[KCDXC] CQ 160M @ WB9Z (and a request for help)

[tombaugh]

KCDXC,

Just a report as a visitor and casual participant at WB9Z.
Jerry has a wonderful setup, the first real Multi setup I've been at
personally (PJ2 was not complete when we went last time).
His antenna system has to be among the best in the world with stacked mono
banders a etc.
His 160M setup includes a 1/4 wave vertical and several  1000 ft single wire
terminated beverages.
His 160M antenna has a T-matching network in a very large metal box outside
of it.
Howard (AK9F) does most of Jerry's engineering and as an FM antenna
engineer, he has obviously done things right.
Jerry's operating format (this was a multi single effort) includes an
L-Shaped desk capable of 6 positions. One operator 1000 MP Mark 5 and one
spotting radio Kenwood 950 (I think). His spotting radio cut out of
listening mode when the run radio transmitted. This made it a little
difficult to find mults but there was plenty of time to listen in this
contest. I was a little surprised that all the beverages were hooked to one
coax switch and after the CQ transmission, the OP would quickly cycle
through the beverages before continuing with the next CQ.

I arrived about 3:00PM Saturday and the team already had over 800 Q's in the
log from the evening prior. After a few hours on the radio Jerry was
relieved by a Will (K9FO) while Jerry, Howard and I drove the property ( a
couple hundred acres maybe) looked at the antenna equipment. My intentions
for this trip were to gain more knowledge about how different (Top Op's)
guys handle their antennas and distribution. Jerry and his wife Lori were
great hosts to the group of guys he had assembled. Some of his team have
been operating the 160M contests since before the ARRL had organized 160M
contest. I was able to listen on the #2 radio and provide one or two
multiplier spots during the contest. Jerry had operators prescheduled
(something I seem to have a hard time getting done) The guys had worked
together plenty of times before and their expertise obviously has some
benefit in the contest and their results. I'm not sure what their final
tally was but they had exceeded 1,100 QSO's when I left at about midnight
Saturday evening. DX was relatively rare and there were a few EU's that
could be heard but not worked and no doubt a few that heard him that might
not have been heard (as it always is on 160M). D4B was very strong as were
several other DX (I think they had nearly 30 DX in the log when I was there)
but 160M in general offers few DX.

Overall I consider it a successful trip in the "gained knowledge" arena. I'm
hoping to be able to do a few more of these (maybe W8JI? W3LPL? K1TTT?). I
didn't have a camera with me or I would share some pictures. I wonder if
Jerry has some he can share with us.

While I was there K0LW and N0XA both got in the log. Has enyone been in
contact with Fred?

Next contest at AE9B is RTTY WPX on the 9th. Can I get some help this
weekend (Saturday AM/PM, Sunday AM  if needed) putting up a tower, a 20M
beam , and a 40M 4 square.  (will need ideas on how to screw in anchors in
frozen ground).
Operators, so far, (NW0L, W0ZAP, K0LW, KI7WO? NOTT?) Could use several
more.. if you'd like to learn RTTY.. this would be a good time to. We plan
to use only 3 radios.. (Marty.. could you handle the switch gizmo's and
sound card setup?).
Please let your intentions be known. If you can help.. I'd sure appreciate
it.

Tom Baugh
AE9B