[PVRCNC] Phone SS

[Jim Jordan, K4QPL]

I left Brad down at Howies with "third shift" and to close up so contest isn't over. Unfortunately, I can't even do a LP HMO as my second radio is sick and I left the Orion down there. I sure worked enough NCCC members playing that silly game this afternoon.


Just wanted to say how great it was to hear all the PVRCNC folks on the air, both east and west. Highlight of Sat evening was while trying to find a run frequency hearing W4KAZ holding his own against all the 800 lb. gorillas on the band. Thanks for the QSO, Keith! And apologies to all who suffered through our terrible audio. First time using wave files through the computer and we ended up with hum and rf. After several complaints and trying everything--reducing power, changing gain at various places, etc. we eventually gave up and went to Plan B which was using the "hardware" solution with the backup MFJ Voice Keyer which I threw in the miscellaneous equipment box at the last minute before heading to NY4A.

Howie also spent a lot of time retuning antennas to load further up the band which made a big difference.

We never did figure out just why the run radio and the mult radio computers wouldn't talk in both directions and let both locations read spots and log. Without being linked Brad and I did a pretty good imitation of a Chinese fire drill to get Rich, WP3R in the run station log with the right serial number for our Pr mult on 15M while maintaining a run on 20M and having only one transmitter on the air at the same time. 

Every time I put in a lot of time in a phone contest I have to take my hat off to all the good phone ops as I realize how difficult SSB contesting is. Always makes me look forward to the quiet, relaxing and orderly environment of a cw test! 

For those who aren't travelling over Thanksgiving (as I am) don't forget CQ WW cw is Friday-Sunday. For those who are, have a safe journey.

73,

Jim, K4QPL