[Fourlanders] W4NH CQWW VHF Contest Summary

[Bob Lear]

Propagation conditions were not great, but we did have a better score 
than last year.  It rained for awhile Saturday afternoon around start-up 
time, but didn't bother us too much that I could see.  No thunderstorms 
to make us shut down.

186 Q's and 83 grids on 6m with 31 Q's and 20 grids on 2m.  Total score 
to be submitted is 25,544 points.  About 5 WSJT MS contacts were made on 
each band during the wee hours.  One highlight was a 2m WSJT EME QSO 
with RK3FG in grid KO86.  Problems with continued tracking and trying to 
see the moon so close to the sun during the day kept us from more EME 
contacts.  Nice that the JT65 EME audio was audible from the speaker!  I 
would expect that we would place about the same as last year.  Distant 
grids were FL11 Cuba, FK88 Puerto Rico, EL60 Yucatan and FM72 Bermuda.

The following operators participated:  W4ZST, NN4W, WW8RR, WE8W, K4TJD, 
N4NIA, W4KXY, W5TDY, WG8S and KI4US.  We were visited by W0ONR, NR4N and 
Chris and Mary.  The usual stations were used.  FT-2000 and Commander on 
6m, K-3, Elecraft 2m Transverter and HB amp on 2m.  We did have the 
stacked 6m beams and the 6m omnis up.  For 2m we had the usual stacked 
pair, the 2m omni's and a pair of beams on Az-El for the EME.  There 
were some problems with WriteLog that we did not get straighted out. 
Need to work on that.

As usual we ate often and to excess.  Six of us met at Rooster's for 
lunch on Saturday.  Two went to Johnny B's.  We had Brisket and Burnt 
Ends from Dan at Smokin' Gold BBQ in Dahlonega along with Jerry's 
excellent Charro Beans and W4ZST's cole slaw for our Saturday evening 
dinner.  No one went away hungry.  I was totally surprised that there 
were enough burnt ends left over for me to have another fine meal one 
day this week.  Dan has gained some burnt end converts from this meal! 
Still a toss-up over whether we would bet on Jerry's brisket or Dan's. 
As long as we have both we will be very happy contesters.  Sunday 
breakfast was pancakes and sausage, and lunch was grilled hot dogs and 
potato chips.  We also had enormous amounts of chips and salsa, cheese 
and crackers, cake and cookies and who knows what all came out during 
the contest.  There were plenty of libations all around too.  Another 
successful W4NH contest.

Thanks to all who participated and came to help set up antennas and 
stations.  Not too early to start thinking about the September contest 
which is coming up Sept 8 & 9.  Of course, we will leave here on the 7th 
and return on the 10th.

73, Bob  W4ZST