GridLoc Result: W5EHM

Tue Apr 16 14:11:02 EDT 1996

Here's a GridLoc result.  Don't forget to send your scores to me
or George Fremin (geoiii at bga.com).

                             GRID LOC SUMMARY SHEET

    Contest Dates : 13-Apr-96, 14-Apr-96

    Callsign Used : W5EHM
        Operators : N1PVB, SQ9DDZ, KA5WSS

         Category : Multi-Two

 Default Exchange : DEREK EM10

   BAND   Raw QSOs   Valid QSOs   Points   Mults   
 __________________________________________________

   20SSB     295         292        292     135 
   15SSB       4           4          4       3 
   10SSB       1           1          1       0 
 __________________________________________________

 Totals      300         297        297     138 

    Final Score = 40986 points.

Conditions were better this year than last though there is still
lots of room for improvement.  As you can see from the result,
20M was the band.  15M and 10M were very dead mostly (though calling
CQ on "dead" 15M resulted in QSO's and mults).  By the time the
move to 40M or 80M was called we were ready to shut it down.
I listend to CW for some CQ'ers but did not hear any.  I did not
have enough confidence in my CW ability to call CQ and possibly be
faced with the prospect of trying to explain what the contest is,
in CW!

This year I acted mostly as control op for some University of
Texas students to give them some experience operating an HF
contest.  Hopefully this will pay dividends by the time Sweepstakes
comes around.  The club's new HF beam worked fairly well.

73,

Robert Barron, KA5WSS                 barron at liant.com
Liant Software Corporation            Hook 'Em Horns!

>From Swanson, Glenn,  KB1GW" <gswanson at arrl.org  Tue Apr 16 20:54:00 1996
From: Swanson, Glenn,  KB1GW" <gswanson at arrl.org (Swanson, Glenn,  KB1GW)
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 15:54:00 -0400
Subject: Beginner (Contest) Stations
Message-ID: <m0u9FvA-000RD5C at mgate.arrl.org>

     Greetings,

     First licensed in 1982, my modest beginnings on HF were with a
Drake 2-NT transmitter and a handful of (probably more like two or three), 
crystals.
The 2-NT (2- "Novice Transmitter") was a great performer even though it had 
no VFO.
It had a front-panel neon lamp that glowed brightest when you tuned the 
little rig up
properly. Even though Novices had a higher power limit when I was licensed, 
the
2-NT put out a whopping 75 Watts, since it was built in an era when 75 Watts 
was
the Novice power limit (and there were no Novice phone privileges at the 
time).
I used a el-cheap-o straight key mounted on a bit of wood and fed the 2-NT 
into
a dipole via 450-Ohm ladder line. The dipole was cut to fit between two 
handy trees
outside the 2nd floor apartment I was renting at the time. The 
"random-length dipole"
worked well on the low bands. The receiver was another Drake goodie--an R4. 
It was
frustrating to be able to tune through an entire band--but only be able to 
transmit where
the crystals I had on hand would allow me to go! (Never did find a VFO for 
that little gem.)

     In the spirit of sharing an embarrassing moment:
It's all too easy to recall the time (after I had upgraded to be able to get 
on 2 meters),
I proudly told the local DX crowd of my "big DX" worked the evening before. 
This was
no casual group of DXers, either. These were guys who lived DXing. Each 
weekday
these grizzled veterans talked about  the night before--how they stalked and 
worked
exotic stations--sharing their war stories on the way to and from work each 
day.
Newcomers like me were in awe of this group. What could a newbe like me add
to such lofty discussion? So, one morning I decide to share my DXing story 
from
the night before: Big mistake!

     While driving to work one morning, I told the gang about working an
"A5." Bhutan--in the Novice bands!?! Well... it took the gang about 3 
milliseconds
to absorb what I had told them before they began telling me just how 
improbable
this was... Seems I had actually worked something more along the lines of a 
KA5...
Somehow I'd missed the leading K (or W or N) or whatever it *really* was! 
 Har har har.
They sure enjoyed this newcomers blundering babble!
(This was in the days *before* US stations had call signs that began with an 
"A.")

     Gawd--I wanted to crawl inside my HT and never come out again! The
happy ending is that, today, these same guys are good radio friends. I was 
able
to recover and even attended a (General) upgrade class taught by one of 
these
big DXers. He reminded me of that just the other evening--before I gave a 
talk
(about the ARRL Product Review process) before the same repeater club that I 

had embarrassed myself in front of (on the air) so many years ago.

     The once-scorned beginner preaching to the insiders...
There just might be a grand scheme for our lives after all.

          Sure do miss that old Drake 2-NT. It was a fun radio.
          (Even if all I did was to work some "common" DX with it !!)

               Sincere 73, Glenn, KB1GW
               E-mail: kb1gw at arrl.org

>From Bruce (AA8U)" <aa8u at voyager.net  Tue Apr 16 21:01:06 1996
From: Bruce (AA8U)" <aa8u at voyager.net (Bruce (AA8U))
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 16:01:06 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Revisionist history...yet again!
Message-ID: <199604162001.QAA26799 at vixa.voyager.net>

Sir,
I don't see how this connects with contesting. Am I missing something?
73,
Ugly

At 09:19 PM 4/15/96 -1000, you wrote:
>Paul,  I messed up;  it was Larry Thielen who left ATI in the
>late Summer or early Fall of 1965 to organize Avantek!  Larry
>took with him three of Bill Ayer's productive engineer-business men:
>Len Seader, Jim Sterret, and Franz Mc Vey(Sp? maybe Vay).  Now that
>you remind me of the '68 date for Dave's departure,  I remember 
>better.
>
>I really felt ATI lost much more possible future business with
>Larry and the others leaving than with Dave's oscillator
>design loss,  but who knows?  It wouldd have depended upon
>Ayer being willing to invest in the then emerging hightech
>silicon transistor fab field of 2 to 3 micron technology,
>which was pushing everything in the field-optics, bonding, etc.,
>and the use of saphire substrates for hybrid thin-film
>circuit technology.  I really believe that the fathers of
>ATI would not have supported Larry Thielen's vision in that
>direction,  and am not sure Ayer would have supported the fooling
>around that went on at Cal Microwave in the early years to
>develope a real growth strategy;  I think it was a large amount of
>luck,  and of course,  Dave's intelligence which ultimately made
>the correct spur of the moment decisions- not a vision as I
>would credit to Larry Thielen.
>
>Did they ever really do much with that oscillator at Cal Micro.?
>
>I feel a bit strange now living within a couple of miles of where
>Larry died here on Kauai in 1983,  or is it just a small
>world coincidence?
>
>73,  Jim,AH6NB
>
>
>

>From Jim Reid <jreid at aloha.net>  Tue Apr 16 21:09:15 1996
From: Jim Reid <jreid at aloha.net> (Jim Reid)
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 10:09:15 -1000
Subject: Revisionist history...yet again!
Message-ID: <1.5.4b12.32.19960416200915.006e7768 at aloha.net>

Bruce,
This had nothing to do with contesting!  Was supposed to be
a private discussion of early microwave solid state device
pioneers of 30+ years ago.  Had no idea the CC to the
reflector would occur,  and was shocked to see the note
on the reflector this morning.  I have already sent notes of
apology to both Trey and Paul,  and a couple of others who
have e-mailed with comments similar to yours.  Will be
more carful hereafter! Better cc this to the reflector
to shut the topic down.

73, Jim, AH6NB

>From aa4lr at radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR)  Tue Apr 16 22:51:26 1996
From: aa4lr at radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR) (Bill Coleman AA4LR)
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 17:51:26 -0400
Subject: Contest Catagories
Message-ID: <v01540b03ad99c6384245@[206.28.194.40]>

>Well, I've been reading with interest about the reaction to my
>posting about Contest Catagories.
>
>Here is another proposal.....
>
>Why not a contest that is limited to 100 watts and a dipole on each
>band?  Level playing ground.  Run it like the Sprints.

Doesn't the NAQP already do this? (Sorta) There are no antenna categories,
but stations are limited to 200 Watts.

Lee, the rest of it sounds like you are just being silly.

>I do like the low-power multi-op catagories on SS.
>Keep the lamps lit in the 220

Not for low power....

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, AA96LR      Mail: aa4lr at radio.org
Quote: "Not in a thousand years will man ever fly!"
            -- Wilbur Wright, 1901

>From aa4lr at radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR)  Tue Apr 16 22:51:24 1996
From: aa4lr at radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR) (Bill Coleman AA4LR)
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 17:51:24 -0400
Subject: Contest Catagories
Message-ID: <v01540b01ad99c4ddf0cd@[206.28.194.40]>

>In a message dated 96-04-13 15:13:12 EDT, you write:
>
>>I am sure it would be more fun if all of us compete for the same
>>title. And if would be a thrill if an operator with 100 watts and just
>>ONE DIPOLE would be the overall winner.
>
>     An enticing thought but do you really think that 100 watts and one
>dipole can be competitive against all of the aluminum out there?

Well, I know that the converse isn't true. Putting a middle contestor into
a first class station doesn't make him a first-class contestor. (Well, at
least not right away)

But putting first-rate contestor into a modest station doesn't necessarily
destroy his advantage.

> It would
>take one of the best operators in the world to work that miracle and it would
>reflect the fact that, yes, he is one of the best operators in the world.

WRTC attempts to place the best contestors in rather ordinary stations. By
holding the station element rather constant, more of the skill (and luck)
factor shows up.

> And he would still beat you and me.  You and I need a category that WE can
>compete in and let the world champs fight it out among themselves.

All that tower work and you're still running 100 W and one dipole?

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, AA96LR      Mail: aa4lr at radio.org
Quote: "Not in a thousand years will man ever fly!"
            -- Wilbur Wright, 1901

>From Maxime Caron <mcaron at riq.qc.ca>  Wed Apr 17 02:10:11 1996
From: Maxime Caron <mcaron at riq.qc.ca> (Maxime Caron)
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 21:10:11 -0400
Subject: HF GridLoc Result... VE2UCD
Message-ID: <9604170110.AA28943 at socrate.riq.qc.ca>

Here are the results from the HF GRIDLOC Contest for one of my friend.

CALL Used: VE2UCD (Quebec Contest Group)
Operator: VE2JTX
=20
Class: Single Operator/SSB
=20

BAND    QSO'S   GRID    Points
80m     63      32      2016

TOTOAL  63      32      2016

Equipment:
- Kenwood TS-950
- Inverted V at 50 Feet (80m)
- DSP

First Time in contest and only worked 80m.  Half of the stations didn't know
there grid square or what a grid square is.

*****************************************=09
* Maxime Caron				*    =20
* Internet: mcaron at riq.qc.ca		*	DISCOVERING The Net From
* Compuserve: 76162,3430		*	Qu=E9bec City in Canada.
* Ham Operator: <VA2MRX>		*
* Quebec Contest Group "VE2UCD"		*
* http://www.riq.qc.ca/users/mcaron/qcg	*
* ***************************************

>From Bill Turner <wrt at eskimo.com>  Wed Apr 17 02:48:39 1996
From: Bill Turner <wrt at eskimo.com> (Bill Turner)
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 18:48:39 -0700
Subject: 90% of... This reflector needs a change.
Message-ID: <199604170149.SAA07480 at mail.eskimo.com>

At 09:04 AM 4/9/96 -0400, Bill Fisher  KM9P wrote:
-snip-
>The solution to this problem is very simple and requires a little work.  
>We change this reflector to be MODERATED.  A message sent to a moderated 
>reflector first gets sent to a moderator.  The moderator then reads the 
>message and approves it or does nothing in which case it gets trashed.
>
>Anyone can be the moderator.  It can (and probably should be) changed by 
>the list owner.  Of course someone will be burdened by this task, but if 
>we share the responsibility of the task, then I don't think it would be 
>as bad.
-snip-
-------------------------------------------------------
I like the suggestion, but may I carry it a step further?  Lets give
subscribers a choice - they could receive either the moderated or
non-moderated version.  And let's go one more step - a choice of moderators.
This would probably need some new software so it isn't going to happen
tomorrow, but if enough people want it, it will eventually.

Actually, if a person had a high enough speed connection, the moderating
could be done from one's home.  Just download everything, "moderate" it and
retransmit to his own "subscriber" list.  Obviously, if he is retransmitting
50 messages to 1000 subscribers, the typical 14.4k modem won't do.  On the
other hand, if he can do the retransmitting directly from his internet
provider, then maybe.....  I'll leave it to the net gurus to figure out the
best way.  The point is, having several choices would be better than having
only one.

What do you think?

73, Bill  W7LZP
wrt at eskimo.com

>From n3rr at cais.cais.com (Bill Hider)  Wed Apr 17 04:58:24 1996
From: n3rr at cais.cais.com (Bill Hider) (Bill Hider)
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 23:58:24 -0400
Subject: Safety Belt
Message-ID: <199604170358.XAA11475 at cais.cais.com>

I thought the following discussion would be useful to the group here.  It
describes the climbing harness I purchased when I began to install my new
tower in 1994. A picture of this harness is on the cover of CQ, April 1996.

Bill, N3RR at CAIS.COM

>To: Pete Raymond <n4kw at citrus.infi.net>
>From: n3rr at cais.com (Bill Hider)
>Subject: Re: Safety Belt
>
>At 08:36 AM 3/11/96 -0500, Pete Raymond wrote:
>>Hi Bill, while chatting with Frank 3lpl I asked about safety belts as mine
>>is ready to be replaced.  Frank said that you had one you really liked.
>>Mine is an old leather one that has gotten very uncomfortable, maybe its
>>just me getting old.  Anyway I would like a new one with some sort of straps
>>that go around the butt and let you sit back in it to rest etc.  I see in
>>the picture of yourself on the cq calender that you are wearing some kind of
>>body harness.  Bill any info you could pass on would be appreciated.  Please
>>include your source etc.  Thanks Pete N4kw
>>
>>N4KW at citrus.infi.net
>>
>>
>
>Hi Pete!  Yes sure, I can tell you about the climbing harness I bought.
It's made by Buckingham Manufacturing Co. in Binghamton, NY.  The harness
comes with various options, of course, all meet OSHA specs.
>
>I have the full harness with two "D" rings and a 6 foot and a 5.5 foot rope
with safety snaps at each end.
>
>The model number I bought is: 6294311B
>
>Buckingham's phone number is: 800-937-2825
>
>The real beauty of this harness is that you are supported by your butt!
Not by your gut!!  I can strap off to the tower at 130 feet up, lean back
and take a load off my feet!!!
>
>I also have the optional Buckstop safety strap, which breaks your fall (if
you do) by absorbing your weight (with gravity accelleration) in a series of
velcro and stiching which releases when tension from a fall is felt in the
Buckstop.
>
>The other desirable feature is the fact that you can't fall out of this
harness and you will fall supported by the third "D" ring in the back of the
harness in the center of your back.  If you are wearing a belt only, and go
unconsious for one reason or another, you may fall out of the belt and go
airbourne.  That can't happen with this unit.
>Buckingham is in the tower/tree/utility pole safety harness business.  They
don't do rock climbing!  I tried a rockclimbing store...UUUGGGH!
>
>Anyway, call them, tell them my name (William O. Hider) and they will look
up what I bought and tell you.  Order their catalog and take a look.  What I
bought was recommended to me by KP4XS, a professional tower climber, whose
company issued him the harness I described.  He described it to me over the
air one day and I picked up my cell phone and called Buckingham then and
there.  I've not been disappointed.
>
>BTW: I have no affilliation with Buckingham (or any other mfg of harnesses,
etc) whatsoever.
>
>Hope this helps.  Feel free to ask me more questions!
>
>73!
>
>Bil, N3RR at CAIS.COM
>