With high anticipation, regular ops W5WZ and WM5H had prepared the W5WZ station for a serious Multi-Single effort for this contest, with full ability for in-band S&P at full power using EA4TX interlock. A portable tower set up 700 feet west of the main tower, with KT-34XA at 60 feet, an 80-meter dipole at 55 feet, and 40-meter dipole at 45 feet provided sufficient antenna separation. First-time guest Dave K5UZ joined the team for the effort.
As always the food was excellent, the station performed well – except the air conditioning – in the 100 degree heat and Louisiana humiditiy it couldn’t keep up with the ops and 3 amplifiers.
Several “firsts” for the W5WZ station and team for this contest.
First time for Ed, K5OF to join the W5WZ team, flying in from North Carolina.
It was good to have him on the team.
K5OF at Run1, and W5WZ at Run2
First time for Dallas, K1DW to guest op at W5WZ; he operated from his home in
Texas, by remote controlling one of the K3’s at W5WZ.
First DX contest since expanding the beverage receive antenna farm.
First contest since moving the 80-meter dipole from 77 to 105 feet.
First contest with the EA4TX interlock installed, allowing easy Run/S&P on a
single band.
Marsh KA5M also drove in from Shreveport (100 miles) on Sunday.
Special thanks to Sharon KW5MOM for the pot of gumbo and the pot of chili; Bobby
for the usual spread of deli meats and breads; Ed for pre-contest dinner on
Thursday night.
Since last weekend\’s NAQP CW, all the shack Window 7 computers were replaced with Window 10 computers. Added a single Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse – discovered that RF causes problems with – putting both computers in a F1 voice keyer loop. During the 15 meter run in the 2nd hour of the contest, something in the RF path failed, sending the SWR very high, prematurely ending our work on 15 meters. No other problems. Me and Bobby both stayed in the seat.
Our best performance to date in an NAQP!
Thanks for the QSOs, and thanks for those that accepted our invite to move to other bands.
After nearly 10 years, I decided to change the layout of the 3rd and 4th positions in the shack. The mult station had been under the stairs, the the 3rd station on a very small table. Additionally, all 4 computers were replaced. And I decided to identify the stations by letter, from left to right, rather than by number.
I’ve had a Mackie 1202-VLZ Pro sitting on a shelf for years. For Christmas 2018, I bought a gift for myself – a pair of powered JBL Control 2P monitor speakers, and integrated the mixer and the speakers into the shack. Connected the K3 at A, the K3 at B, and the computer at B (my main single op and “work” computer) to the mixer. This has really improved my enjoyment of shack time. I can listen the the bands without being tethered to headphones; I can listen to music from my computer; shack guests can hear the action; the list goes on. I’ve told some of my ham friends that this single change has had a bigger impact on my shack time enjoyment than anything else I’ve ever done!
At position A, I added a vertical dual monitor stand. The EA4TX interlock will sit on a shelf between position A and position B. The desk remains unchanged.
Left to right, operating positions A and B.
It was a different story at the other end of the shack. I had a desk that my father had built for me when I was in 4th grade. It was somewhat custom built for a old 19-inch black-and-white TV, my Commodore Vic 20 computer, and an Atari 2600. I replaced the table top when I became a ham, making it longer and deeper. A removable hutch on top was still functional. Letting go of some sentiment, I took the desk out of the shack, but kept the hutch to use on the table top under the stairs.
Several years ago, after I custom-built my L-shaped desk for A and B, my friend WW5RC (ex:KC5WA) had me build a nearly identical desk for him. He recently moved into a retirement apartment, and had to downsize. He offered me first refusal on the desk I built. So, with a modification to utilize what I needed, the desk built by me returned home for position C and position D.
Left to right, operating positions C and D.
Dual vertical monitor stands were added, and new computers also installed. An Astron RS-70M supplies power.
I think the next remodel project will be to epoxy the floor- the bare concrete is constantly dusty and gritty.
Once again, a group of LCC members tackled the M/S HP category. Jim W5LA, Bobby WM5H and Scott W5WZ were on hand for the event. Prior obligations took all 3 way on Sunday morning for about 4 hours. Consequently, QSO count was down, but we still had fun!
Contester Paul Newbury, N4PN of Macon GA, SK. Paul passed of a heart attack on 11/5/2019. He’d been active in the Nov SS CW contest this past weekend.
I met Paul on the air several years before meeting him in person at Dayton Hamvention 2007. K5ER and I were doing the Louisiana QSO Party as a rover. About 15 minutes before the contest started, I had called CQ and Paul answered. He asked what parishes we planned to activate in the 12 hours, and how much driving versus operating we were going to do. We exchange that info, and when the contest started, N4PN was the first call in the log for each parish as we drove our route. On the occassions we’d stop and set up a better antenna, Paul held the frequency for us and took lists for us; then he’d be first in the log and pass the list to us. It was a great day. I wrote about that experience in 2005: www.qsl.net/w5wz/laqp05.htm
