[SOC] W1SOC (N4BP) in Bill Windle QP (FOC)

[Bob Patten]

W1SOC is one of two club calls of the Second Class Operators Club, the 
other being W0SOC with N0UF as trustee.  I entered the Bill Windle QSO 
Party as W1SOC mostly to indulge a warped sense of humor, but also to 
dispel the myth held by some non-members of FOC that that group is an 
elitist, snobbish collection of CW operators.  To my satisfaction, I 
accomplished both goals.  Even though I'm sure that many of the stations 
that I worked did a quick search of a call database and realized the 
origin of my call, I was completely accepted.  In fact, the only comment 
I received about the call was from good friend Gene, N2AA on our first 
QSO (we eventually worked on three bands).  Gene, whom I know to have a 
better than average sense of humor simply said to me "Nice call".  In 
every QSO with FOC members, I was treated with respect and friendliness 
- no differently than when I participated last year as N4BP.

KZ5D was the only station worked on six bands.  In fact, I was only able 
to make two QSOs on Top Band, the other being N4AF (whom I would have 
tried to coax to 10M if I had the opportunity).
Five band Q's were made with N4AF, AD8P, W4PM, and N5KA.
Slightly more exotic calls logged included DU3NXE, SV1AOW, JA1NUT, 
VQ9JC, ZS1EL, ZL1MH, VK4TT.

Breakdown of Q's was as follows:
160M	  2
  80M	 12
  40M	 34
  20M	128
  15M	 41
  10M	  8
===========
TOTAL	225

Two stations stated "ex-FOC" followed by a number.  I don't know how one 
becomes an ex-member, nor if those two Q's count for my total.  If they 
don't, simply subtract two...
For the past few days, we've been plagued by severe thunderstorms.  Even 
though none passed directly over us during the Party, QRN was horrendous 
on the low bands.  On 40M, this was compounded by the ANARTS RTTY 
contest which extended to near the bottom of the band.  10M was open for 
a good part of Saturday, but all but one of the eight Q's there were 
QSYs from another band.

It was a pleasure to participate and QSO a great bunch of operators, the 
same pleasure that comes from participating in the various QRP contests 
and sprints.  The majority of the SOC membership are recruits from the 
QRP community, also a great bunch of ops.
-- 
73,     Bob Patten, N4BP                Plantation, FL

E-Mail :   n4bp at arrl.net                Website: http://www.qsl.net/n4bp
SOC #1          ARS #799                QRP ARCI #3412       FISTS #7871
NAQCC #1306     FP #1491                SMIRK #6625