[PaQSO] N3SH Bonus Station Update, 9/25

[Ron Notarius W3WN]

Three weeks out, here's where things stand:

(1)  The bad news:  It looks like we're going to be down one station.  Frank
KB3FZU & Lori KB3GMU had originally planned to operate from Fayette, then
decided to go up to Erie to operate on their own, and at the last club
meeting, Frank mentioned that they were considering hitting a campground in
a rarer county (like McKean) instead of using the family member's farm in
Erie.

However, Frank has since informed me that due to circumstances beyond his
control, he may have to work some or all of the Pa QSO weekend, so it looks
like that's off.  Let's hope that he is able to undo this and still operate
on the contest weekend!

Also, as expected, Paul N0VLR & family will be attending a wedding that
weekend.  In MA.  All joking about "N3SH EMA" aside, Paul's sister has
offered to loan him use of her shack if there's time available before/after
the ceremony, so we may hear "N0VLR/1 EMA" in the contest.

Believe it or not, that's the extent of the bad news.

(2)  Operator staffing:  We're in pretty good shape at most of the stations.
We're in need of a handful more ops at N3SH Fayette & N3SH Butler, and a few
more for N3SH Allegheny/SSB-VHF, but that's about it.  Not that we're going
to turn down any more help, of course!

(3)  Speaking of N3SH Allegheny, Mark N3RDV informed me earlier today that
he needs to stick close to home as he will be on call that weekend, so he's
going to operate RTTY as N3SH Allegheny.  So as a practical matter, the N3SH
Allegheny operation will be split between three sites, each running a
dedicated mode on HF, and V/UHF from the SSB location.

(4)  Software:  We're leaning very heavily towards the WB3W package at most
of the stations, but this is still undecided.  Any other suggestions?
Please contact me directly!

(5)  As we get closer to the contest, a lot more information will be
available at the new WASH web site at www.n3sh.org.  Let me once again
publicly thank Randy N3ZK for taking over administration and webmaster
duties on the site, he has done a fabulous job above & beyond the call -- if
you don't believe me, check it out yourself.  As the time grows closer,
we'll be updating the operator lists for each station, and posting other
information.  This is the place to go for up-to-the-minute (well, almost)
info!

(6)  As has been mentioned before, in addition to traditional QSL cards (QSL
N3SH as always via N3ZNI), we will be offering a certificate to anyone
working one or more of the N3SH operations (for the purposes of the
certificate, the three N3SH Allegheny locations will count as "one"
operation, as will all counties operated by N3SH Mobile).  A sample is now
available on the club web site.  Dan KB3HVN has designed a very nice N3SH
SES commerative lapel pin and operators' shirt, pictures of which will soon
be on the site (the pins will be customized with the owner's call and
indicate if he worked, or operated at, N3SH).  Proceeds from these items
will go towards our emergency tower trailer fund; for details, see the web
site.

This is going to be a lot of fun!  I'm looking forward to working all of you
from at least one of the N3SH operations (I'm scheduled at N3SH Allegheny
but may shift to another site as manpower requires) and I hope you're all
looking forward to another great contest.  Can you believe that next year's
the 50th annual contest?  50!  If Pa QSO's not the oldest active state QSO
Party, it's up there with them!  In any event, we're going to do our best to
set the bar high -- and may next year's SES have just as much fun trying to
do us one better!

73, ron w3wn
coordinator, n3sh special event station
2006 pa qso party