[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Report for December 28th & 29th, 2008

[Kevin Rock]

Good Evening,
   At long last I have reassembled this computer and its OS.  It now has all the bits (no pun intended) necessary to collect and disseminate email and run the database software for ECN's log.  The computer which was hosting everything while this computer was having fits is now under the weather.  I swapped DIMMs in and out and moved them to different banks.  Seems like they have some form of dementia.  When I next get into Hillsboro I will buy it a few new DIMMs and see if that sets it right.  Either that or try some castor oil ;)  
   The weather has slackened from its depths of winter attitude.  After calling the ARES EC who called the county Emergency Manager who called the EM of the Land Use and Transportation, I finally had my road plowed!  What a miracle :)  Then, after Charlie the grader guy helped me out with his trusty grader Margaret Ann I was able to move off Buxton Lookout Road for the first time in ten days.  Just before Charlie and Margaret Ann appeared I was busy in the shower enjoying the wonderful feeling of luxurious, hot, running water!  Oh WOW!  After hauling water for five days and heating it on the wood stove a hot shower was like another miracle!  
   As I drove out I got to the junction with Bacona Road and noticed only one lane was available for travel.  Next, I saw a truck approaching so I backed carefully onto Buxton Lookout Road to let them pass.  I saw they had an official plate as they stopped.  So I got out of my truck and wandered over to meet Al (who I found out later is KL7EF), a representative of the Oregon State Police.  He wanted to know the status of my road.  I told him the grader could only get a little past my house before he bogged down.  I knew Al wanted to go to the repeater tower and knew he was interested in the generator's fuel supply.  I told him he could not get there with his truck but would need snow shoes.  At that point I mentioned I was an amateur radio operator and had had to work from my emergency power for the last 102 hours.  I also mentioned I was affiliated with the local ARES group and with MARS.  Then he told me his callsign.  So we chatted for a while as the snow kept piling up around us.  I knew from his call that a little weather like this was not a problem to him.  I also found out he was a 99% CW op.  Now who said that code was dead?  Hah!!!  I got to meet another very fine gentleman from Alaska.  
   On to the repaired lists =>

   On 14050 kHz at 2300z:
W0CZ - Ken - ND - K3 - 457
W0JFR - John - CO - K3 - 994
W1TF - Ty - GA - K3 - 696
WC7S - Dale - WY - K2 - 4360
N0SS - Tom - MO - K3 - 008
NO2D - Pete - CO - K3 - 2126
JH1VIG - Kaz - Japan (near Tokyo)
K6DGW - Fred - CA - K3 - 642
AC7AC - Ron - OR - K3 - 004
VE7XF - Ralph - BC - ?
W6ZH - Pete - CA - K3 - 657
K6PJV - Dale - CA - K3 - 1183
N0AR - Scott - MN - K2 - 4866

   On 7045 kHz at 0200z:
WC7S - Dale - WY - K2 - 4360
W7SF - Greg - WA - ?
W0JFR - John - CO - K3 - 994

   The weather turned to rain for much of the last four or five days so the snow melted to about one foot in depth.  Then we got another foot of snow yesterday and more is falling presently.  I am hoping to get a chance to repair one of the broken HF antennas but have not been able to get it to move from its frozen perch.  The other one is also immovable, stuck lower down than intended with a branch wrapped in it.  That was the one I used last week and subsequently to run my HF rigs.  Tomorrow it will get used again in its bowed but not broken state.  Hopefully there will be a day of thaw to loosen the guy lines so both antennas can be dropped and repaired.  Then they will be able to get back on the air in a more proper configuration.
   Until tomorrow stay well,
      73,
         Kevin.  KD5ONS  (Net Control Operator 5th Class)

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