[PVRCNC] PVRCNC-East October Meeting Summary

[NX9T at aol.com]

PVRCNC-EAST October Meeting Notes

Once again the PVRCNC-East crew turned out in strong numbers and enjoyed an 
excellent program/gathering in October.  The 13 in attendance were: K4QPL, Jim; 
W0UCE, Jack; K2AV, Guy; KA1ARB, Rob; K4CIA, Bill; NX9T, Jeff; N4TL, Tom; 
K4CZ, Barry; W4KAZ, Keith; N4YDU, Nate; KE4GY, Frank; N1LN, Bruce; and N1YXU, 
Laurie.  

K4QPL welcomed the group and outlined the evenings agenda. A reminder that 
next month's meeting (November) will be our 10th anniversary special meeting.  
We hope that everyone can come!  Let's pack out our meeting space.  If anyone 
has any personal stories, "reflections," etc. to share, please contact Jack. 

The California Qso Party was announced as a great "warm up" for SS.  Jim 
provided encouragement for us ALL to get on and operate during SS.   We were 
reminded how PVRC moved up one "spot" last year in the unlimited category and we 
need to build on that momentum.  We need all members to get in on the action and 
operate at least some in both modes if at all possible.  W4KAZ has put in 
considerable work on the web page and has added a special SS page.  Please check 
it out (thanks Keith)!  Jim, K4QPL and Henry, W2DZO, have established the 
"Chairman's Challenge" for NC members.  Check out the web page for more 
details!!!  All active members are encouraged to reach out to a less active member and 
encourage him/her to join in with us during SS.  More information about a plan 
to do this is forthcoming.  Also, if you want to operate but have no station, 
please contact K4QPL, NX9T, or W0UCE.

W0UCE conducted the regular "Paper Contest."  This months contest required 
members to be familiar with contest rules.  The specific contest for which we 
were "tested" involved the Worked All Great Britain contest.  Most everyone 
found the questions quite challenging.  Winning this months prize (hole saw set) 
was new web master, W4KAZ.  K2AV and K4CZ were close behind and nipping at 
Keith's ankles.

Jim, K4QPL, presented a very interesting and educational program focused on 
his recent trip to England.  Jim operated for a few hours from the Lizard 
Wireless Station (GB2LD) which was a Marconi Centenary Station back in it's glory 
days.  Jim had plenty of great photos which he shared via a power point 
presentation with the group.   He also handed out a few QSL cards to the lucky ones 
who had worked Jim while at GB2LD.

The program schedule for the next month is as follows:

November: 10th Anniversary Special Meeting!

Member Reports:

KA1ARB: Rob is glad to be back with us after a few months away.  Big news is 
that he recently purchased a 72' tower.  It was probably be next sprint before 
it goes up.  He and long-time friend, Lee, WB1ADR, placed in the top ten as a 
Multi-Op entry in the ARRL DX SSB contest.  He is getting ready for SS and 
plans to do another multi-op outing!

K4CIA: Bill has been on the air just a tad lately.  He recently traveled to 
Bermuda on vacation and had a delightful time.  Plans to be on for SS, possibly 
QRP.  Bill continues to work on 30m antennas.  

NX9T: Jeff recently traveled to "9-land" to visit some old friends and caught 
up with several ham buddies.  He hasn't been on the air much lately and even 
missed the September Sprint which normally doesn't happen.  Jeff plans to get 
on for SS.

K4QPL: Jim spent part of last month in England and operated from GB2LD (see 
meeting presentation notes).  He played some in the Texas Qso Party. Jim's big 
news is that he "treated himself" to a new Orion II for his birthday.  He is 
planning to give it a real run during the upcoming SS contests.

N4YDU: Nate hasn't been on much lately but is working on some wire beam 
designs.  Will be on for CQWW.  He has been busy as the announcer at his high 
school football games this season.

N4TL: Tom brought in pictures of an antique radio which he has restored.  
It's a beauty.  While he hasn't been on the air much the last few weeks, Tom does 
expect to be on some during the CQP and SS events.

K4CZ: Barry recently purchased a new key (Begali) and is loving it!  While on 
a recent trip to Italy, he had to pleasure to meet Mr. Begalli and spend 
several hours with him.  Barry set a new personal best (508 q's) in the CQWW RTTY 
contest.  Also, he has worked 50 states and has confirmed 49 thus far via 
LOTW.  Barry is still wrestling with his tower project and has discovered the real 
multi-faceted cost of putting up tower.

W4KAZ: Keith reported that the planets were aligned properly the other day as 
it seemed he was blessed with a "golden day" for shooting lines over trees. 
Each shot was perfectly placed, returned to earth without a snag, and allowed 
ropes to be pulled up effortlessly.  He is very excited about putting some 
antennas up in "them thar trees" soon.

W0UCE: Jack "bragged" about how he has found "$12 per hour-will do anything" 
laborers in the area.  He hired them to finish pounding in his ground rods.  
Highly recommends them for  similar type work.  Jack provided a moving 
editorial on the necessity to avoid "chiggers" when working in the woods. 

K2AV: Guy has been working on mostly indoor projects lately.  He continues 
his quest to wire the shack to the outside elements of his station and has 
tested some small diameter teflon type coax for use in tight quarters.  Initial 
testing reveals the coax CAN handle QRO without heating up! Guy is preparing for 
SS. 

KE4GY: Frank has been playing with a terrain analysis program.  He reports it 
is great for antenna planning and has helped filling the time when the bands 
are dead.

N1LN: Bruce operated in the CW Sprint and the Texas Qso Party.  He is waiting 
on final landscape work to be completed so that he can begin installing 
multiple towers on his property.  Hopes to get in the CQP.

N1YXU: Laurie advised that she "listened" to her om N1LN operate in the TQP, 
but that most of her time has been setting up their new home in NC and working 
in the shack.

We look forward to a very special meeting in November!  Don't miss out...mark 
your calendars now!  You won't want to miss this one.  Please try to join us 
and let's set an all time high "record" for attendance.

73,
jeff nx9t