Receiver Research RF-sensed preamp

ICE bandpass filter

TE Systems 300w amplifier

2m
passenger side Icom IC-7000

Advanced Receiver Research external preamp

DCI bandpass filter

Mirage 100w amplifier







DESCRIPTION

With the rover re-build not yet complete, an all-out effort wouldn't make sense, so we decided just to make this a fun outing and get whatever we get. During the week leading up to the contest, I installed some temporary power wiring and a temporary 2m amp to get us through this contest. I didn't have time to put a meter on the equipment to see what power inputs and outputs we were getting, so to err on the side of caution, I set the RF drive levels low. We didn't smoke any preamps or overdrive any amplifiers, although our signal was probably weaker than it should have been. The new custom 6m rover yagi from Directive Systems and Engineering was tested at Field Day and was a great success, allowing quick assembly, quick partial disassembly into 3 pieces, and quick storage in the van's cargo area. Only two outer elements need to be removed when storing the antenna, and thumbscrew hose clamps were chosen to make it a quick, no-tools job. The boom will be next to receive thumbscrew hose clamps, then a connect-quick adaptor will take the place of the typical boom-to-mast plate and that antenna will be complete.

Tom got permission ahead of time for us to use good locations in FN10 and FN21, so the plan was to spend 3 hrs in each one Saturday afternoon and evening near the Hazleton, PA grid convergence, then make the trip back home for the night. I picked up Tom at 11 AM Saturday and we were southbound as planned, but with thunderstorms possible for both locations. We got to our site in northeastern FN10, got the antennas set up, and found 6m open, but with lightning static to the south on 6m. The RADAR loop revealed a line of thunderstorms entering Virginia. Having more gain than our usual Moxon Rectangle antenna makes the troposcatter contacts noticeably better. It also brings in more distant grids, which is one of our main operating goals. This location has no signal blockages nearby, and that made two meters happy, too, as evidenced by working into Virginia grid FM27 from here. We accomplished our goal of working lots of southern grids from here, our most southerly grid activation.

With only one small storm cell to the west of our next spot, we headed for FN21. We set up again and found 6m still open, but weaker. For the second grid activation in a row we worked the same Kansas station who was our only skywave contact to the west. Despite the foliage attenuation here, 2m outperformed 6m with almost double the number of contacts. Another check of the RADAR loop showed that the isolated thunderstorm cell had lengthened into a squall line and now had us in its sights. We eventually saw a mushrooming thunderstorm cloud to the southwest through the only available space between two trees. It was a slow-mover, so we knew we wouldn't have to hurry as we shut down the operation. We made only 11 contacts here, but that's what happens when you cut 3 hours down to 33 minutes. We used our extra time to stop for fast food just a few minutes north of our site. When we were done with that, we continued north, and half an hour later, Doppler RADAR was indicating that our FN21 hilltop was getting pounded. Tom managed to put a few FM simplex contacts in the log on our way back north, and that helped make up for the low QSO count in this grid.

Sunday morning I picked up Tom and we did a short trip to a local hilltop just under 2000 feet ASL in our home grid FN22. Tom started off with a good run on 2m FM simplex with the mobile whip antenna. By the time the simplex activity dried up, I had the main antenna system ready to be raised. Two meters was in terrific shape to the north and we managed to work into FN25 a couple times. We also had some 6m sporadic-E, working a few southeastern and Texas stations on single-hop (and heard Nicaragua on 50.128 MHz). This would be our best grid activation, generating 45 percent of our QSOs. At noon we tore down the equipment and hit the road for the final grid activation, FN12.

More great wx welcomed us here in eastern FN12 and setup was easy. We tried 2m FM simplex at the start but had no luck. On 6m we worked some of the same Florida and Texas stations all over again on 6m. As is usually the case from this site, our longest 2m contacts seem to be to the east, and we ended up working into New Hampshire. In addition, N2SLO was 5x5 from Long Island on 6m. In the last few minutes we tried CW and picked up all-time new grid FN05 on 6m. What a way to end a contest!





POINTS SUMMARY 


From    Band    QSOs    QSO pts.    Mults.
----------------------------------------------
FN10     50      18        18         13
        144      15        30          9
FN21     50       4         4          4
        144       7        14          5
FN22     50      44        44         30
        144      25        50         16
FN12     50      24        24         20
        144      14        28         11
----------------------------------------------
TOTALS          151       212        108


       --- Claimed score = 22,896 ---
LOG 

QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 1835 N2SLN/R          FN10   K3MKZ            FN21
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 1835 N2SLN/R          FN10   K2LIM            FN12
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 1839 N2SLN/R          FN10   K8GP             FM19
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 1843 N2SLN/R          FN10   K1TEO            FN31
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 1843 N2SLN/R          FN10   K1TEO            FN31
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 1847 N2SLN/R          FN10   W3SO             FN00
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 1849 N2SLN/R          FN10   W3SO             FN00
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 1854 N2SLN/R          FN10   WQ0P             EM19
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 1907 N2SLN/R          FN10   K3TUF            FN10
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 1908 N2SLN/R          FN10   K3TUF            FN10
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 1911 N2SLN/R          FN10   K3UHU            FM28
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 1916 N2SLN/R          FN10   K2LIM            FN12
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 1918 N2SLN/R          FN10   N2NF             FN30
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 1922 N2SLN/R          FN10   K3MD             FN10
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 1922 N2SLN/R          FN10   K3MD             FN10
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 1938 N2SLN/R          FN10   KC2HZW           FN30
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 1938 N2SLN/R          FN10   WB2JAY           FN30
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 1939 N2SLN/R          FN10   WB2JAY           FN30
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 1943 N2SLN/R          FN10   N2PP             FN13
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 2014 N2SLN/R          FN10   K8GP             FM19
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 2024 N2SLN/R          FN10   N3MK             FM27
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 2025 N2SLN/R          FN10   N3MK             FM27
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 2030 N2SLN/R          FN10   KB3Z             FN20
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 2032 N2SLN/R          FN10   KD3HN            FM19
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 2032 N2SLN/R          FN10   KD3HN            FM19
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 2034 N2SLN/R          FN10   W3MEL            FN10
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 2043 N2SLN/R          FN10   N2FKF            FN30
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 2049 N2SLN/R          FN10   WA3GGM           FM28
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 2057 N2SLN/R          FN10   N3MWQ            FM29
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 2100 N2SLN/R          FN10   KE2DN            FN12
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 2101 N2SLN/R          FN10   KE2DN            FN12
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 2105 N2SLN/R          FN10   N3RG             FM29
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 2106 N2SLN/R          FN10   N3RG             FM29
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 2219 N2SLN/R          FN21   K2LIM            FN12
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 2225 N2SLN/R          FN21   W2HYW/R          FN11
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 2227 N2SLN/R          FN21   W2HYW/R          FN11
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 2237 N2SLN/R          FN21   K1TEO            FN31
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 2248 N2SLN/R          FN21   W3SO             FN00
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-16 2250 N2SLN/R          FN21   WQ0P             EM19
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 2252 N2SLN/R          FN21   W3SO             FN00
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-16 2254 N2SLN/R          FN21   K2LIM            FN12
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 0007 N2SLN/R          FN21   WB3FKP           FN11
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 0008 N2SLN/R          FN21   KB3CWK           FN21
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 0020 N2SLN/R          FN21   N3RN             FN11
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1151 N2SLN/R          FN22   N2RLH            FN22
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1159 N2SLN/R          FN22   KC2ARO           FN22
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1202 N2SLN/R          FN22   KB2JED           FN22
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1212 N2SLN/R          FN22   AD2TM            FN22
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1218 N2SLN/R          FN22   K9BFY            FN22
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1227 N2SLN/R          FN22   K2LIM            FN12
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1227 N2SLN/R          FN22   K2LIM            FN12
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1230 N2SLN/R          FN22   N2RLH            FN22
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1231 N2SLN/R          FN22   AC4G             EM65
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1233 N2SLN/R          FN22   K3UL             FN11
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1238 N2SLN/R          FN22   N2RLA            FN22
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1240 N2SLN/R          FN22   AI4CJ            EL96
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1241 N2SLN/R          FN22   N2RLA            FN22
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1244 N2SLN/R          FN22   VE3AX            FN25
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1250 N2SLN/R          FN22   N4BP             EL96
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1251 N2SLN/R          FN22   KC4PX            EL98
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1257 N2SLN/R          FN22   K1IED            FN31
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1302 N2SLN/R          FN22   WB2SIH/R         FN32
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1305 N2SLN/R          FN22   N1JEZ            FN44
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1306 N2SLN/R          FN22   N1JEZ            FN44
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1307 N2SLN/R          FN22   AF1T             FN43
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1308 N2SLN/R          FN22   AF1T             FN43
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1321 N2SLN/R          FN22   W4TKI            EM71
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1323 N2SLN/R          FN22   K8GP             FM19
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1329 N2SLN/R          FN22   N4TB             EL97
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1332 N2SLN/R          FN22   K5QE             EM31
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1337 N2SLN/R          FN22   K2MRK            EL98
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1339 N2SLN/R          FN22   VE3KY            FN25
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1339 N2SLN/R          FN22   K8NS             EL99
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1343 N2SLN/R          FN22   K1TO             EL87
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1344 N2SLN/R          FN22   WA4GPM           EM90
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1345 N2SLN/R          FN22   K4RW             EM92
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1347 N2SLN/R          FN22   KM4HI            EL89
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1350 N2SLN/R          FN22   N2PP             FN13
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1351 N2SLN/R          FN22   AA4V             FM02
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1405 N2SLN/R          FN22   W3SO             FN00
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1406 N2SLN/R          FN22   W3SO             FN00
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1408 N2SLN/R          FN22   N4TWX            EL89
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1412 N2SLN/R          FN22   N4WW             EL98
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1417 N2SLN/R          FN22   WA2FGK           FN21
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1419 N2SLN/R          FN22   NJ2F             EL96
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1429 N2SLN/R          FN22   K2ZD             FN21
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1430 N2SLN/R          FN22   W3EP             FN31
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1433 N2SLN/R          FN22   W3HHN            FN33
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1433 N2SLN/R          FN22   W3HHN            FN33
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1437 N2SLN/R          FN22   W1RGA/R          FN42
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1437 N2SLN/R          FN22   W1FKF            FN42
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1442 N2SLN/R          FN22   WA1ZAM           FN32
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1443 N2SLN/R          FN22   KQ2N             FN23
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1446 N2SLN/R          FN22   KQ2N             FN23
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1448 N2SLN/R          FN22   VE3FN            FN25
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1451 N2SLN/R          FN22   WX4G             EL87
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1451 N2SLN/R          FN22   KE2GD            EL89
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1452 N2SLN/R          FN22   VE3FN            FN25
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1456 N2SLN/R          FN22   K1OR             FN42
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1456 N2SLN/R          FN22   K1OR             FN42
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1502 N2SLN/R          FN22   WA2VNV           FN30
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1502 N2SLN/R          FN22   WA2VNV           FN30
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1512 N2SLN/R          FN22   K2DAR            FN22
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1517 N2SLN/R          FN22   K2DAR            FN22
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1528 N2SLN/R          FN22   K1TEO            FN31
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1529 N2SLN/R          FN22   K1TEO            FN31
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1543 N2SLN/R          FN22   VE3ZV            EN92
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1544 N2SLN/R          FN22   VE3ZV            EN92
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1544 N2SLN/R          FN22   K3HSK            FN11
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1546 N2SLN/R          FN22   KF2MR/R          FN03
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1547 N2SLN/R          FN22   KF2MR/R          FN03
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1548 N2SLN/R          FN22   K3HSK            FN11
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1559 N2SLN/R          FN22   W3HH             EL89
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1734 N2SLN/R          FN12   NJ2F             EL96
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1735 N2SLN/R          FN12   N4SVC            EM80
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1736 N2SLN/R          FN12   K2LIM            FN12
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1737 N2SLN/R          FN12   K2LIM            FN12
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1741 N2SLN/R          FN12   N4WW             EL98
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1742 N2SLN/R          FN12   N2PP             FN13
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1744 N2SLN/R          FN12   K1TO             EL87
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1748 N2SLN/R          FN12   K1TEO            FN31
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1748 N2SLN/R          FN12   K1TEO            FN31
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1750 N2SLN/R          FN12   K1IED            FN31
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1754 N2SLN/R          FN12   WB2JAY           FN30
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1756 N2SLN/R          FN12   W2TZ             FN12
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1758 N2SLN/R          FN12   WB2JAY           FN30
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1803 N2SLN/R          FN12   N2SLO            FN30
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1814 N2SLN/R          FN12   KF2MR/R          FN02
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1815 N2SLN/R          FN12   KF2MR/R          FN02
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1827 N2SLN/R          FN12   N2RLA            FN22
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1827 N2SLN/R          FN12   N2RLA            FN22
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1834 N2SLN/R          FN12   W5PR             EL29
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1834 N2SLN/R          FN12   K5QE             EM31
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1902 N2SLN/R          FN12   K2ZD             FN21
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1919 N2SLN/R          FN12   W3SO             FN00
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1921 N2SLN/R          FN12   W3SO             FN00
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1927 N2SLN/R          FN12   KA3HED           FM29
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1929 N2SLN/R          FN12   KA3HED           FM29
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1931 N2SLN/R          FN12   K2EZ/R           FN21
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1933 N2SLN/R          FN12   K2EZ/R           FN21
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1940 N2SLN/R          FN12   AF1T             FN43
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1941 N2SLN/R          FN12   AF1T             FN43
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1943 N2SLN/R          FN12   K1KA             FN42
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1946 N2SLN/R          FN12   K1KA             FN42
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1949 N2SLN/R          FN12   W1FKF            FN42
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1954 N2SLN/R          FN12   KQ2N             FN23
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1957 N2SLN/R          FN12   KQ2N             FN23
QSO:    50 PH 2016-07-17 1959 N2SLN/R          FN12   KF2MR/R          FN12
QSO:   144 PH 2016-07-17 1959 N2SLN/R          FN12   KF2MR/R          FN12
QSO:    50 CW 2016-07-17 2048 N2SLN/R          FN12   K2KA             FN32
QSO:    50 CW 2016-07-17 2058 N2SLN/R          FN12   VE3SMA           FN05






N2SLN/R: A fringe rover in more ways than one.