As I considered the June VHF contest, I thought I’d stay at home to work lots of 6 meter QSOs. However, my home push-up mast is no longer. So it makes perfect sense to get on the road as a rover.
This time I’ve updated my mast from a painter pole to a Max-Gain Systems MK4-Heavy Duty fiberglass push-up mast. It tops out at 25 feet. I’m also using their heavy duty mast mount kit with tilt-lock. In my testing it has worked out really well. I’ve continued to use the roof rack bracket to hold it steady and I have some guy lines to use in case the wind is strong.
The rig will be an Icom IC-9100 using N3FJP’s VHF Contest Log. I will also be using the latest version of WSJT-X software for FT-8 and MSK144. The antennas will be a stressed moxon for 6 meters, a 10-element Diamond Yagi for 2 meters, along with a 10-element Diamond Yagi for 70 centimeters.
For my route, I’m generally following the path I used in the September VHF contest with an improved location for EM11 on Saturday to start the day along with adding an EM13 location for Sunday. That will bring me to a total of 8 grids activated.
Here’s the details. The times show more precision that you should expect. I’ll announce arrival times on Twitter @k5nd and will see what I can do with APRS. See the full map at the bottom of the post.
Saturday 9-June-2018
- 1800 UTC — EM11vx (A on the map to the SE of Dallas)
- 2000 UTC — EM12va (B)
- 2200 UTC — EM21ax (C)
- 2330 UTC — EM22bf (D)
Sunday 10-June-2018
- 1100 UTC — EM13ae (A on the map to the West of Fort Worth)
- 1300 UTC — EM03xe (B)
- 1600 UTC — EM02xt (C)
- 1930 UTC — EM01wv (D)
I hope to work you during the contest.
