[Fourlanders] September VHF contest

[Bob Lear]

Since it's now 5 weeks until the contest I thought I'd get things going.

I'm sure all know by now that the campground has once again messed up 
our reservations and we will not be able to go there for the September 
contest and since we've not yet identified another suitable portable 
location, we will just do the contest here at the W4ZST QTH as we have 
so many times.

I have had a good run for the past two years with using my call sign for 
the contests, some I've done alone, some with just Brian NX9O and most 
recently, the June VHF contest with six club members and myself as 
operators.  Time to get back to using the W4NH call for this September 
contest.

I had thought that we would just open up things like usual but lately 
the virus situation has been rearing it's ugly head again.  I am 
vaccinated (as were all who operated in June) but even with that, I'd 
rather not even want to have a 'mild' case.  No case at all for me with 
my underlying conditions as they say.

So, I'd like to propose that we do the contest as W4NH here but with a 
limited crew.  Calling for who would like to participate.  I do have one 
caveat though.  I'd really not like to have to disassemble any of my 
stations here as they are set up and have been working quite well.  That 
kind of leaves out the possibility of band captains bringing their own 
stations as there just wouldn't be enough table space.  Some of you may 
not be happy with that.  I want to keep mine set up for EME and 
especially the upcoming EME contest and tearing down completely is not 
so easy to reassemble and get working.  Brian and I did just that to the 
222 station after the CQWW and it took me a couple of weeks to get 
things going properly again.  Finally have it right and have made EME, 
MSK and contest Q's this weekend for the 222 and up UHF contest.

There didn't seem to be any complaints from the operators here in June 
using the stations as set up now, at least not to me.  I still don't 
have N1MM able to call voice CQ's and still have the 'Hot Mic' problem 
but am working on those.  However, since almost all the activity has 
moved to FT8 that doesn't seem to be as detrimental as before.

Let me know your thoughts on all this.  I'm sure some folks would like 
to still operate from home and turn in the club scores as we have been 
doing for a while now.  but I'm sure some would like to get back to the 
multi-op environment like we managed in June but not too large a group.

Thanks and 73, Bob