[Fourlanders] Contest plans

[Bob Lear]

Gentlemen, for reasons known only to a much higher authority, Robin has
foolishly left me in charge for the remainder of the planning and
contest.  I really don't even remember getting rail-roaded into the VP
position.  

Anyway, let's get all our ducks in a row for next week.

>From the number of confirmed participants and after our small meeting
after the Huntsville Hamfest it was decided by the majority to try to
continue with the plans to do Limited Multi for this contest.

By my count and from all I've heard, here are the following bands and
confirmed participants:

6m:  Neal K4EA, Johnny K4TW and Dick K5AND
2m:  Jim W4KXY
222:  Brian NX9O
432:  Bob K4SZ, Ryan W4RLW

Dick has said he will help Jim out on 2m some also and we will also have
Dave WB7CQK along with us to help out wherever needed.  This is still a
very minimal crew for setting up and operating limited multi.  We are
still planning to share a tower and rotator for 222 and 432 like we did
in June.  That will help somewhat with the set-up time and energy.  We
do have enough equipment available to do another tower if we have an
influx of people, but I haven't yet heard such good news.

Another piece of not so good news that most of you know is that Paul
W4SKI won't be able to join us and carry on the great cooking tradition
that he spoiled us with in June.  He may come visit, but we've seen the
cast on his arm and I don't think he could injure one of us with a
frying pan right now.  

This changes our cooking and eating plans considerably.  Now it will
mean each person will be responsible for his own food.  Except for
Friday evening, where Dick has offered to bring a Texas style barbecue
beef brisket to share with the group and I'm not sure who but someone
else (please let me know who in case it's me) will get beans, bread and
slaw and we'll have a Texas barbecue for that meal.  

I will bring my gas grill as we've done in the past and a two-burner
coleman stove with a pot and a frying pan for everyone to cook on.  That
saves everyone from bringing duplicate cooking equipment anyway.  I will
also make a pot of "Bob's Beans" for us to share sometime, probably for
Saturday afternoon like we did last year and I'm still trying to decide
about fixing biscuits each morning.  Shower me with praise and money and
I'll probably break down and do that too.

So this should help with your meal planning for the trip and anyone who
has other possibile operator/set-up friends who might join us, please
advise ASAP.  Also if anyone in the 'confirmed' group is leaning away or
whatever, please let us know so that we can plan accordingly.

It does look like we have plenty of gear to go up to the mountain with
plenty of amplifier power and generator power available among us.  I
know I have one problem to solve with my first line 432 station choice,
but I do have a tested back-up system ready to go, along with the
well-tested and ready to go 222 station complete.  I have talked to Jim
and he is almost ready with the 2m station also.  Dick and Neal have the
6m equipment worked out and are supposed to test with the computer
control soon.  We have plenty of laptops and new 'tested and guaranteed'
keying interfaces that work with the laptops along with all our
networking gear that we usually use.  BTW, those planning to bring
generators please confirm your plans to me to make sure we have enough
coming for all the kW amps.  

The tower plans include two wire-guyed 30' towers with drive-on bases;
one for 2m and one for 222/432.  The recently much-modified tower
trailer will be there for 6m.  You might not recognize it now after I've
put 20 or 30 hours and a couple hundred bucks into it this week. We also
have Yaesu rotators available for all three.

Thanks to Robin, we will again have use of the super nice trailer
operating position.  I brought it back from Shelby and he went home with
his usual stash of goodies in the back of his pick-up.  He also lent us
the two drive-on bases, tables and his big tent.  2m, 222 and 432 will
be set up pretty much like we did in June which worked quite well.  It
would be nice if we had two more small swivel and wheeled secretarial
type chairs for the trailer operating positions.  the one I have worked
so great in June, but I only have one.

If I've forgotten anything I won't be surprised and let me know about it
so we can keep everyone informed.  

I hope this brings us up to date for now.  Looking forward to a good
time and a great contest experience.

Current plans call for the gypsy motorcade to leave "Chateau Sanford and
Son" (K4SZ QTH) at 9AM 'SHARP' on Friday morning with three trailers
pulling out of here and whoever else wants to convoy up.  Anyone needing
directions, let me know.  W4KXY will pull the tower trailer, W4RLW will
pull 'big red' and the golf cart and K4SZ will pull the enclosed
operating trailer.  We will have a load of stuff up there for sure.

73 Bob