“Storm Watch”

Newsletter of NZ1U – The Barnstormers Contest Group

   “The Barnstormers News”                                                                       Volume 7 No.1, February 12, 2002

 

Pre-ARRL DX CW Issue

 

Well, we are only a few days from the start of the ARRL DX CW weekend. Conditions have actually not been too bad with 10 Meters open in the daytime and many interesting PacketCluster spots on 15 meters. 20 Meters has been fairly good well into the night and of course 160/80/40 should be the usual wintertime propagation.

 

As always in the ARRL DX Contests we will be competing in the Multi Operator/Two Transmitter category.  We feel we are the most competitive in this category and this is one contest that we get to measure how we stand against the rest.

 

The Operator list for the upcoming CW weekend is:

 

KB1H, K1EBY, NB1U, N1XS, AA1CE, KB1DFB, KE1LI, and a guest op, N1NK. Maybe a few drop-bys as well but the list above is the main group.

 

Most of us went to the YCCC meeting last Sunday so at least one meeting requirement was met by most. I am planning a quick coffee/doughnut meeting on Saturday, February 23rd. I am trying to arrange for a YCCC Area Manager to attend to make it official. I will put out a notice as it will be open to the YCCC membership.

 

Regarding this weekend, the usual applies. Bring snacks and drink. We will work out the meals on the fly. Probably take-out and BBQ.  I have ordered the portable toilet and will have it through the SSB weekend. The cost was $101.76 so I will be looking for donations.

Station #1 will be the usual FT-1000MP Mark V/Alpha 77 combo. Station #1 will be used for 160/80 in the evening.

 

Station #2 will be a FT1000MP Mark V / Titan Amp combo. Though we bought a Commander HF-2500 it is not ready for this contest. I need to get the plate choke rewound and then of course test the beast. I suspect Station #2 will be on 40 during the night.

 

Daytime station assignment will be done on the fly. I am contemplating setting up Station #3 as a standby setup plus a listening position. If so this will be the TS-850 with the TL-922 amp. We also have the L4B as a standby amp.

 

Before Friday I will try to draw up our goals and they will be posted when you get here. No matter what the main goal is to have fun and have a better score than last year.

 

So get psyched up for the contest and let’s KICK BUTT. We are in a real horse race with FRC.

  

By the way….

 

Yes, we had our 6th Annual Christmas party and as usual plenty of food with lots of laughs. The Annual K1GX Award went to Frank, K1EBY this year. Frank blew up the Alpha trying to work Zone 3 on 160 Meters with a bad antenna. Yes, a weak reason but I couldn’t get “Murphy” to show up. He really deserved the award this year.

 

Al, K1JCL, complained about our late date for the party. He suggested we should hold a Valentine’s Day Party instead.  Well, N1XS made sure Al had something to take home and gave his a nice platter of pink Valentine cookies. There are a few pictures below. Unfortunately most of the pictures I took showed everyone eating. Not very exciting stuff.

 

 

Frank was proud of his accomplishment

         

                                     

                  

                                      Big Al gets his cookies….

 

73, Dick – KB1H