[CVCC] CVCC March Newsletter

[Ed Moore]

CVCC,

Here is this month's edition of the 599 VA Newsletter.  Thanks to all those
who contributed.  The full copy will be posted at c-v-c-c.us


Prez_Sez:

This month's meeting could be an historic event.  The future of the Central
Virginia Contest Club is at stake.  If you want our organization to
continue, plan to attend the March 14th meeting.

Vy 73,
Ed,

DX de DR

The good news this month is that we are now getting a prediction that Cycle
24 may be the best ever or at least close to it. This means that we could
have some great 6 meter openings and it may once again be possible to work
the world on 10 meters with QRP and a string dipped in salt water. The bad
news of the month is that the Glorioso Dxpedition has once again been
delayed. This time due to a virus going around the Indian Ocean area for
which there is no vaccine. Next projected date is Oct/Nov of this year. But
like Peter I it will happen if we wait long enough.

Sometimes the rarest DX isn't found on the HF bands. Last week as I was
riding to work I was called on 543 by a station signing K4RCB. The guy gave
his name as Rick and called me by my name although I had never worked him
before. Then he said "RCB like Richard C Barber"...well it was old friend
N4BLX with a vanity call. Rich's tower and beam are still up so maybe we can
lure him back into the fold.
Last month I reported the passing of DX legend, W1FH. This month we lost
another well known DXer and contester, G2QT.

Individual reports:

W4HZ's house addition is just about completed so look for that big signal to
reappear on the bands any week now.

W4HJ is closing in on 160 DXCC with 86 and has started counting countries on
RTTY where he is up to 37. AC has been very busy helping W1ZA put his
antenna system together.

WK4Y Roy passed the 100 mark on 160 with 6W, GJ and 3Y0X. He also worked
Peter I on 6 other bands and all 3 modes. 7Q7VB was new on 30.

N4DEN has our RF link on packet working and picked up a HB9 on 17.

NW4V had a great Feb with 20 new band countries. Ed was especially pleased
to work 3Y0X on 6 bands and his first European on 160...guess who..our old
friend ON4UN. Ed worked YJ0ADX and 7Q7VB on 80 and 9J2BO and a ZD9 on 20.
Watch out Duke and Sejo. The DX Champion Plaques might have some real
competition this year.

W1ZA is up and running from Powhatan. Duke made 809 qsos and 789K in the
ARRL PHONE contest using all 6 bands despite the fact that he still has S9
line noise towards Europe and his 10/15 meter beam is fixed to South America
and is surrounded by steel guy cable. When he gets some Phillistan guy cable
and a ring rotor for the big log periodic and gets the power company to
clean up their hardware Duke is going to be a big factor in the local
contest scene. He finished the contest in style with TA3J on 40.

W4DR enjoyed a good month as well. Two zone 19 qsos on 160 and a solid
YJ0ADX qso on 160 were real highlights. My previous YJ on topband was a very
scratchy contact back in 1988. I got the 3Y0 on 9 bands and on RTTY they
were #286 for me. At the end of the contest J37K came up on 60 meters and
gave me another new B/C. I called WK4Y on the telephone and sadly learned he
was in bed with the flu. Did a bug also get W4MYA who was not heard all
weekend??

N3UA got the 3Y on a bunch of bands, but hasn't been heard recently due to
being on a work assignment in Florida.

Upcoming: The most interesting operations in the next 6 weeks or so should
be a group of Europeans at TY which is very rare on the digital modes and of
course the "DX Convention" being held in April at VU4. I surely hope all of
those guests who want to operate from there will be able to be on the air
more than 3 days. At this point in the solar cycle and in the season VU4
will be a difficult shot for those of us on the East Coast on any band or
mode, but never say die!

I am giving the program at the RARC meeting Friday March 10 at the Bon Aire
United Methodist Church on Buford Rd if you are looking for something to do!

Bob W4DR

Dah DaDit DaDiDiDah

(W4TNX)

Still no serious DX or contesting worked lately. Busy with work, the new
house, my taxes, my mother's taxes, yadda, yadda, yadda, ya know. Did work a
few stations last month just to make sure I could operate the rig and that
it was getting out and that the logging program was still working.

The new house design is now fairly complete, but we have some adjustments to
the way the septic field and irrigation well may come into play and be
located - always delays in really getting started! We may have to do some
additional clearing, then another survey, etc. The good news is that the
additional clearing may result in some additional antenna opportunities!

de W4TNX,  John


Upcoming Contest Dates:

· Va. QSO Party Mar 18 1800Z - Mar 19 1200Z
· CQ WW WPX SSB 0000Z 3/25 to 2400Z 3/26


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Please send any newsletter (NL) items to me the Friday before a monthly CVCC
meeting and I will try to get your info into the NL.

Tnx, John