[RSM] VE4VTR backlog summary

[Art Boyars]

Things have been so busy here -- for happy reasons -- that ham radio has
been limited to: operate the contests (more or less, depending); send in
the log; quick post to 3830scores.com.  For about two months I did not even
read the RSM Board digests, nor even the Reflector digests of my home Club,
PVRC. I have caught up, and I want to compliment the RSMers on the efforts
they are making to get more people involved in the fun.

Here is a summary of my activity, tuned for RSM.  Fuller write-ups are on
3830scores.com under my home call K3KU.

I enjoy "domestic" contests more than DX contests.  I like working North
America, especially W and VE, and I still have my childhood fascination
with Canada, especially Manitoba.  Hence, one of my "success" criteria in a
domestic 'test is working MB.  That said...

RAC Canada Day 2016 -- Could not come to WPG, so I decided to make a max
effort from home.  Worked VE4RAC on several bands, CW and SSB (Ed is
good!), and VE4SBS on 20M SSB.  Where was everybody else?  VE3CX tipped me
to a sked he had with Ed on 160M.  I got Tom (both modes) but did not hear
Ed.  I thought I might back into the high score for outside-Canada Low
Power, but NA8V's claimed score leaves me in the dust.

SS CW - Condx seemed so bad that I was worried that something was wrong
with the antenna.  QSO total way down from last year, and missed NE and
EWA.  Nice activity from RSM: QSOs with VE4EA, VE4VT, VE4GV; only North
Dakota was N7IV (I usually get at least two).  Worked VY1AAA (in my mind,
part of Greater RSM) without too much trouble (Gerry is good!),  He sent me
the audio clip of our QSO; neat!

SS SSB -- Condx bad again, and score way down again.  Now I'm convinced
something is wrong with the antenna, but it's too dark and cold to lower it
and check it out. I press on, but by Sunday afternoon I decide to focus on
the sweep.  One missing Section is NT.  I have not heard VY1AAA yet, and
the high bands are closed. Looks unlikely.  But as I tune 40M for the
missing mult's I hear an S-5 signal say "November Tango", and then
"...Alpha Alpha...."  Whoa, Ho!  There he is!  A lot of effort on Gerry's
part, and a lot of repeats, but we made the QSO.  (When he was trying to
get my call he finally said "Is that Kay Three Kilowatt United?"  I don't
know if he'd have been able to get it if not for our RSM relationship.)
One of my most satisfying contest QSOs ever.  Manitoba in the log: VE4VT,
VE4DXR.  North Dakota: K0IDX, WX0ND (that was strange enough to look up --
it's Nancy, K9DIG... I mean KG0YL.. and friends).  Never heard PAC, AK, or
OR.  (Oregon!! How do you miss Oregon in SS???)

ARRL 160M (CW) -- Because of my antenna concerns from SS, I lowered my
dipole before this 'Test and checked the feedline.  Everything was OK.
Indeed, the antenna worked as expected during the contest; pretty effective
to the northwest.  MN, SD, ND are no sweat; will I be able to nab MB?
(Cary and I are still trying, now and then, to make a QSO on 160M.)  I
heard one S&P station handing out MB, and expected that it would be Ed,
VE4VT.  Eventually my CQing raised, not Ed, but Rob, VE4GV.  It counts.  TU
OM.  VE3CX is almost hard-wired here (what a signal!), and lots of North
Dakota in the log: K0IDX, NT0V, N7IV, N0UD.  Heard a Midwestern station
work VY1AAA but that's too remote (boo!) for me on 160M (Same with KH6LC.)

RAC Winter -- QRV only for the last 45 minutes.  Based on condx in SS, I
figured the higher bands would be closed and low bands would be "long".  I
wanted to stay off 160M to avoid confusion with Stew Perry TBDC.  So I did
80M single band.  Only MB was VE4TV on 20M SSB. Did manage a QSO (I
think) with AB on SSB.  "Long," indeed.

NAQP -- That's where we are now.  I hope to be QRV for the last six hours
(00Z to 06Z), both modes -- this Saturday night on CW and next weekend on
SSB.  I'll have my ears open especially for RSM (even though I have to
credit my score to PVRC for this one).

Looking forward for another opportunity to visit WPG. Next Canada Day that
fits my no-Saturday schedule is 2019.  Maybe I'll break down and do a
remote to activate CG4VTR this year for non-contest fun.

73, Art K3KU/VE4VTR