09/25/2005 | K With a major reduction of the number of rovers out and about there were fewer of both 432 and 1296 contacts/grids. The AU and AU/E bolstered the 6m and 2m counts more than enough to overcome the absence of rovers, BUT there was no way to make up for the loss of those lost rover 432 & 1296 Grids - Qs.

Excellent activity from the very beginning. Lots of stations to chase down and signals were pretty good really, some outstanding. Just 28min from the start, I had already ran the bands (50mhz- 432mhz) with Dan NRW, at 406miles and all on SSB!! I would say that conditions were REALLY not too bad at the start.

The 6m AU/E and 2m AU/E were "solar sent" and arrived during the
normal quiet of the night. What a great treat to be able to visit with Hank WLI (OR CN85) on 6m AUE, as though he was setting in the shack. S9+20 with wherever the antenna was at that moment. Beautiful VE6, VE5, VE9 and W7 Qs. The AU was all 6m early and in the end did extend up to 222. Nice to work CO on 222Au :>) First AU entry was with (Lefty, who else?) at 04:38Z on 6m and last for the night was with Bob K2YAZ at 12:09Z. 25% of the logged contacts were via AU, 41-6m, 19-2m and 6-222Mhz contacts. Unique grids are harder to count ut no doubt were significant.

Lots of fun and I TIED my previous high number of contacts (267) in any contest!! Man .. would like to have found one more station!! Fell short of my pervious "any contest" high by a few k , but I'll take it!
I did have new contest highs for 2 meter contacts/grids 101/42 and a new high of 15 grids on 222. Pretty Cool!

Thanks to those that looked toward "The northern Minnesota forests and lakes".

Bill EN37ed -- K