Hi all,
We're getting to the end of the year, and given all the support and care we've
gotten, want to let everyone know what is happening.
We tested a remote hybrid/in person operation for the first time in CQ WW CW.
It went pretty much flawlessly. Jim K6ZH, Bud N7CW, and myself in person, with
Eric NC6K as the first full time remote participation, had a blast, and a great
score as a M/2 given conditions. We also know with some additional testing,
that we now have two remote positions that seamlessly fit into the operation.
I expect to have four remotable positions available by the time of WPX SSB.
We're still in go slow mode, as far as bringing in new remote ops, because we
still have some thinking to do about procedures, what options/access to offer
etc. Right now we are oriented towards the K3/K30/RRC combo. In my admittedly
limited experience, it's "almost like being there." It also requires some
investment. I'm pretty sure we'll also implement a Mumble server/Anydesk
option, for those who want a low cost/no hardware option. If any of you think
you might be interested in remote seats here in or outside of contests, we
should talk.
As part of this evolution, I've downsized the station footprint somewhat. Rich
Strand KL7RA, then my crew when we took over, basically built this as
W3LPL/K3LR in the tundra. Rich was a brilliant, warm hearted, slightly crazy,
practical engineer, who did magic with duct tape, spare parts, Rube Goldberg
contraptions that *worked* and so much more. He's been gone 9 years now, and I
still often see something and think "Rich, WTF!" And just as often "Rich, how
did you get it so *right*" on something. My talent, when I took over, was
having a steady check writing hand. COVID, and the changes that came with it
and have stayed; cost and hassle of travel, folks getting used to doing a lot
of things online, as opposed to in person, inflation, supply chain issues, and
the reality of us getting older as a cohort made it clear that we couldn't
continue as it was before. It has also been my goal since the beginning to
have a station that would be manageable for someone else to run in the future.
I believe the optimum setup for where we are geographically, is as a remote/in
person hybrid, equipped extremely well for M/S and M/2, with the option for a
occasional M/M. We'll continue to maintain 6 or 7 equipped operating
positions, and the cabling for a couple of more. We've made major progress on
this, and expect to be done this Spring/Summer.
What's next? At some point in the not terribly distant future, I would like to
start transitioning either in full, or at least in part, to a new owner or
investors. As I said above, my main talent here was check writing, (and
providing hot and cold running dogs.to the ops, sometimes whether they wanted
them or not.) and COVID really did a number on that, both financially and
healthwise/long COVID stuff. Ideally, there is another Rich out there, with
the bench and tower skills and lack of willingness to believe it couldn't be
done up here. If not, this is something that requires an ongoing cohort that
can contribute technically, practically, and financially. Along these lines
Axel KI6RRN, who most of you know from contests and WRTC has moved to the Kenai
Peninsula for the foreseeable future, and has been instrumental in moving us
along to the new configuration. I hope and expect that he will be a part of
anything happening here in the future.
Basically, if being a part of something up here is something you have thought
about, let's chat. I have nothing firm in mind, am open to most possibilities,
and my expectation would be a fairly lengthy transition, should it happen, but
it is time to start those conversations.
Speaking of technically, I would love to hear any thoughts about in band ops.
We've tried it a few times when we have operated M/M, but never got great
results. Adjacent interference was horrible, and the lockouts were a kludge.
Our antenna configurations on 15-40 are multiple stacks of monoband yagis. Our
only RX antennas are Beverages Over Ground that are fine on 160, somewhat too
high on 80M (they need to be high enough such that moose don't trample over
them), and useless anywhere else. It looks to me, like most serious M/S and
M/2 have effective inband operations. What are y'all doing antennawise?
And finally, speaking of financially, we've had an amazing amount of support
this year via the GoFundMe sitehttps://gofund.me/f66134deand private donations.
We're about $2700 short of goal. I'm going to shut it down at the end of the
year, since I don't think it is a long term answer for reliable funding and can
feel a bit "scammy" to some, but I'll tell ya, as much as it sucks to go out
"hat in hand" to fund your dream, it feels just as good to know that people
appreciate what you do. If any of you want to donate via GoFundMe before I
close it down, it would be appreciated both by myself and my ever patient tower
guy!
Happy Holidays
73
Steve KL7SB
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