BERMUDA DXPEDITION '98

The VP9ID superstation - the "#1 Station in Bermuda"

What is it like to contest from Bermuda? Not hard when you let VP9ID do all the work! ;-)

This year Jeff Janock, AJ2U, and I were lucky to join our buddy Glen, VP9ID, for the 1998 ARRL DX SSB contest. And what a good time we had. Glen cracked his whip and had us produce 4.5 million points and 5,633 contacts. Bands were much improved over my last trip in 1993.

Here I am burning up the bands. "QRZ-ed VP9ID".

Some highlights from the trip:

Glen, VP9ID, and his xyl Barbara, VP9JG. These two people are the most friendly, caring people that I've yet to meet.

The 15m opening to the east coast. 15m was wide open the entire weekend to most of North America. But... we just couldn't work the northeast. On Sunday afternoon... all of a sudden, I heard a very familar voice... Joe, N3MKZ. And then a pile of FRC'ers. W3MM, W2YR, K2WK, K3WW, K3ANS, and just about every other FRCer known to mankind! Gee, I think we were spotted on the packetcluster! The rate meter went over 300 qsos/hour, and was real cool.

The comraderie. Jeff and I have worked other contests together very complementary, but this was my first contest with Glen. It was great to put together such a team with the same goals and the same desires. There couldn't have been a better trio.

N2KJM, VP9ID, and AJ2U - Team Bermuda '98.

We have similar philosophies to contesting. Some of my friends are rabid contesters, and are so into it,that they make it seem like a business. That might be good for them, but, that's not us. We do it for fun. We have a drive to do well, and that's where it comes in very handy to be in sync with your teammates. If it's not fun, it's time to turn it off.

Well... easier said than done :-) The radio never went off... even during the 4-7 am dulldrums after spending the entire night on the radio. Thank goodness Jeff showed up by 7! We've got to work on the AM turnover. No one wants to operate those hours. It's too early for the morning people and too late for the night owls.

But, a good team works with each other. Both afternoons, Jeff and I took scooter rides to see some of Bermuda while Glen operated.

AJ2U/VP9 and N2KJM/VP9.

The funniest moments came during the last hour of the contest. With Jeff operating and Glen and I in the shack, we all started chanting "Victor Papa Nine India Delta".

Jeff slapping a computer wrist pad against the desk in tune to our chanting.

The radio that we were using had 3 memories. We had my voice in memory 1, Glen's in memory 2, and Jeff's in memory 3. Jeff started pressing each one in succession... It must have sounded pretty darn confusing to whomever was on the other end!

Well, as the contest wound down, we were all getting quite giddy after 48 straight hours.

So, I made it back for a DXpedition, and this time a contest, as promised. Hopefully there will be many more trips, and we might be able to do this on a more regular basis. I was also glad to have spent time to cultivate my friendship with Glen. I had met him in 1993 and had cultivated a friendship on the air and over the internet for several years, but nothing like finally getting to know him in person. He is a great guy and a real friend.

If you worked us, thank you. QSLs for VP9ID are via K1EFI. I also put another 439 contacts in my personal log. QSLs for N2KJM/VP9 are good via the buro or direct to me. And QSLs for AJ2U/VP9 are via KQ3F.  Please qsl to the proper person.

If you'd like to check the log for a qso with you, please find the logs listed on our home page for VP9ID and N2KJM/VP9. 73 to all and thanks again... it was a blast!

Team Bermuda 1998 - an FRC DXpedition