Minnesota QSO Party: Epic Mobile Ham Radio Road Trip #HamRadioQA

Have you ever wanted to do one of those mobile or rover stations during a QSO party? I sure did. When Dave, KZ9V, invited me to team up with him for the Minnesota QSO Party, I jumped at the chance. Here's our mobile operation that spanned six counties and entailed nearly 400 miles of driving.

KØM is the special event call that Dave secured for the QSO party and what we used on the road. I do return QSL, so if we made contact and you'd like a card, please QSL via KB9VBR. I'm good in the book, as they say.

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KB9VBR VHF/UHF Antennas:

My Parks on the Air setup:

Video Production Equipment:

Music by license:

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#MNQP #MinnesotaQSOParty #MobileHamRadio #Radiosport #hamradiocontest #hamharder

[marcpruitt]

Thanks Michael
Enjoyed the video. Would still love to see more on the fabulous Hustler’s. Thinking about next ham fest picking some up, heard so many great things from the Elmers on the Hustler

[larryboekeloo]

I had that Hustler setup on my 1981 Buick but it was mounted on a Hustler bumper mount back when cars really had bumpers. It still whipped around too much and I had to guy it down. I did use the Hustler setup last year on the motorhome once we were parked. The Hustler setup worked well but to be honest, the single band sticks worked a bit better just a slower process to change bands. I still have all of the Hustler items and the 40 and 80 meter sticks. I'm now mobile with a Tarheel setup with the extended whip and that seems to work the best of the three. Great video! It was great to see how you used the memory function in the FT-891 to call CQ. Thanks. Larry, KN8N

[KLWC]

Don't think I got you in the log, but had a ton of fun operating the party. Hoping for a good showing in the standings! 73

[nrrful]

had a Hustler also but sold it...regret it bad

[frankwco]

Looks like 40 meters you had to use the tuner with the Shark antenna. Still the setup looks great. How much power were you using on the 891?

[DKONV]

You guys just rock. That's all I can say about it. Wohooo...happy mid of the Weekday. 🙋‍♂

[sphexes]

Ham radio rock stars! Great video! So much fun.

[sasuva]

Epic Buddy Trip! Could you explain the call signs and process of a QSO party on mobile in an upcoming video?

[davidsradioroom]

You guys performed a Herculean task, and you blew the QSO party out of the water. congratulations!

[kcopv]

I admit, that looked like a lot of fun. I'm thinking I need to do a version of this for the VA QSO Party in March.

[milwman]

I love running the ridges on my Indian Motorcycle up and down the big river. KF0HRF

[jimbrown]

You drove right by my house. I live on Hwy 61 between Wabasha and Winona.

[theElderberryFarmer]

Outstanding! It's hard to imagine a better day of playing radio than to make a serious road trip with a buddy. Thanks very much for bringing us along, Michael! Your antenna challenge surely points out the importance of having a 'plan B'. Absent that, it might have been a much less excellent adventure. 73, KO4AZY

[krc]

If you have a receiver hitch on the truck you can mount the hustler there. They sell a 4-ft twist-lock extension that puts the resonators up higher in the air. You can then guy it with some tension to the front corners of the box.

[mwalker]

I had heard a few stations this weekend on 20m, made contact with those that could also hear me from here in Oregon. Loads of fun!

[frankwco]

Is there a Rover category? Or just mobile? That was fun.

[applejacks]

Are you utilizing a pillow and thin plywood as your make shift table/writing surface?
My buddy is really dragging his feet studying to get licensed in the next 10 days :( I may have to change my plans a bit if I can't get a co-pilot for the 9/10th.
I got my 891 and ATAS120 installed the other day and its working great!

[applejacks]

I hope you grabbed some Casey's pizza while in Zumbrota, its the best!!! Especially the gravy breakfast pizza :)

[applejacks]

4:05 How did you secure the rope to the hamstick? It looks as if there's a tie off bracket where the whip goes in to the mast portion? Thanks again!

[auto]

I was wondering about some of these state/provincial QSO party rules. I heard one contester tell someone who called him that the contester would only accept calls from hams within his province.