[Azham] NQ7RP FYBO operation on schedule! Last minute notes.

[Mike Baker]

Hello Fellow QRPers!
	Well, after the disaster with the previous antenna system, (hereafter to be
referred as the "PVC Beast") I have had a bit of good luck!  Took 1/2 the
driven element off a broken TH3JR tri-band yagi, add the old base to a
HyGain Super Penetrator CB antenna, throw out the load/matching coil, add
some swedged tubing from another broken yagi, cut a piece of 3/8" fiberglass
sheet to make the top insulator for the mounting bracket, and (in the words
of Emil Legasi) "BAMM" a new triband vertical is born, just add 17' radials
of wire and let them double as guys!  FYBO here we come!
	Have new battery and DC adapter coming for the laptop to arrive on Friday
AM, got the "Battery from Hell" fully charged (75AHR Sealed Lead Acid Cell,
56Lb !) to run the logging computer on, and what ever else I might need. 6
ea 2.3Ahr Gell Cells + 2ea 5Ahr Gell Cells as back up!  Yea, I hate to loose
power in the middle of the contest due to some fluke of Murphy paying me a
visit.  Just have to load software, program keyer, double check antenna and
mounting hardware, get log book, pencils, scratch paper, various keys,
headphones X2 sets (always take a spare) folding chair and table, digital
camera and batteries, video camera and batteries, pack the cooler with food,
water, soda, COFFEE!, snacks, Baby wipes, paper towels, roll of T.P.(just
because there are Porto-Johns doesn't mean there is paper! Besides, I prefer
something resembling a shop towel rather than a ZigZag paper covered with
80Grit!) and what ever else I think I might need for this outing!
	My wife asked me how many days this event was and when I told her 8 Hours,
she gave me that "you can't be serious" look and asked if I thought I might
have to use the 4 X 8 trailer to haul the necessities.  Yes, sarcasm runs in
the family.  Ok, so I am a bit of an old Boy Scout and believe in "Being
Prepared".  She calls it over kill.  AAH HAA!  Tools, electric tape,
soldering torch, solder, VOM, spare Coax connectors, etc.  It never ends...

	OK, enough with the preparation lets talk about what I have in mind and a
few notes for you newbies to QRP and contesting.
	20 Meters is going to be the primary band of interest and operation.  Look
for me at about 14.065 and UP on CW and 14.285 and up on SSB.
	15 Meters will be my second band of choice and I will switch back and forth
each hour between bands. CW at 21.065 and up and SSB at 21.390 and up.
	I don't expect 10 to do much but if there is an additional operator with
gear to share duty with, I will put him/her on 15 with bouncing back and
forth to 10 once and a while to see if it is open.
	I will try to bounce around between CW and SSB but I expect MOST of the
activity to be on CW. I will start out working simplex but as the piles
build, I will be sending you up1 or up2 or ? as necessary to thin the herd a
bit. Generally don't look for me to go over up5 max. I plan to search that
area for you.
	I will stop and call CQ QRPP FYBO every so often to give the micro power
guys a chance.  If it gets too hectic, I will use the old "call by Zones"
method; you know "any 1's" "any 2's" "any DX" etc.  You might guess I plan
to be very busy as contacts with KQ7RP are worth an additional 10,000
points!
	Don't worry if your code speed is a bit slow, I WILL WORK ANYONE AT ANY
SPEED WITHIN MY OWN CAPACITY as long as I can read your code, 3wpm to 35. I
am most comfortable at about 18 or so WPM so don't sweat the speed. Accuracy
is always preferred to speed.  Send at what speed you are comfortable with.
No 200 "Q's" per hour rate with me.
	This isn't the last contest on Earth so I am not going to make work out of
it. The primary objective here is to "Have a good time" but lets please be
"Gentlemanly" about it.  Don't tail end, call FOREVER on top of other guys
if you CAN'T HEAR the station you are calling! Be patient and courteous. It
pays off in the end and makes you more "friends" within the hobby. 	There is
one thing the QRP community is known for and that is that it "Breads" good
operators. It is almost a necessity because you don't have the "big stick"
others carry with them on the air. Technique wins over brute force.  There
are plenty of other folks who can carry the mantra "I'll never be worthless;
I can always serve as a bad example!"  And they do.

	I don't know if John and I will have the time, funds and talent to
accomplish what we have been talking about, but making up a really nice
certificate for the winners and all participants is one goal we are still
working on.  OK, I'm working on. I always liked the look of the old "First
Phone" license and still checking out "Fonts" for the print job.  Who knows,
we'll see.  I am also investigating an "Event" QSL card to be sent to all
participants but we'll see how that goes.  Just getting time to properly
score the contest and post the results can be time and effort consuming a
job without adding any other details to the mix. ;>)

	OK, if you are in the Greater Phoenix Area and intend to join me in the
fun, please drop me a note letting me know so we can coordinate efforts.
	Rain or shine, warm or cold, this Saturday is the time to come out and play
radio in the AZ ScQRPion's FYBO Contest!

BRING YOUR CAMERA!!!  BE THERE!!!

Oops, sounds like an add for Drag Racing!

Best 72' 73' to all.



Mike Baker  K7DD
k7ddmjb at qwest.net