KØMHC/Rover: VUCC Expedition to the Red River Valley

June 2013 VHF Contest

OBJECTIVES: Provide contacts with stations needing these grids for their VUCCs and increase our VHF activity during the June VHF contest.
After doing a recent survey of rover activities (or lack there-of), I decided to go out on the fringe and activate many of the "rare" grids that the VUCC enthusiasts have been asking for. These grids are located within the Red River Valley (of the north) and south along I29. They include western MN, eastern ND and SD. During this expedition KØMHC/Rover operated with 100W on 6, 350W on 2, 180W on 1.25 and 150W on 0.7 meters (click on pictures for larger view).
What's New:

Horz. stacked Yagis on 70 cm.
Higher power on 2 meters
Separate transmission lines for each band (4)
"Easy-up" mechanical assist for push-up mast

Highlights:

Sunday afternoon 6 meter opening
Eyeball with Matt & Dave K0BBC/Rover
Many VE4 contacts

Lowlights:

6 meter amplifier failure
Car battery failure (ending rove prematurely)
Running behind published schedule due to highway detours

Click on grid below for 360 panoramic views:
(pictures not posted yet)
Start = EN15xx95
Stop 1 = EN16xa95
Stop 2 = EN17xc16
Stop 3 = EN18xa01
Stop 4 = EN27ax95
Stop 6 = EN28aa84
Stop 7 = EN17xc16
Stop 8 = EN16nw84
Stop 9 = EN15ox01
Stop 10 = EN15lj86
Running during EN25
Running during EN26
Finish = EN26ha
K0MHC/R activated 8 grids

Summary of results:

2013 ARRL June VHF QSO Party

ROVER MN Section

    Band        QSOs    QSO pts. Mults.
    --------------------------------------------
    50                49            49            25
    144              55            55            14
    222              26            52            8
    432              26            52            8
    --------------------------------------------
    TOTALS   156           208          55 + 8 = 63