[Fourlanders] Workday, etc.

[Bob Lear]

We really don't need to have a major workday, but if some of you want to 
come up Saturday, we'll find some stuff to do.  I'll even get some BEER. 
  Did you know the Q signal QRB means "Where's the BEER?"

Ron, if you do decide to come, bring the rotator box back.  I'll put the 
switch in when it gets here.

AMP Update:  Well, I put the new blocking caps and standoffs in the 6m 
amp today, cleaned up all the connections with wire brush and Cramolin 
before reassembling the thing.  Lo and behold, it WORKS!!  And you 
thought the Techs at DSM couldn't pull something like that off!!
Anyway, I started out with 20W drive and kept loading it up according to 
directions, increasing drive and got to 1500W with no problems and no 
noises.  Appears to have similar meter readings to original test sheet 
in the manual, so I am happy and we'll be able to use it for the June 
contest.  I will check it out on the air this weekend for the 6m sprint 
if we can get the mashed feedline fixed or changed over to another one. 
  We also need to see what the problem is with the 6m rotator.  It acts 
the same way with both GS-800 boxes, so it isn't the box.

Spring Sprint Update:  I have operated the 2m, 222, 432 and microwave 
sprints here so far.  The antennas for 2, 222 and 432 were still set up 
from doing the January contest and worked well.  I made 5Q's and 4 grids 
on 2m with FM06 best distance, 5Q's and 5 grids on 222 with EM89 best, 
10Q's and 5 grids on 432 with 2Q's in FM06 as best and 2Q's and 2 grids 
for the microwave sprint last Saturday.  EM82 on 903 and EM85 on 2304. 
The microwave station was set up like the last time we used it on the 
mountain and worked fine.  I had bent a center pin on the 1296 rotator 
loop I found out after dark on Friday night and couldn't replace it 
without tilting over the crank up mast which I couldn't do by myself. I 
did crank it down to find that problem.  I had hoped it was the hardline 
as I could have swapped out with 3456 to have 1296, but it was in the 
rotator loop connector for 1296.  It started raining anyway.  I had to 
have help Friday morning tilting up the mast with one 432 beam on top 
and the H-frame with 1 each of the 902, 1296, 2304 and 3456 loopers 
installed.  Just didn't have enough weight for the short lever arm.  It 
cranked up and down OK with FIVE 7/8 hardlines hanging from it.  Looks 
like an Octopus.  I have pix, but it is still up right now.  Didn't get 
3456 station put together in time, but no one was on that had it anyway. 
  Of course, I didn't get into 1296 as there should have been several 
Q's there and maybe some more skeds on the other bands.  The 432 morning 
net group had 10 check-ins, but the only skeds I could make were Ott and 
Vic WB4SLM and made those two Q's.  Strange that Ott and I couldn't work 
on 903 also, but I worked Vic after Ott did on 903.  Anyway, I think I 
can have the microwave station going for June without too much more work.

Ron, I will need the PD and phasing lines for 1296 back also.  Don't 
forget them.

I have already taken down the 222 mast, rotator and antennas, rolled up 
the hardline and FM feedline.  I may take 2m down if the good weather 
keeps up.

Bob