[WVDXA] K8MN Single Op HP, ARRL DX CW

[Dave Heil]

Clark,

See interspersed comments.

Clark L. Stewart wrote:
> Dave,
> 
>      I certainly agree with everything you said.  I find I can run 
> full-out for 2 to 3 hours but then I want a break.  

Precisely!  You have to take time for operator relief, to walk around 
and to fill the coffee cup or iced tea glass.

> The "fun factor" 
> keeps me going late at night and adrenaline will make sleeping 
> difficult.  

What keeps me up is trying to copy the phantom CW signals long after the 
contest is over.

> But, grinding out the QSO's hour after hour is no longer as 
> much fun as it used to be.

I've always taken the view that a radio contest is much like a sauna. 
Both feel really good after you stop doing them.

>      I've always been an S&P kind of guy rather than a "run" guy.  And, 
> CW is not my forte but I'm getting better at it.

I've always felt comfortable running as well as doing the S&P, but I've 
not always had the station which could generate long runs.  It was 
easier from Africa where the callers were non-stop regardless of my puny 
antennas.

>      Yes, you were certainly lucky with the way the dates fell this 
> weekend.  Hope you have a Happy Anniversary.

My gal is the same sweet person I met in Helsinki back in the mid-80's. 
  OH2BH helped set the mood for amateur radio when he explained 
contesting and DXing to her in her native language.  Martti's mother, 
like my mother-in-law, is from Finnish Karelia.  When Leila served him 
Karelian pies, he pulled me aside and said, "Heil, I think you should 
marry this one." I did.

>      I got really pumped up over your multi-single suggestion.  I used 
> to travel to Colorado for the CQ WW DX Phone every year in a 
> multi-single and loved it.  

That's how I earned my stripes.  I used to operate from W9ZRX's place in 
Indy as part of the N9MM CW multi-multi.

> I'm willing to offer up my station for next 
> fall or spring and we can really do it up right.  I have two spare 
> bedrooms (one with a Queen and one with 2 singles) so out-of-towners can 
> be comfortable.  Yep, you lit a fire there my friend.  OK, I've got you 
> down as Operator No. 1.  I assume you will go with either CW or a Phone 
> contest, right?  Or, do you have a preference?

No preference for me, though I tend to do a bit better in a Phone 
contest (but always feel more tired at the end).  Your place would work 
well.  I'm happy with a sleeping bag in the basement.

>      We'll get Hal to order up a new batch of W8AH QSL's and Dave can 
> lay in a new supply of pens for filling out cards.  Scratch that, we can 
> print labels just like the big boys - I've got the software.  Hoy, boy!  
> I'll never get to sleep tonight.  You started the old brain down a new 
> track.

It's insidious, ain't it?  One just plants the seed and watches it grow. 
  It give the gang another chance to get together and lets all of us 
contest while giving us plenty of time for catching Z's and eating some 
grub.  The only drawback, as I see it, is keeping the off-duty ops quiet 
enough so that whoever is operating can copy the weak ones.

>      Who else wants in?

Depending on schedule, I'm in.

73,

Dave K8MN