KA6U Update - May 16, 2023 -  0100UTC

Spring 2023 Roving trip is complete.

No more activations on this trip.
Thank-you everyone for calling.

Here are some statistics:

  • 500+ QSOs
  • 10 operators completed 23cm WAS
  • 3 operators completed 70cm WAS
  • Many operators are now within a few states of completing 23cm or 70cm WAS
  • Several operators are now very close to 222 WAS
  • Total trip calendar duration: 22 days (feels longer)
  • States activated: 22
  • Miles traveled: ~9000 (~15000km)
  • Total miles on roving vehicle since July 2022 - 30,000
  • Longest travel day: 16 hours - 1000 miles (3 times)
  • 3000+ meter mountain passes crossed: 3
  • Temperatures ranged from 15F to 90F (-10C to 32C)
  • Activations in snow: 1
  • Many visits by general public and a few Hams
  • Consensus view of what I was doing: "Trying to talk to aliens"
  • Nights with normal sleep pattern: 0  (average hours sleep per day, maybe 5)
  • Equipment issues, all repaired in the field: 3
  • Favorite stop: Open range cattle ranch on OR/WA border
  • Average gasoline price this Spring: $3.50 per gallon compared to $5.50 per gallon for diesel last Summer
  • Typical time to set up both stations: 40 minutes (23cm 15 minutes, 70 cm 25 minutes)
  • Typical time to pack both stations: 30 minutes (motivated)
  • Times I had to relocate activation site because of local noise: 1
If you find any QSOs missing, please send me an email.

The updated 2.4M folding dish from Paul W2HRO worked exceptionally well.  The only times when I had issues with 23cm operations was during high wind events.  Otherwise 23cm signals were the best on any of my trips.

The two 70cm 21H21V antennas worked very well.  The switchable polarization was critical in many cases.

In most cases the simultaneous operations on 23cm and 70cm worked well.

At this time I don't have the next trip planned.

Trips in Spring work well.  Weather is cooler, roads emptier, hotel costs much lower.

Favorite photo from the trip.



73 for now Peter, KA6U


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