[Fourlanders] Sept 09 contest summary

[Bob Lear]

The Fourlanders W4NH club again ventured to the top of Soco Bald for the
ARRL September VHF QSO Party.

The weather cooperated with us nicely as we only had some short drizzle
on Sunday afternoon and evening that didn't upset our operations.  That
in contrast to the flood conditions that we've had at home this week.
Maybe I'll get to start unpacking stuff soon.

Once again we had a great time at Mile High Campground, but the
propagation was lacking other than some short openings on the higher
bands toward the NW on Sunday afternoon and evening.  We pretty much
just mapped the groundwave footprint on all four bands.  The only bonus
with that happening is it sure keeps all the ops on the higher bands
that they quickly abandon when Six is wide open.  I expect we will place
fifth or sixth nationwide as limited.

Operators were:  Ron WW8RR, Jim WE8W, Scott NN4W, Tom K4TJD, Bob W4ZST,
Brian NX9O, Kos N4NIA, Ivan K4VJM, Bill KI4US, Jeff W0ONR, Kim WG8S,
Paul W4SKI, Randal N4AC.  Randal's wife Laureen and the boys Alan and
Owen were along for the camping trip.

No major problems with any of the stations this time although the 432
station radio had to be swapped out.  We'll wait to hear the autopsy
report from Ron as it was the same radio that had a problem at an
earlier contest.

Band summary:   6m  224 Q's   56 grids
                 2m  163 Q's   48 grids
                222   63 Q's   34 grids
                432   92 Q's   39 grids
                     543 Q's  177 grids
for a score of 123,369 which may vary after Brian checks the logs before
submittal.  Not our worst effort, but not what we hoped either.

We played with WSJT on the three high bands a time or two and heard some
signals on 432 that made us want to keep trying with WSJT.  We made K5QE
on phone so we didn't need them on 6m FSK441.  No actual Q's this time,
but we seem ready to keep doing it and it was much more seamless this
time with the changeovers from regular operating to the WSJT set-ups.

Once again Jeff broke up any possibility that someone could stay on a
diet.  Meatloaf, BBQ, Ham, Hamburgers, Brats, Scrambled Eggs, Pancakes,
French Toast.  What more could one ask for?  Jeff, thanks again for the
great meals.  It was again $25 each for an eight meal weekend.  You
couldn't have done that at home for sure.  QRZ, W 4 Never Hungry!!!

The cost for camping and fuel was $44 for the full time participants and
pro-rated for those staying shorter times.  Nowhere else could you have
that much fun on a weekend for only $69 and stay out of trouble to boot.

Ron took over the money collection duties in Jim's absence and everyone
paid up so the treasury and treasurer are happy.  There is the usual
post contest season small amount in the treasury so that we can make
next years reservations at the campground.

Don't forget the Fall sprints coming up beginning next week.  Please
participate and help keep up activity on the bands for other than
contest times.

We'll make plans for January and next years contests later.

73,  Bob W4ZST

Everything went smoothly until we were hooking up the last couple of 
trailers and then had two dead batteries and misplaced keys for a time. 
  Got the vehicles jump started and found a spare key so we got underway 
with about a 45 minute lost time after a record takedown.  Also had a 
truck problem on the way home.  Brian's truck had a leak in the power 
steering that eventually brought him to a stop in Clarkesville.  After 
some calls and trying to find a repair shop or Dodge dealer, we had a 
plan.  Ivan went on home to Cleveland and dropped his trailer to return 
to pull Great White on to Dahlonega.  Ron, Bill and I went on to 
Dahlonega, dropped our trailers and I unloaded my truck and returned to 
pick up Brian in Clarksville.  A roll-back came to pick up the truck and 
take it to a shop to replace the power steering HP hose and I took Brian 
on home to Alpharetta with all his stuff.  A long day but we got it 
done.  We went back today to pick up the truck and it is now safely home 
with the generator trailer in Alpharetta.