[HCARC] Station Operation on 1/21/2012

[Bob Richie]

Thanks to Gale Heise for putting together the training/operation of the club station on Saturday.  It was a fun event.  Thanks to Fred and Harvey and others for erecting the Cushcraft vertical antenna.  We got several reports of "nice signal" and a "20 over" from a station in South Carolina.  That's pretty good for a vertical antenna on barefoot operations.  The Kenwood TS 570 at the station is a pleasure to operate.  It is a clean little rig that does not drive you crazy with menu options.  The N1MM logging program was a pleasure to use.  If you don't have this take a look at it and consider getting connected with rig control.  

All  of the bands we worked (10, 15, 20 meters) were in pretty good shape and most of the contacts we made were on the East and West coasts.  It was fun to work a couple of short skips (OK, LA, AR, NM) later in the afternoon.  It was also nice to pick up a couple of states you do not hear every day (WY and SD.)

While contesting may not be your ball of wax you can pick up some general operating tips from contesters.  It was fun to work our own member, John Guida, K5XA.  And yes, Ruthie, he did stop in and visit with us while he was supposed to be running errands at Gibson's.  We also tried to work member John Hueckstaedt, AC4CA.  It was interesting to experience the work it took to accumulate the points we did and then realize the effort AC4CA has to put in to collect a gazillion points in a contest.

For the new Technicians, we worked the portion of 10 meter band where you have privileges.  Try to set some time aside for the 10-10 contest in February and get on HF.  73 
 
Bob
K5YB 
Kerrville, TX 78028