June 2004 ARRL Sweepstakes Contest
Jun. 12 & 13

Well nuts!  It looks like my company is transferring me out-of-state, so the Über Rover will not be able to participate in the June 2004 contest.  We'd like to thank everyone who offered their support and equipment as well as everyone who made our past two expeditions such wonderful successes!  The best of 73's to each of you!

KC8HZQ (1/2 of the KC8HZM "Über Rover")

Before the Contest...

Well, we are back at it again; starting to plan for our next rover expedition.  The current plan is to run the same basic schedule as we did last time, but check back here just before the contest for the most current schedule.  If there's one thing we've learned, it's that even the best made schedule can and will change.

Saturday (12-Jun-04):
EN74 - 1900Z - 2200Z (includes a 2 hour stop @ EN74gc [#2 on the map])
EN64 - 2200Z - 2230Z (drive through only)
EN63 - 2230Z - 0200Z (includes a 1 hour stop @ EN63vs [#5 on the map])
EN73 - 0200Z - 0500Z (includes a 2 hour stop @ EN73eg [#7 on the map])
EN72 - 0500Z - 0530Z (drive through only and get a good nights sleep)

Sunday (13-Jun-04):
EN72 - 1900Z - 2030Z (drive through only)
EN71 - 2030Z - 2300Z (includes a 2 hour stop @ EN71hw [#10 on the map])
EN61 - 2300Z - 0100Z (included 1 hour for dinner and a break!)
EN62 - 0100Z - 0200Z (drive though only) EN72 - 0200Z - 0230Z (drive through only)

As usual, this is an approximate schedule. All times are subject to change with the weather and other unforeseen events. ;-)

We will be monitoring 146.55 FM at all times, but will likely be employing the search and pounce method on the other bands.  If things get dull, we may call CQ on the usual call frequencies, but since we are still fairly low power, our experience last time with this method was less than favorable.

While mobile, we'll have all bands and modes active, but we'll have limited loop antennas on 2m SSB and 70cm SSB and they will only be approximately 3' above the car.  When stopped, we'll raise the 2m SSB yagi and 70cm SSB quagi antennas to approximately 15' above the car, which should help considerably.

Equipment list is as follows:
Yaesu FT-817
this will likely be used an an IF for 902 MHz* and 1.2 GHz*

Yaesu FT-290RII
2m SSB - 160W (via brick amp) into a quad antenna [LMR-400] mounted on the rear mast (6 element yagi when stopped)

Icom IC-706MkIIg
6m SSB - 100W, antenna TBD
70cm SSB - 25W, antenna TBD

Icom IC-2000
2m FM  - 45W into a 5/8-wave vertical antenna [RG-8U] in the middle of the roof (same while stopped)

Kenwood TH-79A
440 FM - 5W into a 1/4-wave vertical antenna [RG-8X] in the middle of the roof (same while stopped)

*Special thanks to the following people:
    KF8QL for allowing us to borrow the necessary transverters and antennas to get on 902MHz and 1.2GHz!  Thanks a million, Dave!

We use a laptop with Microsoft Streets & Trips and a GPS for navigation.  We learned last year that this worked REALLY well.
In addition to paper logs, our official logging will be done with "Rover Log".  We used it last January and is was very easy to use and very powerful.

73's de KC8HZQ
(1/2 of KC8HZM - "Über Rover")