A Guide For WSJT Rovers ...

*** Known WSJT Rovers *** *** Awards For Rovers ***

Purpose: 1. To answer questions relating to WSJT Rovers. 2. Examine requirements relating to the Century Grid
Award for working stations located at Grid Lines & Grid Intersections. 3. Recommend Rover Procedures

Portable WSJT: How a New Mexico VHF operator makes
meteor scatter contacts from his parked car .
Thanks to Mike (WB2FKO) for allowing us to link to this article.

GOOD NEWS FOR ROVERS ! The WSJTGROUP sponsored contests now have a "Rover Category".
Statons that operate a "Rover" and operate from their home QTH may submit a log for each category. Also, stations
using GPS to assure prexise location on Grid Lines or Grid Intersections will be counted for multiple grid contacts.
This is in harmony with the VUCC rules the ARRL uses and addopted for the Century Grid Award .
Recommended Messages / Procedures for WSJT Rovers
Note: These recommendations might need to be altered based on meteor conditions ie ping widths and
message lengths. This document is "evergreen" so please feel free to critique / make recommendations.

It is best practice for rovers to include their Grid in the CQ message. CQ EM41 N5SIX or CQD7 EM41 N5SIX
(See section below for Intersections & Grid Lines) Also some rover types may not need to use the Grid as the report if
it is already known. (see rover types below)

It is a good practice for the Rover Station to send his Grid Location as the report. If the rover is working WA5UFH
it wouldl look like: UFH EM41. WA5UFH would know it was his report and the Rover is in EM41.

During Random Hour, rovers should use the call freqeuncy but outside Random Hour Actiivty Periods rovers
should consider using the "OffSet" method of calling CQ. This is good practice to keep reduce activity on the calling
freqeuncy. This is considered good practice for voice ssb use of 144.200 and 50.125 MHz also.

If rovers do use the call freqeuncy they should not use Sh messages. Rover stations wishing to use Sh
messages should use the "OffSet Method" of calling. Random Hour is an activity period designed for maximum
use of the call freqeuncy and is not the norm.

The calling frequecies or 144.140 MHz and 50.260 MHz.

Types of Rover Operations
Randoms Only : The rover station is depending on calling and responding to CQ's on the call freqeuncy.

Cell Phone Assisted : The rover has announced his operation and will depend on both random contacts and
cell phone calls from interested stations for the purpose of setting up schedules. The rover might also call a coordination station to
post his activity on Ping Jockey.

Rover / HF assistance: The rover station has taken an HF radio for making scheules and coordination with anther
station who might relay information via Ping Jockey.

Rover / Prearragned Schedules : A rover station who has announced his plans and taken a listing of schedules
and executes them from the rover location.

Rover With Internet : A rover station who has all the PJ / email capabalities of a fixed home station. This type
operation is often times from RV's.

Operating from Grid Intersections and Grid Lines.
Contest Rovers : During contests a rover station may only pass out one grid for each
completed contact. If the rover station sets up at a grid line, the rover station must complete
a given grid contact and then relocate to the new grid to make a valid contact in that grid.
These rules follow the ARRL guidelines.One grid per contact for contests.
Random Hour Rovers : During Random Hour a rover station may give out multiple grids at "grid
lines" and "grid intersections" after determing their precise location. A GPS should be used to
verify the location. Any part of the rover station that resides on the GPS identifed line or intersection qualifies
as a "grid line" or "grid intersection" location. This is in agreememnt with the ARRL rules for the VUCC.
All Other Rovers : Same as "Random Hour Rovers" above except the rover is not operating during a scheduled
Random Hour Session.

Procedure for Random Contacts to identiy Grid Line / Intersection Locations.

For Random Contacts the following procedure was recommended by N5SIX.

Snip: One possible shorthand way to give intersection as report would be to give two opposite
or diagonal grids. If I was at the EM41, 51, 42 and 52 intersection, I could send EM41EM52
or EM51EM42 in BC/Rpt or Rpt - it would imply the other two. If you are on a single line between grids,
just give both - ie EM42EM52. (May be easier read in decode to put space or slash between them.}

Example Grid Intersection :
CQ EM41-52 N5SIX (Indicates Grid Intersection & includes grids EM42 & 51)
OR
CQ EM42-51 N5SIX (Indicates Grid Intersection & includes grids EM41 & 52)

Example Grid Line :
CQ EM42-52 N5SIX (Indicates Grid Line, only two grids)

QSL Cards & Rovers
When confirming Rover Grids, provide the Grid on the card with supporting information. If the contact was from
a Grid Line or Grid Intersection provide the GPS data and all other supporting information to verify the exact location.

Rover Etiquette

Stations working a "Rover" or decoding a rover calling should announce the "Rovers Presence" on PJ. This will help others and
keep the Rover busy.

Please do not post anything that could make a contact questionable. It is always safe to post a CQ from a rover or to post who he
is working. Avoid posting what the Rover is sending except for his CQ.

After receiving the RRR sent the 73 message so the rover will know to move on.

Stations Known To Be WSJT Rover Ready ...
Please email wa5ufh@ykc.com if you wish to be listed.

N5SIX
KM5ES
N5OSK
K9KNW
K0SM
NM9H
WB2FKO
W0IOH
WZ8D
N0PB
XE2AT
N8OC
W8LON
WW2R
N4FRE
N3IZN
WA4EWV