Tennessee Contest Group 1999 ARRL DX SSB scores:

single operators

K4JNY    1,321,716  1292/341  SO/AB/HP 42 hours
NY4T       373,824   529/236  SO/AB/LP 28 hours
K4BEV      165,282   327/169  SO/AB/LP 
K4WX        66,990   290/77   SO/10/HP
W4JH        56,817   177/107  SO/AB/LP
WO4O        25,434   158/54   SO/10/LP
W4NI        13,197    83/53   SO/AB/LP 

multi-op

VP5B     7,946,798  7837/338  Multi/1  48 hours 
Operators: K4ISV, K4CN
 
K4TCG    1,182,870  1201/337  Multi/2  48 hours
Operators:  K1KY, W1ADE, KE4OAR, K4RO, K4OOO, W9WI, W4PA

K4TCG Details and statistics



Total TCG claimed club score:  11,152,928

Kirk, please post to web site!  VP5B takes us way over 
the top in this one!  Great!  Congrats to K4JNY for proving
to the gang at K4TCG that we should stick to CW after beating
our semi-Field Day multi-two operation at K1KY's remote
mountain QTH as a single op!!  

Speaking of which, I don't think Tom posted a message about the
K4TCG operation, so I'll throw in a few summary comments:

I had a fun time.  We talked ham radio all weekend, put up 
antennas, ate some food, got little sleep, had some beerz.
The only thing that sucked was the weather as it was howling
COLD up there - but that couldn't be helped.

We started the contest with two Omni-VI+'s, a Titan and the
Titan II prototype.  I was going to use the Titan II proto as 
a backup amp and use my own Titan as the main amp on rig #2 until 
I realized that I'd left the power supply HV cable at home - 
so, back out the door it went.  When I arrived, W9WI and K1KY were 
doing the "antenna construction 1000 yard stare" at the 2 el yagi 
on the ground.  It was decided to abandon the antenna effort and
concentrate on getting the two stations on the air immediately.
So we started (on time) with 1500 watts on two rigs and wire 
antennas. Everyone got a chance to operate the first night with 
myself and W9WI pulling the all nighter slot on the low bands.  

First light, Tom whipped out a 30 foot aluminum tower out of 
nowhere, all transmitting stopped and we all pitched in to hoist
the tower up while Tom climbed to the top and installed the 2 el
tribander.  Followed before dark with another 20 foot high Rohn
25 with a 5 el 15 meter beam that did wonders to improve the JA
rate.  K4OOO and K4RO did a lot of the Saturday operating as
W9WI and W1ADE had left to get sleep and I caught up on some
too as Tom continued to work on antennas.

At the halfway point of the contest, post-antenna celebration 
ensued and rate dropped to almost nil as one rig was temporarily 
abandoned.   W1ADE made a valiant attempt to set the woods on fire 
with the big oil barrel full of burning logs but ultimately failed 
(you'll have to ask him what happened).  KE4OAR provided a large 
stack of hamburgers for the grill. 

Big LID award went to FG5BG for managing to send "59 99" over and
over again on 15 meters until he had half the east coast yelling
at him to sign his callsign.  Sheesh!

K4OOO and I were rarin' to go with the Europeans on Sunday morning
when the propagation fell out.  We had an extremely weird 15 meter
opening to Europe - could hear AZ and CA running EU that we could
not hear.  K4AB (in Alabama) commented after the contest that he
could hear them either - REALLY STRANGE!!  'OOO was doing his best
to run Europe on 20 meters, only to realize that the 2 el yagi had
loosened itself during the night and was now pointed SE.  Oh well.
K1KY pulled out a fishing pole, cast a line and rope over one element
and pulled it back to Europe!   

Disassembly of station #2 about 4 hrs. prior to the end of the contest
as I had a 4 hour drive back with all of my gear.  With perfect
timing, W9WI re-arrived at the site as I was getting ready to drive
down the driveway.  Brief discussion of Tennessee Contest Group
protocol as this was the first time Doug and I had a chance to chat
face-to-face since elected to run the club this year.  Set-up of an 
Icom 735 to finish on the second station produced less than 
enthusiastic comparisons between it and the Omni-VI Plus contest 
receiver performance.  My arrival home safe and sound at 8 pm 
local and only had to put 1 quart of oil in my wheezing '82 GMC van
on the way back!

Lots of fun and I'll be back out at the Cat House for an SSB event
sometime later this year, I'll bet.  CQ WW SSB??

CW REMINDER:  If you haven't e-mailed your log for the ARRL
DX CW contest yet, the last day you can do so is SATURDAY
(March 20) - as your leader, I'm setting a great example
by admitting that I haven't sent mine in due to being 
insanely busy lately, BUT I WILL!!  SSB deadline is April 6.
send CW to dxcw@arrl.org, SSB to dxssb@arrl.org.  No wiseguy
comments about connecting the mic to the modem, please.

Upcoming events:  Well, the contest season is slowly grinding
to a halt, but don't forget the next big event is the WPX
SSB contest on March 26-27.  I'll be on part-time to hand out
some contacts to the deserving, most likely on Sunday.  Even
if you can't put in a full-time effort, try to get on for a
few hours and give out some Q's to the competitiors.
Exchange is signal report and serial number.  CW version of
this contest is the last weekend of May.  

See ya!

Scott Robbins, W4PA
TCG Facilitator