[SFDXA] Fw: On the Bus with WRTC - #3 - 12 July 2002

[Bill Marx]

> On the Bus with WRTC - #3 - 12 July 2002
> 
> Well, here I am back on the bus to Helsinki after a fast-paced couple of
> days at the Himos resort with all the other WRTC participants.  We are a
> little bit tired--some are dozing against the windows--but I think that
> mostly we are all anxious to get to our host's stations and get
> started.  The contest is now about 24 hours away.
> 
> I am a referee for the team of UA2FZ and RW3WR who will be operating
> from the home of OH2BAH, about 50 km northwest of Helsinki.  I have
> never met any of those gentlemen before.  Except for many contest QSOs,
> of course.  The plan is for all of us to meet back at the hotel, drive
> to the host station, set up and then return to Helsinki.  We will then
> return the next morning and complete the preparations.
> 
> All of the WRTC stations have the same antennas--a triband beam for
> 20-10 meters with 2 elements on each band and a Windom antenna for
> 40-80.  The organizers have done a great job of getting 54 similar
> operating sites ready.  They have installed antennas in addition to
> whatever the host may have already.  Some of the hosts have substantial
> stations--just as in previous WRTC's--but we will be unable to take
> advantage of the "Big Aluminum".
> 
> This is one of the interesting elements of the competition.  Most of the
> competitors have done the bulk of their operating at top of the line
> stations or from rare QTH's.  Now they get to operate with most of the
> hardware- or callsign-related advantages removed.  How many will
> remember what it is like to operate with 100 watts and low antennas? We
> will see on Sunday night.
> 
> There has been a lot of discussion about the propagation we can expect
> and whether the "home field advantage" will tip the scales in favor of
> the Russian or Finnish teams.  So far, solar conditions look good, but
> the lack of deep darkness makes the low bands a big question to most
> teams.  This may be an advantage for regional competitors. Since my team
> is from UA2 (between ES and SP) and Moscow, I will be watching with
> great interest to see if they can take advantage of their experience.
> 
> By the way, along with the WRTC participants, Himos is also home to the
> SRAL Summer Camp, which is roughly equivalent to an extended hamfest
> where hams come and camp out for many days.  Between the hotel and lake
> there are rows of campers and trailers, with wire antennas or verticals
> extending up and out into the trees.  Every cabin is either full of our
> WRTC group or with OH hams for the Summer Camp.  Several have trailers
> loaded with the same cross section of interesting equipment and--would
> you believe it--junk we find at US hamfests.  I suspect as we are
> leaving on Friday, our places are rapidly filling with Summer Camp
> inhabitants.
> 
> Let me describe Himos a little bit.  North of Helsinki, the flat
> landscape begins to roll a little bit and then breaks into hills of a
> few hundred meters.  Lakes are everywhere and Himos is between a couple
> of the larger hills on the shore of a large lake.  If you are looking
> for Himos on a map, it may be difficult to find.  Try looking for Jamsa,
> about 200 km directly north of Helsinki.  Himos is about 10 km northeast
> of Jamsa.  The resort accomodates a few hundred in cabins, tents, and
> mobiles.
> 
> The forest and grass are deep green and not dried out in mid-summer at
> all.  The lake water is clean and moderately cool, ideal for swimming
> and there are nearly always one or two Finns taking a dip.  You can also
> see some sauna inhabitants strolling outside to the water, cooling off,
> and returning to the heat.  Some fish, some stroll, and in our case,
> some enjoy each other's company.
> 
> The final activity this morning, before lunch and breaking camp, was the
> selection of team callsigns and the introduction of the referees and
> hosts to the teams.  This is always the most dramatic moment before the
> contest as the referees receive a sealed envelope containing the special
> callsign, not to be opened until 10 minutes before the contest begins.
> 
> Each team captain was called to the front of the watching audience.  He
> selected an envelope from a long line laid out at the feet of the chief
> referee, Roger Western G3SXW.  The referee and host for the team were
> then announced and all three met for the first time in front of all of
> us.  At the conclusion of 54 separate envelope selections, the
> competition is set.  Everyone knows the who and where and when.
> 
> My next installment will come after the contest is all over.  I will be
> monitoring each QSO of my team--all 24 hours worth.  No sleeping for the
> referee!  We will meet back at the hotel and start the delicate process
> of executing "Howdjadoo?"  See you then!  Kiipis!
> 
> 73, Ward N0AX/OH
> 
> --
> Bernie McClenny, W3UR
> 
> Editor of - The Daily DX <-- two free weeks
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>