[PVRCNC] PVRC-NC East Meeting Report

[Jim Jordan]

A few brave souls challenged the incredibly tough conditions of a beautiful 
Spring evening in Raleigh to attend the monthly gathering of contesters at 
Manchester's at the usual time and place. The absence of El Scribo Inexacto 
left the duties of writing the fictional account of a monthly radio club 
meeting to the undersigned.

After a considerable period of QRM, the food and drink having been consumed, 
and an effective announcement of QNF by the illustrious chairman, K4OyVey, 
formerly Alfalfa [something], (who actually has no idea what QNF means), it 
was recalled that no member reports had been given. QNF having been QTA'd, 
the following were all the notes that could be written on the back of the 
last remaining clean napkin. Maybe the low attendance ws a good thing.

K4QE, Tony, reported having sold his Icom 7800 and replaced it with a table 
full of Elecraft stuff--K3, Panadaptor and KPA-500,  assembled before and 
after a good trip to Dayton attending Contesting U and the Contesting Dinner 
being highlights.

K4OV, Rob, renowned phone contester, hung up his microphone for WPX-CW 
(imagine the reports if he hadn't!) and said he had great fun pounding brass 
with a peak hourly rate--yeah, for a full hour--of 95. Way to go, Rob. 
(Maybe there's hope yet for me to train my vocal cords for SSB)

K4WES, Wes, Yes, K4WES, Wes reported he had not been very radioactive but 
planned to operate FD with the NCSU club guys W4ATC.

N4YDU, Nate, starring as NR3X in the epic version of the WPX-CW classic, 
"Two Days in May"  put in about 36 hours SOLP resulting in a rating as of 
press time of #8 in the claimed national standings. Nate says he should have 
used his second radio a bit more but seems to me he was pushing all the 
right buttons on that Orion which he seems to have mastered.

AA4FU, Alan, along with Howie, N4AF, were well up in the M/S race in WPX-CW 
from NY4A. Alan said he broke the news to Howie of his analysis of claims 
and rumors from 3830. The good news--they had topped the previous M/S USA 
record. The bad news--a couple others had topped it by more than they!

K4QPL, Jim, reported a business trip busted by a canceled return flight from 
the Big Apple just before the Memorial Day holiday weekend gave him a unique 
WPX-CW entry coined by K4WES: "SO2L"   (Single Operator, Two Locations) A 
couple hours at home Friday night before joining the family /4 at the beach 
resulted in several hours of fun but a check log and no club points. Other 
spare time is spent tinkering with a pile of SteppIR salvage courtesy of 
Larry, K4ZW, and his homeowners insurance after a disastrous shift in angle 
by his tower several months ago. "There just may be the makings of a 
homebrew 3-el QStepPL in that stuff."

K2AV, Guy, is basking in the glory of what could be a winning Pullet 
Surprise entry for contributors to NCJ with his article on the "Folded 
CounterPoise" for top-banders who are real estate challenged but want great 
performance on 160M. This unique and highly effective alternative to 
traditional radials is getting rave reviews from everyone who has installed 
one and "Can't wait to try it" from everyone else, including the 
undersigned. Seems Guy however has been too preoccupied with the 
counterpoise side of things though, as the other end meanders across the 
ground and his driveway before finally climbing about 80' into a pine tree. 
The RBN reports show it gets out nevertheless. Do I smell a prequel 
coming--"The Folded Poise" for altitude challenged top banders? Otherwise, 
Guy has been testing the Version 4.51 firmware upgrade for the K3 (It's 
good!) and managing his sinuses after being heavily pollen-ated during the 
Spring.

Kaz, please come to the next meeting!!!

73,

Jim, K4QPL