“Storm Watch”
Newsletter of NZ1U – The
Barnstormers Contest Group
"The Barnstormers
News"
Volume
6 No.7, October 24, 2001
Pre-CQWW
SSB Issue
Well, it is only a few days as soon to be only a few hours
before we start our 2001-2002 Contest season. The primary purpose of this
“Stormwatch” is to lay out some goals and hopefully get everyone juiced up for
this weekend.
First, band conditions:
If you have been tuning around,
you know that 10 Meters has been fairly good early in the morning. Opening to
Europe as early as 1000Z and today there were 1-land spots for VKs late
afternoon. 15 Meters has been excellent
into Europe and last weekend we played in the Work All Germany Contest and was
told by many that we were terribly loud. 160 and 80 Meters have been noisy but
we will do what we can on those bands. If we are lucky the beverage will be
done and helping us out on those bands. I can’t promise conditions as good as
last year but there is a good chance we will be able to run all 48 hours on 20
Meters and a fair amount of hours on 15 and 10 meters.
Station Status:
Nibbling away each week, we have
just about finished the list. I can’t thank Dave enough for his tower help. I
feel guilty the days he climbed alone. Chris tackled the computer network and
inside re-coaxing. Kim provided the usual great ground crew help. Mark, Kim,
and Frank toiled on the beverage. I know we all had a busy summer schedule so
to be at least where we are is amazing. Sunday the computer on Station #3 crapped
the bed. Chris has requisitioned a new surplus computer and we will install
that Wednesday night. (DONE)
Tonight (Weds) we found the #2
antenna on the 10 Meter stack to have a high SWR 3:1. Looks like a climb on
Friday and hopefully we can fix this.
There is still a list as there
always will be and we can work on those remaining projects between the two CQWW
weekends.
What to bring:
We will plan on using the BBQ
grill most of the weekend. Bring your drink of choice. Snacks, pizza (you know
who and what), your favorite earphones or Heil Headset. Drinks will go in a
cooler.
Who is coming?
I have a definite “be there” from AA1CE, N1XS, NB1U, KB1DFB, and K1EBY.
Who else can come? If you are getting this newsletter and want to help out,
please reply ASAP when you plan on being here. We are planning for a three
station Multi/Multi so there are three chairs that need butts in them 48 hours.
I know K1EBY and KB1DFB are planning the overnight shifts (0500Z – 1000Z)
Friday and Saturday so we could use one more person for that shift. I haven’t
heard from Ted, Mikey, Jason, Bob, Paul (LI), Max, or Tom is quite sometime.
How about it guys and gal?
GOALS FOR THIS WEEKEND…..
There
are some general goals to start with.
First
and foremost, let’s have fun.
Keep the three seats occupied as much as
possible for the 48 hours.
Try to pass some multipliers. Remember, Alt+J
gives you the frequency the other two stations are on. At least try to pass
this information along to the station you are working and we need on the other
bands. All it takes is saying “ We need you on 20 Meters and we are on 14250
right now” Maybe they can tell you where they are running on the band we need
the multiplier. Send a Gab to our operator and he can go get them.
Make more frequent checks of the 160 Band
during the overnight hours. At the top of each hour just QSY and see what is
there for ten minutes or so.
How about 5BDXCC in a weekend? We have done
4BDXCC + 99 before.
If QSOs get slow, check other bands. We have
no QSY rule as a Multi/Multi.
NOW THE
NUMBERS…..
In CQWW SSB 2000:
Band QSOs Zones Countries
160 9 5 4
80 192 20 78
40 212 24 88
20 1145 36 150
15 1335 39 154
10 1087 38 146
Totals 3980
162 620 =è 8,388,514
Rather than set band by band goals, let’s just try for these numbers.
QSOs = 4250
Zones = 175
Countries = 640
This would give us almost a projected score of 12.8M! In reality, if we
can break 10M I would be quite happy.
Looking at last year’s rate sheet it appears that only during the first
two hours did we really use 4 transmitters. The rest of the contest we had no
more than 3 bands making QSOs. I feel if we try harder on the three we run we
can improve over last year even though we will have one less station.
I think a reprint of a section of one of last year’s “Storm Watch” is
worth doing here. Please read this over at least two or three times. Get your
mindset correct. Run, Run, Run……
1) You are loud! There are only a few stations that can
push you off the frequency. Yes, propagation sometimes defeats us but pound for
pound we can compete with most stations. Act loud.
2) Keeping a frequency is not for the timid. Not only is
the strength of your signal a part of running. Your character is as well.
Sometimes you have to be a bully. I have fought with stations and neither one
of us has made a QSO for a minute or two but hang in there. A strong station
will answer you sooner or later and you can make that QSO through the QRM.
3) K1AR made a very important operating point. Tweak
your VFO around to stretch your elbows out. I sometimes get a little more
processing going to push adjacent QRM out.
4)
Maybe you
have to split your antennas to send some RF towards the “frequency foe”.
73 and Kick Butt!!! – KB1H