YES!!!!

I called a number of times to the guy at the zoning office on Monday to see if he could give me an answer regarding the building permit for the tower. He was never in, so I left a voice mail for him to call me. So, I called my local member of the Board of Supervisors for the county and left a message for him to call me. I also called the County Admininstrator, but he was not in and I decided I would call him back later if needed. I then sat back and just waited. Then, Monday afternoon, I got a call from the guy at the zoning office saying that he was going to sign off on his portion of the permit. I asked what the county attorney's office had said and he started reading some obscure section of the code, but not pertaining to what I was wanting, but I figured that if he was going to sign off, who cares!!! So, I will have to run down to the county offices sometime this week between sleep and work and see if I can pick up the permit. I might try to pick it up on Thursday or Friday as that would be the earliest I could do it. It just depends on the work load at the office. I know that I have to write evaluations over the next week or so, so it will not be top priority on my list. I will call the code compliance office tomorrow to see if everything is set and to get a price of the permit. Monday afternoon the supervisor called and said that he would make sure that this was something that the county addressed and he asked for the state code section so that he could get the county staff to get this taken care of.

Not only was it a tower day, but I also got an envelope of 35 cards from the bureau for my old call. There was only one new country in the stack, but there were a couple of cards for new bands so that was pretty good. I also received a number of cards from the 30 envelopes of QSL cards I sent out last week. A very good day QSL wise also!!!!

Last night and tonight (Tuesday night), I have been sorting my cards for the next batch to the bureau. It will probably be on the order of 2 pounds worth. Hopefully, I will get back some new bands from this batch. I also have a number of cards that I need to send out direct to DX stations for new countries. So, sending the cards to the bureau is just a start to getting caught up on DX cards. I will be taking a short break because I am hoping to operate the ARRL DX contest from W4MYA's super contest station this year. But then, I will have WPX to look forward to in March and that is a good one for DX contacts. Of course, any DXpedition is fair game also. I would like to be at the 200 worked level by next year at this time. I am close to 150 worked now, so we will have to see. Of course, with the addition of the tower and tri-bander, I am hoping that the totals will rise even more.

Lots of things to do over the next few weeks and months here and I hope that all of the effort will pay off soon with a good contest/DX station.

Catching up

Other than the tower issue, ham radio has been on a back burner this week. I have been trying to get a bunch of QSLs out that needed to go. I sent out 30 envelopes on Tuesday to the contacts that are most in my log so that I can clean them up. I estimate that those 30 envelopes contained over 200 QSOs. I am also getting my cards together to send out for Libya, Burkino Faso and the VU7. Yes, I did get the VU7!!! I got them once as VU7RG and twice as VU7MY. I see the RG contact in the online log, but the MY logs are not online as of yet. So, I do have two new ones over the past month. That brings me up to about 150 worked. There are some interesting DXpeditions coming up over the next few months and I am hoping that the sunspots begin to cooperate!

Bureaucracy...

Well, the wait has begun. Last Monday, I took all of the information that I had to the Code Compliance office for a building permit. That office was great and told me that they would issue a permit on the spot once I was signed off by Zoning and Environmental. I knew Environmental would be a piece of cake since I was just digging a 4 foot deep hole. Zoning was another question. The man who was reviewing my site plan said that I could only go to 35 feet because of code. He asked for engineering drawings, etc and I told them that they were left at the Code Compliance office. I asked if he had a computer that I could use to show him why I disputed his thoughts. When I showed him the state law that allows a 75 foot minimum tower by right, he got upset because obviously county code and state law are conflicting. He would not sign off on the plan until he cleared it with the county attorney's office. I called back on Wednesday and he said that he had not heard from the county attorney's office and was going to e-mail them now. If I do not hear something back soon, I am going to start the ball rolling on this side by contacting my member of the board of supervisors to start asking questions. The problem I have is that I work for the county!!!! So, if I stir up too much hate and discontent, it could come back to bite me. So, I am in a holding pattern and trying to get things moving on the tower. I want to get this thing up before spring, but things are not going so well with the zoning issue. I have offered to assist the zoning office with drafting a new code section that will incorporate state law and make it easier for hams to be given permits wherever possible, but was not very well received.

NAQP

There were some real doubts about me being able to be in this one. I went to work on Thursday night and I was so sick that they sent me home. I stayed in bed for what seemed forever. I was taking everything that I could get my hands on to see if I could shake this head cold. It had affected by breathing and hearing. Of course, you have to be able to hear to contest, so I was worried. Saturday morning, I still felt like death warmed over, but went out and loaded up the logging program and fired up the rig. There was a Hungarian DX contest going on so I got N1MM configured and jumped in for a little while. I worked 7 or 8 and decided that was enough. I decided to be conservative and laid down again until about 20 minutes before the contest started. After a quick loading up of cold medications, I went to the shack. I was amazed that I heard the west coast on 15 meters and started there. After a while juggling 15 and 20 meters, I had to take a break. Then 15 died on me, so 20 was the band of choice. Then I started juggling 20 and 40. I was amazed how well people were managing on 40. There were tons of stations crammed into the little gaps between broadcast stations. After 20 died on me, it was just a matter of juggling 40 and 80 meters. I did take a few short breaks (that I did not count) and my required 30 minute ones. I even decided to give a try running stations on 80 meters for a bit, but I kept getting QRMed and had to creep up the band a bit until I ran out of room. During my run period, I was able to add a few mults that I needed on 80, so it was worth it. But, as with everything, it could not last and I was struggling during the last hour. I was alloted 10 hours, but I could only do 9.5 and that was probably too much as I feel really terrible this morning.

By comparison, in the August NAQP, I had 239 QSOs, 80 multipliers for a score of 19,120. This one was 366 QSOs, 100 multipliers for a score of 36,600. So, I achieved my goal of beating my last score. I actually passed the goal after about 6 hours in the contest, but I was feeling good enough to keep going (adrenaline rush, I think).

Those contesters who know me by my real name were confused last night by my using the name of Lee for the contest. Lee is so much easier to spell and less confusing than trying to give everyone the name of Hershel. Not only that, it is easier to hear when the band conditions are really terrible or there is lots of QRM. So, I did have a couple of people going for a minute or two like Jim, WX3B and Bob, W4MYA. But, they quickly recovered and all was well. I even heard Elvis on the air last night!!!

Larry and VU7RG

Here is the shot of Larry working VU7RG. Unfortunately, I could not get his face and I definintely did not want to disturb him during this moment. What was amazing was that he got them on the very first call!!! That just goes to show you what a good station and antennas can do for you. Congratulations, Larry on the new one. Now just getting those other 3 for Honor Roll......

The field trip

Here they are....two VIP's. My elmer (W3MGL) and a legend in contesting, Bob Morris, W4MYA. The first record I have of working Bob in a contest was in 1994. He has won numerous contests and ranks in the top ten of hundreds more. It was exciting to see his operation. He runs 7 stations, each dedicated to one band, so there are no antenna tuners. He has them all networked and has an impressive seven towers!!!! He also has numerous wire antennas. I hear him many times during contests and his signals are always booming here (of course!). Bob was a gracious host and even allowed Larry to work VU7RG while he was there. I felt like a young child sitting in the presence of a professor. Bob is very knowledgable and I was honored when he offered me a seat in the upcoming ARRL International DX contest - SSB in March. So, if all goes well, I will be at an awsome station for that contest. I am still enjoying the pleasure of spending time with one of the legends in radiosporting.

Today's big event

Larry, Allyson and I are going out to breakfast this morning and then Larry and I are leaving on a great adventure. He does not know it yet, but we are going to visit a true contesting legend, W4MYA. I sent Bob an e-mail a while back and asked if we could come up for a visit and let Larry see his station and he readily agreed. We finally were able to settle on today for a visit. I just told Larry that we were going to see a guy in Richmond. I did not tell him who or why, so this should be a fun surprise for him. I can't wait to see the look on his face when we pull into Bob's drive. I am planning to take a few pictures, so I will put maybe a couple here.

The tower

Well, I had planned on getting my permit yesterday. I was going to run down to the county complex with all of the paperwork I have and ask them what exactly they needed. There was just one problem. Well, actually two. First, I forgot that yesterday was a holiday. And, second, I had to go to the doctor's office on Friday for a rotator cuff problem. I have been in a great deal of pain for about a week. The doctor prescribed me high strength ibuprophen and muscle relaxers. The muscle relaxers do more than relax my muscles, they relax all of me. After taking the first doses, I was out of connection with the world for a day. But, I did get some needed rest!! So, I am having to watch when I take them so I won't be wiped out all the time. I am hoping to get to the county offices next week and be able to leave with permit in hand.

Local Radio Club

Well, last Tuesday night I was elected president of our local radio club. It was not unanimous, but I am hoping that I will win everyone's trust eventually and make this club even greater. I want to especially work on the internal strife issue. We should be coming together for fun, not making fun. It was good to see a large turnout for the club meeting and I hope that it continues. I saw some people at last night's meeting that I had not seen in probably 7 or 8 years. I am fortunate to be serving with some wonderful people as club officers, so it should be a great year.

Kids Day 2007

John operated in the Kids Day event again this year. He did much better than last year by making 15 contacts compared to the 4 he made last year. He is still getting "mike fright". He had a contact with a 15 year old YL who was wanting to talk and he found himself not able to talk to her. He had no problem with the exchange, but beyond that he did not know what to say. I told him to just talk naturally, but it was a problem for him. He is showing some interest and he might just get his license someday. He is going to go to Frostfest with Larry and I next month, so hopefully, he will get bitten by the bug while he is there.

Anxiously waiting...

I have been following with some interest Scott Andersen's (NE1RD) blog concerning his upcoming Buddipole DXpedition to Monserrat this month. I have been feeling the anxiety of him trying to organize everything down to the smallest detail. I just finished reading his latest installment and we often forget about simple things, like food. Once he gets back, I want to pick his brain more about the logistics, especially since Larry and I are planning our own mini-dxpedition to the mountains of Virginia when the weather breaks. Of course, if the weather was like today (in the 70's), we could go on one of my days off!!!

I am interested into going on a DXpedition myself one day, so this is an interesting topic to me. Plus, since they are using Buddipoles, I want to see if I might be able to work them with mine!!!! That would be cool!!! A two-way Buddipole DX QSO!

Of course, I have to get through other things first. I need to send out the logs for the RAC winter contest. Then today is Kid's Day and John is definitely wanting to participate. So, I know what I will be doing this afternoon after church. This is his second Kid's Day, and like Dad, he wants to beat his previous score!

Local club issues

Well, our local club is getting ready to have our annual meeting next Tuesday. My name has been placed in nomination for office and I have already signaled that I will serve if elected. Our club, in my opinion, needs a shot in the arm. We have the same bickering and back-biting that every other club has. We have the factions, CW/SSB, code/no-code, etc. It is my hope that in 2007 this club and every club across the country will get back to the essence of our hobby, that is, fun!!! We spend too much time arguing and not enough time learning from each other and promoting our hobby.

More contest news

Well, I just got my January CQ magazine yesterday ( I was getting concerned because they are normally never this late) and found that I placed 7th in the US 4th call district for SOAB. I didn't think any more about it until this morning after getting home from work at 4am I was reading further and found that I am marked as earning a certificate in the Tribander/Wires category. It looks as though I placed 5th overall in that category. So, another piece of wallpaper as a result of a contest.

QSLs

You know, one of the tedious parts of ham radio for those of us who are contesters is the QSLs. For me, as I am adding to my totals for DXCC and other awards, I need those confirmations. Unfortunately, I have made a number of contacts during 2006 (something on the order of 3,000 or so). That is a lot of cards. Fortunately, LotW has helped with the domestic cards. Unfortunately, not everyone is participating. I must admit that the security seems at times to be to be quite unnecessary and I think that the hoops that you must jump through to use the system is keeping many hams from using it. I currently have over 5,000 QSLs in LotW, but only 900 confirmed. Then, foreign stations have to jump through even more hoops, so many DXpeditions do not use the service. If there was some way for the League to make things easier for the DX community, I think that there would be more usage.

OK, I am off my soapbox now.......

I am now officially part of the DXCC!!

Well, it finally arrived today.......DXCC certificates for both mixed and phone. So, it will be just a matter of framing it and getting it on the wall. Of course, I am hoping to add to the totals this year. I have heard the current 1A4A operation a couple of times and I am hoping to get it over the next week. Then, the VU7 this month will be another attempt. Wild Bill and the gang will be in Burkino Faso later in the month and I am hoping to get them in the log also.

So, there will be some good opportunities to add to the totals over the next few weeks. Wish me luck!!!!