Due to the low activity level expected for such a rare band, I decided not to enter the contest as a rover, and use all available time to make contacts. The location was the nearest rover site in my home gridsquare FN22. The antenna was at about 1940 feet above sea level and thankfully there wasn't much foliage in the immediate area. Due to the miserable weather, I decided to try mounting the antenna to the car in order to use the car as the rotor, preventing me from having to set up the usual outdoor equipment (which I did bring along just incase the rain stopped). Before leaving for the hilltop, I mounted the antenna to a bike rack on the trunk and ran a feedline out to it. I arrived at the site three minutes early in rain showers, but no lightning static like last year. Temperature was 50�F.

Activity levels were down compared to last year. I operated the entire sprint (only 78% last year), but could not beat last year's QSO count nor grid count. My best DX to the west was VE3ZV EN92vw at 231 miles (372 km). Best to the south appears to be Maryland station K1RZ FM19jh at 238 miles (383 km). Turning the antenna through the northern directions did not help. Best to the east was K1TR FN42 at 224 miles (361 km) and to the northeast was K1WHS FN43 at 247 miles (397 km).

Here is a list of stations I heard but was unable to work: W1RZF, N2LID FN12, N2DCH FN22, KU2A, K3CB, and N1SV. Notably missing were W2EV, W3KWH, K8GP, and WA2FGK. I would have liked to hear activity out of FN01, 02, 03, FN21, 23, 24, 25, and FN32, 33, and 34. As expected, there was no help from any kind of enhancement (this is probably part of the reason for the low turnout). On the bright side, it sure was nice not having to get out of the car to set up equipment for once. If there's rain predicted for the 432 sprint, I may do the same thing.