[Fourlanders] January VHF Sweepstakes Contest

[Bob Lear]

Work Sessions, Band Captains, Stayover plans, FOOD, etc.

It is time to make serious plans for the January Contest.  We of course 
will again do so at the W4ZST QTH location.  I have decided to not do 
microwave this time as making only one Q for all the set-up time is just 
not very satisfying.  The lack of microwave activity is very 
disappointing when we know there are stations with equipment that are 
not getting on and giving out Q's.

As usual, we expect Jeff to do some of the cooking and I'm sure I will 
hear from him as soon as this message gets out.  I will probably cook 
breakfasts for us as we have in the past for this contest and we may 
also order out local pizza as we have discovered a really good one here 
in Dahlonega that has a few of us hooked already.  Chris has also 
mentioned that he might bring some of that good BBQ from Alabama and 
maybe he'll smoke some more excellent sausage for us too so I think 
we'll be covered well as usual with TOO MUCH to eat.

The contest is the weekend of January 21-22, starts at 2PM Saturday and 
ends at 11 PM Sunday night.  I should have space for Saturday 
overnighters as usual.  Kim has already said he is planning to come. 
Jim Rogers won't be able to make it as he has a company trip to Germany 
at that time, gee don't we think he should cancel that and come visit 
with us?

I expect the usual band captains to set up their stations.  We will also 
have to set up some antennas, as the only ones in the air right now are 
6m and they seem to be working just fine.  Both the beams and the omni's 
are up and running.  In fact, I'm going to try to work K5N in the next 
couple of days if we have any propagation.  Brian wanted the grids for 
W4NH if we can.

I am pretty well free most weekends before the contest for those of you 
who would like to come up and set up your gear or work on the antennas. 
  Brian was to be off this Friday (12/30) and Monday (1/2) and he may 
come up one of those days.  I would suggest that Friday would also be 
good for others who have some time off then as we can then do Happy Hour 
at one of our new favorite places here in Dahlonega after the work 
session.  Brian won't be able to come the Saturday morning of the 
contest and may come set up the station now as most of it is still here 
from the September contest anyway, but of course, no antennas are up for 
2m, 222 or 432.  Since we have been talking about having 2m and 432 EME 
capability too, then getting all that stuff set up early would be a 
great help.

So think about Friday this week as a workday.  I am free either way and 
will probably be working on something around here anyway. Same for the 
weekend as I'm not a bowl fan and don't plan on being hung over.

Let me know about other weekends that you would like to schedule for 
workdays at your convenience and any other contest issues that you can 
think of.  Also let me know if you want to stay Saturday night so I can 
do that coordination also.  I presume Tom will bring his camper and that 
will give sleeping space for him and Scott.  When you reply, go ahead 
and let me know about which meals you will be here for and I'll go ahead 
and start that list for Jeff.  That would be Saturday lunch through 
Sunday evening dinner available.  We may run to Rooster's or some other 
place for Saturday lunch rather than cooking, if all the stations and 
antennas are set up before then.

Looking forward to the contest.  73, Bob