[CQ-Contest] KL7SB/NPCG status

[Stephen Bloom]

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