“Storm Watch”
Newsletter of
NZ1U – The Barnstormers Contest Group
Volume 13 No.1, July 22,2008
Can it
really be true?!!!
When I
opened my template for this “Storm Watch” I saw that I had not done one at all
this year! Not even a report from the Annual Christmas Party. Really my “bad”
and I apologize to everyone for not keeping the crew moving forward and excited
about the upcoming contest season.
Most of
you know my family went through a tough time with Alain getting hurt and that
is still going on. He has the pins removed form his foot, has a hard cast on
his foot, and finally moved back to his own room. It was a great day when we
moved the hospital out of our living room! Still months of mending and then
therapy but he is young and will be fine. Not a nice Summer for him so
far. All this led to many months of
caring and not a lot of time to think about radio.
My family
wasn’t the only one having a tough time. Chris, N1XS, fell and broke his femur.
This meant a plate surgically placed and since June 9th he has been
either in acute rehab or a Nursing home. He hopes to return home in a week or
so.
We all
know the Yuri saga. What a story that proved to be!
I don’t
think any of us has been spared a hectic moment or two these past few months
but now we have to think about what needs to be done. Of course my goal is to have most of the work
done before October 7th when I get a full knee replacement.
So let’s
start with the dreaded “List”:
Kim, Mark,
JP. and I spent about 4 hours one Saturday clearing brush for the new tower
guys. We got quite a bit done but really only one area of the three needed to
be done. Eventually I hope to get the whole back cleared like it was when we
first put up the 80M 4-Square. The guys and radials of the 80M 4-Square are in
bad shape and need tightening and new radials. Kim installed the rear hydraulic
kit on my new tractor so we can borrow my brother’s brush chipper that has a
hydraulic feed. Much easier and faster. I will be looking for helpers for this
chore after the first weekend in August. We have to get this done ASAP so we
can get the new tower up!
I have at
least one new computer and had a line for three more but that has not come
through yet. I want to upgrade Station 3, 4, and VHF. These are not really new
but better than what we are using now.
We have to
install the active listening antenna that I bought with the prizes Kim and I
won at
I have
ordered two new windows for the barn to replace the sheet of plywood and the
other window which is ready to blow out soon. These should be in at Lowes in 14
days.
The
damaged barn roof from two years ago needs to be repaired.
As you can
see the list is long and probably will get longer before it gets shorter.
Stay in
touch for when we need the help.
BVARC Field day
Mark,
NB1U, was the Field Day Chairman for the BVARC club. The event was quite
successful and Kim KB1DFB, N4XR, and KB1H all made a stop at sometime during
the weekend. I was glad to see mark experience what it is like to have to
motivate and drive the group towards a successful event. It’s tough Mark!
N4XR Antenna Repair
KB1DFB,
W1UJ, and KB1H spent an evening at Vic’s replacing his rotor and making a few
repairs to the antenna system. Vic should be ready for this winter.
KB1DFB Upgrade
If you got
your e-mail this Spring you might already know that Kim has upgraded to Extra
Class. We are all waiting for him to pick a new call.
Visitor from the South:
K1DW spent a few hours here this Summer and was extremely
interested in the 40M 4-Square. We explained to
Skimmer:
With the equipment sitting here most of the time with noone
in the chairs I decided to, with lots of help from W1Uj, to set up a few
Skimmer stations. If you belong to the reflectors you know all about this
operating aid that is stirring up quite a controversy in contesting. Basically software-define
radio with a broadband receiver that spots CW stations and can actually fill
your band map for you. I will explain it
more later but you can check it out on 40M if you “telnet dxc.kb1h.com 7303”
and on 20M if you “telnet dxc.kb1h.com 7304”. Want to know what is on the band
or what we are hearing with our antennas? Check it out. We will be putting on a
15M skimmer soon so you will know when the band opens.
We
did operate a few contests….
We did get
a few contests in though. In CQWW WPX CW we made about 500 QSOs with NZ1U. In
the IARU we had K1EBY, KB1H, W1TJL, W1UJ, KB1DFB, and KB1H putting in a good
effort and making over 1000 QSOs and about 1.2M points. In the CQWW VHF contest
we had a big bunch of people stop by and help out. This is only a 6M and 2M
contest. We made about 93,000 points and I see that W3SO a perennial high score
Multi only made 111,000 points so we did well. Helping in the VHF contest was
KB1DFB (we used his call), W1UJ, NB1U, K1EBY, W1TJL, KB1H, K1GX, KE1LI. N1ROZ
stopped by to say hello.
I
can only hope we all get excited about the work we have to do to get ready for
the 2008 – 2009 season.