02/19/2006 | WB8BZK/R Im so glad that I took Friday off from work to set up all of the equipment in the rover mobile. I was taking the last load out to the car just as the first snow flakes began to fall. Boy did it come down fast. Within a few hours we had twelve inches of snow on the ground. I thought for sure that all of snow would surely halt all rover operations in the area but the plows cleaned up most of the snow and ice from the roads by morning. Still I didnt hear too many other rovers braving the elements around Chicago this time around.

As I drove up to Wisconsin for the start of the contest, the snow depth decreased significantly and driving became much better. The best part is that I was able to set up all of the beams on the portapole at several locations which really helped bring in the weak ones and a few extra multipliers.

Sunday morning brought a heavy fog that left an ice build up on the antennas. Had to chip away the ice on the six meter M2 loop to keep the FT100D transmitter from SWR foldback. Winter roving is always an experience!

Overall I had a great time roving in the January contest. 73 Mike -- WB8BZK