[CQ-Contest] ARRL 10 Meter Contest -- Planning and a Request

[(K7ZO) Scott Tuthill]

As a reminder, the ARRL 10 Meter Contest is this coming weekend. As author 
of the 10 Meter Contest articles for QST Magazine and ARRL.ORG online I am 
offering both assistance and asking for help.

First, as your prepare for the contest, I encourage you to read the Full 
Results articles available online at ARRL.ORG. Just go to the "On The Air" 
section, "Contests", "Results, Records, and Awards:, and then "Contest 
Results Articles" Over the past four years I have reported on a wide variety 
of topics that can help you in developing your own personal contest 
strategy. And, if you are out to set a new record you can find an up-to-date 
complete listing of all time records in the "Contest Records" section.

Second, as you get ready for the contest and then operate it in, I am 
looking for stories and photos to include in next year's article. So be on 
the lookout for them and Take That Picture and Write Down That Story! Here 
are some things I would love to receive - just send them to me direct at 
k7zo at cableone.net:
•    Photos and stories about you putting together an antenna just for the 
contest. The 10 Meter contest is perfect for homebrewing antennas. Tell me 
about what you did and send me some photos of the effort! You climbed to the 
top of your 180 foot tower on Friday afternoon in a snowstorm to fix an 
antenna or rotor! I want to know about that and have a picture.
•    Photos from your station and shack. If you have stacked yagis 
overlooking a beautiful blue ocean where the weather is warm, the breezes 
gentle, and the 807's ice cold  -- I want to see it. (Heck -- I want to be 
there!) If you have them with snowy mountains in the background. I want to 
see them. If your cat curled up next to your amplifier to keep warm -- I 
want that photo. If you babysat your grandkid in your lap while running 
stations -- I want that photo. If you managed to pull out that 4S7 long path 
by squeezing your headphones against your head tighter than you could ever 
imagine -- I want that photo. If you are using a vintage classic radio with 
nice warm glows of tubes and dials -- send me a photo of you intently 
operating it. If your amp blew up on Saturday during the major 
inter-continental opening - send me a picture of what its innards looked 
like and you intently fixing it. Etc. You get the idea.
•    Great stories from the weekend -- your favorite QSO, a hilarious 
moment, something you never thought would happen but did, working an 
All-Time-New-One. I want to hear about it. And, I will make sure everyone 
knows about it.

As far as photo's go -- take the photos with as many pixels as you got and 
send them all to me. I will handle it from there. There is no such thing in 
my article authoring business as too many pixels. And, if you take the 
picture of someone, or have someone take your picture, please make sure a 
face is clearly visible. And, of course, make sure the important stuff is in 
focus.

I look forward to receiving your photos and stories. Just send them direct 
to me at k7zo at cableone.net.

Scott/K7ZO [And YN5Z though I will be in the states this year darn it.]