[Fourlanders] June Contest Plans

[Bob Lear]

Gentlemen,

After careful review of the bylaws and constitution of the FourLanders
VHF Contest Team and consultation with high-powered attorneys, it has
been determined that the Vice Presidents function IS to yell and scream
and send nasty-gram e-mails to all the membership in the annual effort
to pry everyones contest plans out into the open.  You are now on notice
that if plans are not immediately forthcoming you will be on the
receiving end of the VP's required missives which according to the
by-laws may include insults and threats of physical violence!!

In case you haven't actually checked a calendar we have only Five and
half weeks until contest day.  It is sneaking up quickly.  I for one am
pretty much working constantly to get the microwave station together and
finish tower trailer number Three.  I still think I can do it.

The microwave station will be: 903 (45W), 33 el looper;  1296 (30W)
stacked 45 el loopers;  2304 (15W) 76 el looper; 3456 (40?W) 76 el
looper.  I will have this set up with preamps for each band and two IF
rigs to handle it, probably an 897 and 817 and probably one computer. 
Steve is loaning us a dual band feed and dish with transverters for 5
and 10 GHz that we will set up on a tripod and try to make Q's on those
bands if we have the chance.  I do not really have a second op for
microwave, but that may be OK.

432:  Jim has posted once on the plans for this station, but I'll let
him do it again.  Things are apparently OK here too as far as equipment
is concerned and the stacked pair of FO25's.  No second OP has been
identified here either.  The microwave and 432 stations will use the two
towers on the new double tower trailer #3.  

222:  Brian can post his plans, but he will have a new BIG amp for 222
and gear wise we're OK here too.  He may use my 222 transverter.  The
222 station will use only one KLM yagi for the contest and will use the
new #2 tower trailer that was at the conference for all to see.  Brian
also doesn't have a second op yet.

2m and 6m:  we've heard some partial plans.  We'd like to hear the
definitive now.  Does any equipment need to be borrowed?  You need to
let the group know what you need if anything so we can make plans too. 
The original (#1) tower trailer is available for one of these two
bands.  We'd love to see another crank-up mast or tower available so
that we don't have to work too hard up there or do anything remotely
dangerous.

Don't forget:  Rigs, amps, feedlines, antennas, rotors, operating
location, computer needed?, etc. etc. for all bands.  Be sure to let us
know what fourlanders equipment you need to borrow that is stored at
Neals now so it can get into one of the trailers and make its way to
Cherokee.  If anyone needs the list for their planning, let me know and
I'll send you what I think we have there.

Paul....  We talked at the meeting about the possible use of your clubs
tower van.  Saw the pictures and I think it would be great for us and
would take care of the last needed tower with an easy up installation!! 
We need to know for sure if you can get it, can get it up to the
mountain somehow, and how much space is available inside, although it
really sounds like we won't operate inside it anyway.  We are now
trailer rich where we once were poor.  We are still operator and driver
poor too.  There will be four trailers convoying up from my house and
that will be four vehicles pulling, each with only a driver.  

BTW, Brian has a new 8 X 20 cargo trailer like Robins (but BIGGER) that
will handle several operating positions.  We need to decide how to
divide the stations most effectively between  Brians and Robins trailers
and where they should be located.  Some of us talked in Huntsville and
tried some possible parking layouts for the mountain-top.  There are
many possibilities.  Let's hear your ideas.  You may have the ultimate
solution and not even know it yet.  Do a sketch, scan it and send out
for us to peruse.  Everyone knows pretty well how the top is laid out.

Finally for now:  FOOD.  There was some discussion at the meeting about
trying to make the total cost a little less and We think that will be
the case since we bought more initial supplies last year according to
Paul.  Any preferences need to be put out now so Paul can do some
planning.  I will also post my famous recipes real soon, so you can make
your requests.  

I've probably forgotten something and alienated everyone, but someones
got to kick-start this operation.  Lets hear those plans soon.

73 bob