[Fourlanders] Sept VHF QSO Party Summary - W4NH

[Bob Lear]

September 2004 VHF QSO Party - W4NH Fourlanders

The Fourlanders again went to Mile High Campground near Maggie Valley NC
(EM85jm) for this contest.
We went limited Multi-op because we only had Four of us to set-up and
operate full time.  The crew were Neal K4EA on Six meters, Bob K4SZ on
2m, Ivan K4VJM on 222 and Jim W4KXY on 432.  Paul W4SKI did come to
operate a couple of times.  We also went with mostly single antennas and
stacked 222 and 432 on the same rotor to eliminate the need for another
tower trailer which we couldn't pull with just the four of us.  Neal did
use the new 6m beams stacked on 6m and they turned out to be less work
to put up than a single long yagi.  We also used single tube Commanders
on 6 and 2m and Teletec bricks on 222 and 432.  All stations were HF
rigs with DEMI transverters.  No problems at all again this trip with
logging and networking.   Very few problems overall this time.  I did
stretch two superflex jumpers while cranking up the 222/432 antennas and
had to replace them Saturday morning and the starter relay on the
generator gave up the ghost, but Ivan managed to get it started manually
with no problems.  We were surprised how quickly we got everything set
up with just the four of us and that we weren't worn out thanks to the
crank up tower trailers.   We had all the antennas up Friday night and
had the gear boxes in the trailer setting the stations up before we got
rain.  6 and 2 were on the air Friday night and the other stations were
tested and working without the antennas connected.  Saturday morning we
replaced the jumpers and had everything ready before the contest and
then had the problem with the generator but only for a short time.  We
did get 6 and 2 on the air at the beginning of the contest, and shortly
thereafter got 222 and 432 on for the contest after minor glitches.  It
also rained Saturday afternoon after the contest began, but was not a
problem for us.  

We did lose some operating time having only the four (and five) of us
when we had to break or eat or whatever.  Can't make any points if no
one is manning the radio.  We did do our best.  This was also Ivan's
first real contest experience, but he is broken in (down?) with us now! 
We called this the BBQ weekend as Jim brought Sonny's BBQ for us on
Friday evening, Paul brought Fat Buddies BBQ for Saturday evening and
Bob made Brunswick Stew and Brats for dinner on Sunday night.  We had
biscuits for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch.  We did stop at the
Subway in Maggie Valley both coming and going for lunch.  We had enough
to eat.

We can still use more operators in the group for any contest and hope to
recuit more this fall.  Our results weren't too bad though for the
conditions and the number of ops.

Total score 114,915 points.  Six meters:  229 Q's and 75 grids.  Two
meters:  153 Q's and 40 grids.  222 MHz:  51 Q's and 23 grids.  432
MHz:  88 Q's and 25 grids.  Not our best, but not our lowest either. 
Compare with our past scores on the web page.  Propagation conditions
were not with us except sporadically.  Further analysis will indicate
whether we needed more power and antennas on the higher bands.  Brian
will post scores and pix on the web page.  Bob will send the entry
ASAP.  Thanks to all who loaned equipment, operated and contacted us. 
Brian especially for loaning us his cargo trailer for the operating
positions and his generator.  

Plan now to join us for next year's contests so we can go back to full
multi with a full crew and spread the joy!!

73 from Bob K4SZ, 4L VP and mouthpiece