[Fourlanders] June Contest

Fri Apr 16 01:36:41 EDT 2004

Thanks Bob for stirring things up.  As far as I know, no one has made any
reservations.  I forgot about it!  That will teach you guys to elect me
again!  Robin, please call mile high campground ASAP and make the usual
reservations.  We are kind of late doing this so lets hope that no one has
beat us to it.

I will be doing 432 again using the same setup as last year.  It works well
so why change.  I assume that I will be sharing Robins trailer with K4SZ
again.  If so, I would like to get some omni antennas up on the mast mounted
to the front of the trailer.  I seem to remember that Robin supplied an FM
vertical last year for 440 and 2 meters.  Robin, please confirm if you will
be able to do that again.  I would like to also mount a 432 horizontal omni
antenna up there also.  I will see what K4SZ and I can come up with for
that.

I am OK with trying a new generator and I like Bobs suggested setup.  Like
Bob said though we need to iron out the electrical connection details before
hand.  It is a long trip back down to Cherokee or Magie Valley to buy an
electrical plug that we don't have.

I would like to see us do full multi with microwaves but it is Bob's call on
if we have enough folks to do that.  Bob, how about working on K4RF and
W4ATL at Dayton or even sooner?  What about Tim, WB4EGT?  I have a couple of
guys at work I will talk to also.

The CAT5 cable is in the works.  One question though, do we really need 100
feet?  I can't believe that there is more than 30 or 40 feet between those
two trailers.  I would do 75 feet but I will defer to the groups opinion on
this if you want it longer.  Let me know.

Bob, I am available the following days to come up to your place to work.
April  17th, May 1st and maybe May 8th.  I will then be out of the country
for two weekends but will be back to continue to work if needed on May 29th
and June 5th.  We can discuss a specific work schedule off line.  As far as
I know what I need to do is:

1. Setup, test and then pack the 432 station.
2. Service and test my 4 kw generator (I am assuming we want to take it
along as a backup).
3. Assist K4SZ with any other microwave and tower related work as needed.

If there is anything else Bob let me know.

I assume (theres that word again) that Paul, W4SKI is going to cook and
operate again in June.  Paul, if you are listening, let us know what your
plans are for June.

That is all I can think of for now.  Now it is someone elses turn.

73
Jim W4KXY

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Lear" <k4sz at alltel.net>
To: <fourlanders at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 12:20 AM
Subject: [Fourlanders] June Contest

> Gentlemen, we need to start getting serious about the contest.  It is
> now only 2 months!!!!!!!!
>
> We had a meeting after the Kennehoochee Hamfest and those present voted
> to railroad the old slate of officers and directors again.  Further
> details in the meeting minutes forthcoming from NX9O, but I needed to do
> some prodding and such to see what we can get going.  We did vote to try
> to do June and September, limited or multi as personnel are available.
>
> What we have so far for June are band captains:
> 6m Neal K4EA
> 2m Dick K5AND
> 222 Brian NX9O
> 432 Jim W4KXY
> micro Bob K4SZ
>
> Operators that we expect for June:  Robin KB4IDC, Paul W4SKI, Kim WG8S,
> Sean KF4NRC, and Terry KE4PJW.  Kim is coming from Huntsville and won't
> be there for set-up, but has already come once and is an experienced
> contester and now also familiar with our gear.  Sean and Terry are
> Robins friends who now have experience with our equipment and
> computers.  They are coming from Nashivlle and probably won't be
> available for set-up either.  Robin will come with his trailer for
> set-up so we will have him.  This is a slim set-up crew and not exactly
> enough ops for a real multi, in my opinion.  If Bert is around, he will
> also join us, but probably only to operate.
>
> We need to get some more folks out there with us to make this group
> viable.  Does anyone have any suggestions (or more friends?)
>
> Robin is making reservations at the campground as usual.  We talked
> tonight on the phone.  I don't remember any earlier discussion about
> reservations.  If they are already made, then OK.
>
> Robins friend Fred KF4QZN, will also come by and bring a 15kW diesel
> generator for us to use.  Fred is going to 'first-time' rove around our
> area (probably only the money bands) and might camp and eat with us too.
> It will be interesting to experiment with the generator to help us
> decide the power levels we do require.  I say lets bring all our usual
> back-ups for Murphy's sake and try to put the three station trailer on
> the 15kW and the two station trailer on Brians generator.  That is just
> my suggestion for now.  Any other opinions will be entertained (and
> promptly disposed of!)  We will have to get the connection details
> ironed out, but we have time.  Fred, if you are on here, let us know how
> to hook up to your generator.
>
> We did make arrangements to purchase two HB 5 el ~17' boom 6m beams from
> Dick to start using for 6m.  We will need a mast also.  Acquisition is
> in the works.  Dick is also building two HB 9 el ~17' boom 2m beams to
> try out on the 2m station this time.  We will be tuning and tweaking on
> both 6 and 2 on Saturday at Dicks.
>
> The only other decision we made at the meeting was to stick to wired
> networking since we have no problems and don't know what would happen
> trying to use wireless when we have microwave stuff (or low bands high
> power for that matter).  W4KXY will acquire a 100' shielded CAT5 cable
> to go between the two trailers as that's the only outside cable we even
> need with the current two trailer set-up.
>
> Neal is supposed to test his rig, transverter and amp on his generator
> at home to make sure he has solved the interference, interaction, or
> whatever the distortion/splatter problem is.
>
> 222 and 432 will be tested at K4SZ's qth sometime before the contest,
> but we haven't had any problems or issues with that gear anyway other
> than not getting full power on a generator.
>
> Dick has the 2m station under control also.
>
> Equipment-wise, everything looks OK.  I will give a microwave status
> report later, but also hoping we'll get some more folks for set-up,
> tear-down and operating time.
>
> The floor is open for discussion and opinions about anything to do with
> the contest plans.
>
> Your smiling VP is looking forward to hearing from you!!!!
>
> 73 Bob
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