[Fourlanders] Contest Update

[Bob Lear]

Just want to let everyone know that things have gone well and we won't 
need a weekend workday for this contest.

I have had a new ham here in Dahlonega, Matthew KM4OHR, helping me 
around here and now with Johnny's help on Thursday, we have 6m beams and 
omni's, 2m beams and omni's, and the 222 beams in the air, tested and 
ready to go.  The high SWR readings were apparently related to the 
instruments being so cold the day I tried to use them outside.  A new 
lesson learned:  The AIM UHF and MFJ 259 don't perform well in real cold 
weather.  I don't think it was below freezing but probably close that 
day.  Anyway, it sort of was "problem in chair".

Ron is planning to come up on a weekday sometime before the contest with 
the 432 station,  trailer and antennas.  He and I and Matthew should be 
able to get them set up easily in an afternoon.  Just looking for a day 
with good weather.  I had just gone ahead and done the others just in 
case we didn't get many nice days.  It was pretty chilly this week, but 
thankfully Wed and Thur were 'tolable' and we got the antennas done.

Johnny has set the 6m station up and I have most of 222 ready also.

We'll plan to meet at 11:30 on Saturday the 30th for lunch at Rooster's, 
in front of Home Depot at the end of GA400 in Dahlonega, then come up to 
the shack to kick the contest off at 2 PM.  There will be dinner 
available for Saturday night, breakfast Sunday for the overnighters, 
lunch and dinner on Sunday and the contest over at 11PM Sunday night.  
visitors welcome as usual.

See you then, 73, Bob