6mMoxon rectangle2m6-el Directive Systems Rover Special yagi (now Directive Systems and Engineering DSE144-6RS)
6mdriver side Icom IC-7000TE Systems amplifier at 150w
1500w lowpass filter
2mpassenger side Icom IC-7000Advanced Receiver Research RF-sensed external preamp
Telewave bandpass/bandreject filter
TE Systems amplifier at 150w
My FN23 site has two available locations: One is a roadside pulloff with no obstructions for 180 degrees but it's on the side of a hill. The other is the summit of the hill, but there are trees in many directions. With 6m/2m being the least affected by trees of all the VHF+ bands, I decided to go for the extra elevation despite the extra trees. I got set up, checked 6m, and the first contact was the best DX of the contest with double-hop into Arizona grid DM34 (2076 mi / 3341 km). I was also lucky enough to pick up NE, CO, IL, and SD. At 1922 UTC the path length shortened and I worked a station in the adjacent state of Ohio on skywave at 322 mi / 517 km for new grid EN91. The best DX on 2m was VE3ZV EN92 (252 mi / 406 km), and I picked up somewhat rare FN14 on both bands thanks to the Canadian rovers. I drove home after a 6-hour grid activation.
The next morning I got up as early as possible to get to the western FN22 hilltop incase of tropo. I was set up before 8 AM, but there was no enhanced propagation. Nonetheless, this would be the highest elevation of the weekend and the site with the fewest signal obstructions. That worked out so well that I ended up with more QSOs and grids on 2m than on 6m. In the process I picked up EN91, EN93, and the best 2m DX of the weekend: Virginia station N3MK FM27 (323 mi / 519 km). That one was a longer distance than my best 6m DX from this grid. I tore down the station around noon after 4 hours of operating.
I moved to a hilltop in eastern FN12 for the final grid activation. A local station said Doppler RADAR was showing a storm cell over Buffalo near the start of this grid activation, so I knew I needed to watch the skies. I had time to work a bunch of local activity which was great because then 6m opened to Florida and that became the focus. Then the path lengths shortened a bit, allowing me to work stations up through North Carolina and pick up FM03/04/05 which was a nice treat because those grids are normally a bit tough to get. The last skywave contact went into the log about 90 minutes from the end of the contest. I was now hearing lightning static with the antenna pointed in certain directions. Thankfully not when pointed west, because that's where my wx was originating. I was lucky to have the van oriented so that I could see the western skies through the windshield. I worked more local stuff, then with 45 minutes to go I saw clouds that looked like they were about ready to burst, but still no lightning bolts, so this was the perfect time to tear down the antenna system. I finished the final task, got inside the van, grabbed the flyswatter to kill two horseflies, and looked up to see rain on the windshield. I had clean sweeps with the following stations: W2RME FN22, KB2KIR FN22, KQ2N FN23, K1TEO FN31.
POINTS SUMMARY
FROM BAND QSOs QSO PTS. MULTS.
--------------------------------------
FN23 50 30 30 19
144 17 34 10
FN22 50 19 19 12
144 22 44 14
FN12 50 38 38 26
144 12 24 7
-------------------------------------
TOTALS 138 189 88
claimed score: 16,632
START-OF-LOG: 3.0 CALLSIGN: N2SLN/R CONTEST: CQ-VHF CATEGORY-OPERATOR: ROVER CATEGORY-BAND: ALL CATEGORY-POWER: LOW CATEGORY-TRANSMITTER: TWO CLAIMED-SCORE: 16632 LOCATION: WNY CREATED-BY: HAND NAME: ADDRESS: ADDRESS-CITY: ADDRESS-STATE-PROVINCE: ADDRESS-POSTALCODE: ADDRESS-COUNTRY: USA OPERATORS: N2SLN QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 1822 N2SLN/R FN23 N7CW DM34 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 1826 N2SLN/R FN23 KB2KIR FN22 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-18 1826 N2SLN/R FN23 KB2KIR FN22 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-18 1827 N2SLN/R FN23 KQ2N FN23 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 1828 N2SLN/R FN23 KQ2N FN23 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 1843 N2SLN/R FN23 N2PYH FN13 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-18 1844 N2SLN/R FN23 N2PYH FN13 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 1849 N2SLN/R FN23 KC0VEP EN11 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 1851 N2SLN/R FN23 W0ETT DM79 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 1910 N2SLN/R FN23 N0URW EN41 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 1912 N2SLN/R FN23 K2DRH EN41 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 1919 N2SLN/R FN23 W7XU EN13 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 1922 N2SLN/R FN23 WB8KRY EN91 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 1929 N2SLN/R FN23 VE3WJ/R FN14 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-18 1931 N2SLN/R FN23 VE3WJ/R FN14 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-18 1932 N2SLN/R FN23 N2NKX FN22 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 1933 N2SLN/R FN23 N2NKX FN22 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 1957 N2SLN/R FN23 W1AN FN41 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-18 1958 N2SLN/R FN23 W1AN FN41 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 2007 N2SLN/R FN23 AB3CX FN22 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 2007 N2SLN/R FN23 W2RME FN22 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-18 2009 N2SLN/R FN23 W2RME FN22 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-18 2011 N2SLN/R FN23 W1VD FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 2036 N2SLN/R FN23 KA2LIM FN12 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-18 2037 N2SLN/R FN23 KA2LIM FN12 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-18 2049 N2SLN/R FN23 N2SPI FN22 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 2056 N2SLN/R FN23 N2SPI FN22 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 2118 N2SLN/R FN23 W2RWL FN13 QSO: 50 CW 2020-07-18 2124 N2SLN/R FN23 N2KW/1 FN32 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 2126 N2SLN/R FN23 W3EP FN31 QSO: 144 CW 2020-07-18 2159 N2SLN/R FN23 K0SM FN12 QSO: 144 CW 2020-07-18 2221 N2SLN/R FN23 KA2UQW FN20 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-18 2241 N2SLN/R FN23 WW2Y FN24 QSO: 50 CW 2020-07-18 2245 N2SLN/R FN23 K2ZD FN21 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 2248 N2SLN/R FN23 KD2NZO FN22 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-18 2259 N2SLN/R FN23 KD2LGX FN13 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 2315 N2SLN/R FN23 KC4PX EL98 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 2321 N2SLN/R FN23 WB2FKO EL89 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 2325 N2SLN/R FN23 WA2ZVN FN13 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 2333 N2SLN/R FN23 K3IPM EL96 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-18 2342 N2SLN/R FN23 K1TEO FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 2343 N2SLN/R FN23 K1TEO FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-18 2351 N2SLN/R FN23 N6AR EL98 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 0001 N2SLN/R FN23 VE3ZV EN92 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 0004 N2SLN/R FN23 VE3ZV EN92 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 0004 N2SLN/R FN23 N2YB FN12 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 0005 N2SLN/R FN23 N2YB FN12 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1206 N2SLN/R FN22 KB2KIR FN22 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1207 N2SLN/R FN22 KB2KIR FN22 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1210 N2SLN/R FN22 KQ2N FN23 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1211 N2SLN/R FN22 KQ2N FN23 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1217 N2SLN/R FN22 WW2Y FN24 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1219 N2SLN/R FN22 WW2Y FN24 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1224 N2SLN/R FN22 KA2LIM FN12 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1225 N2SLN/R FN22 KA2LIM FN12 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1235 N2SLN/R FN22 N3XF FN00 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1235 N2SLN/R FN22 W3SO FN00 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1236 N2SLN/R FN22 N3XF FN00 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1240 N2SLN/R FN22 W3SO FN00 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1248 N2SLN/R FN22 WZ1V FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1249 N2SLN/R FN22 WZ1V FN31 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1301 N2SLN/R FN22 VE3TFU EN93 QSO: 144 CW 2020-07-19 1315 N2SLN/R FN22 W1VD FN31 QSO: 144 CW 2020-07-19 1321 N2SLN/R FN22 N2WK FN03 QSO: 144 CW 2020-07-19 1325 N2SLN/R FN22 K3TLP EN91 QSO: 144 CW 2020-07-19 1326 N2SLN/R FN22 K1ZE FN31 QSO: 144 CW 2020-07-19 1329 N2SLN/R FN22 W1XR FM19 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1332 N2SLN/R FN22 W1XR FM19 QSO: 50 CW 2020-07-19 1340 N2SLN/R FN22 N2KW/1 FN32 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1343 N2SLN/R FN22 N3MK FM27 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1401 N2SLN/R FN22 N1JEZ FN44 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1402 N2SLN/R FN22 N1JEZ FN44 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1403 N2SLN/R FN22 K1TEO FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1404 N2SLN/R FN22 K1TEO FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1412 N2SLN/R FN22 AF1T FN43 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1413 N2SLN/R FN22 AF1T FN43 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1417 N2SLN/R FN22 KC2SFU FN22 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1418 N2SLN/R FN22 KC2SFU FN22 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1421 N2SLN/R FN22 W1FKF FN43 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1421 N2SLN/R FN22 W1FKF FN43 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1428 N2SLN/R FN22 W1AN FN41 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1429 N2SLN/R FN22 W1XX FN41 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1430 N2SLN/R FN22 W1AN FN41 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1430 N2SLN/R FN22 W1XX FN41 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1439 N2SLN/R FN22 KA2ABA FN12 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1522 N2SLN/R FN22 K2ZD FN21 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1549 N2SLN/R FN22 W2RME FN22 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1550 N2SLN/R FN22 W2RME FN22 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1746 N2SLN/R FN12 K1IIG FN31 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1746 N2SLN/R FN12 K1TEO FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1747 N2SLN/R FN12 K1TEO FN31 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1749 N2SLN/R FN12 W2RME FN22 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1750 N2SLN/R FN12 W2RME FN22 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1755 N2SLN/R FN12 KB2KIR FN22 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1757 N2SLN/R FN12 KB2KIR FN22 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1808 N2SLN/R FN12 N4WW EL98 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1809 N2SLN/R FN12 WA4GPM EM90 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1810 N2SLN/R FN12 N4SVC EM80 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1813 N2SLN/R FN12 WB2FKO EL89 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1815 N2SLN/R FN12 K3TD FM05 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1819 N2SLN/R FN12 KC4PX EL98 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1826 N2SLN/R FN12 N2NKX FN22 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1827 N2SLN/R FN12 N2NKX FN22 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1830 N2SLN/R FN12 W0LD FM05 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1830 N2SLN/R FN12 W4JF FM03 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1831 N2SLN/R FN12 WB5SGH EM93 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1832 N2SLN/R FN12 W1XR FM19 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1834 N2SLN/R FN12 W1XR FM19 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1836 N2SLN/R FN12 WA4LDU EM93 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1836 N2SLN/R FN12 WA3GDB EM95 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1837 N2SLN/R FN12 WB7PMP EM95 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1839 N2SLN/R FN12 N2NCB FN12 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1841 N2SLN/R FN12 K3YDX FM05 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1842 N2SLN/R FN12 WW4BT FM04 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1844 N2SLN/R FN12 N4UFP EM94 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1857 N2SLN/R FN12 KU8E EM72 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1859 N2SLN/R FN12 K2JB EM85 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1903 N2SLN/R FN12 NQ4I EM73 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1906 N2SLN/R FN12 K4RM EM84 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1908 N2SLN/R FN12 KA3EQU FN11 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1909 N2SLN/R FN12 KA3EQU FN11 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1910 N2SLN/R FN12 KQ2N FN23 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1912 N2SLN/R FN12 KQ2N FN23 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1913 N2SLN/R FN12 K4KZY EM73 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1913 N2SLN/R FN12 W4WT EM74 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1916 N2SLN/R FN12 AE4M EM64 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1921 N2SLN/R FN12 AB4B EM64 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1926 N2SLN/R FN12 KN4NVU EM65 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1929 N2SLN/R FN12 KG2E EM66 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1934 N2SLN/R FN12 K4IDC EM66 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1955 N2SLN/R FN12 K2ZD FN21 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 1957 N2SLN/R FN12 W2UDT FN20 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 1958 N2SLN/R FN12 W2UDT FN20 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 2003 N2SLN/R FN12 N2EWM FN22 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 2004 N2SLN/R FN12 N2EWM FN22 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 2006 N2SLN/R FN12 KR1ST FN21 QSO: 50 PH 2020-07-19 2007 N2SLN/R FN12 KR1ST FN21 QSO: 144 PH 2020-07-19 2015 N2SLN/R FN12 W1VD FN31 END-OF-LOG: