pdf 6436KB Sep 25 2010 04

teammates at the 1996 WRTC in San
Francisco. We came in ninth place, but
we beat a lot of really good guys so we
felt vindicated. I have been back to Antigua
numerous times since operating as
V26B with W3CF, WT3Q, KA2AEV, AB2E,
WXØB, W2UDT, N2TK, K3MQH, NM5M,
N3BNA, N2SR, W3FV, K3MM, N3OC and
NA2AA among others. In 1999, K3MM,
K3RA and I did the ARRL CW contest as
a multi-two as V26O (my Antiguan call
sign), and we, at 7.8 M, were beaten by
HC8N, with 8.7 M. Not a bad operation
to lose to.
On another occasion, Brian, N3OC,
and I operated a WPX CW contest from
Antigua as V25A. That was a great deal
of fun, and I got to know Brian very well
then too. If you’re doing any kind of contest
operation, N3OC would be a great person
to have on your team.
The last time I operated from Antigua
was in 2004 as V26DX from the Royal
Antiguan Hotel. KM9M, WXØB, DF2BO
(owner of Optibeam) and I operated the
ARRL SSB contest multi-two, low power
from the hotel, and we made nearly 7000
QSOs. That was really a fun trip because
the XYLs were along (see www.contesting.com/articles/525).
When I moved to Texas in 1996, I continued
to fl y back East to operate from
N2RM a couple of times and more recently
to K3LR. Most of my contest operating in
Texas has been from AA5NT, where we did
multi-two most of the time, enjoying Marian,
N5TVL’s hospitality and having a lot
of fun. I have also operated at K5MR and
WXØB as well as some limited operation
from my own QTH.
A few years ago, I became less and less
enamored with my corporate IT career,
and WXØB needed some help at Array
Solutions. With a lot of arm-twisting on my
part, Jay relented and took me on to help
him on a part-time basis with a couple of
larger commercial deals. Of course, hams
were involved in those deals. KR9U, K1XX
(whom I have known since my YCCC days)
and K3VN were among those I crossed
paths with on those early assignments.
A few months later — and coincidental
with my savings running pretty low — Jay
and his wife Sharon, N5CK, offered me a
full-time position as operations manager
for Array Solutions. I’ve been doing that
job for more than two years now, and it is
a lot of fun. I think that working with ham
radio is a big perk all by itself, but getting
to talk to people I know from contesting
for these many, many years is a big plus
too. When I pick up the phone it could be
K1ZM, ON4UN, K6LA, GW3YDX, W2GD,
N3RD, K5RX, ES5TV, PY5EG or OH2BH
among many others. Through my work
with Array Solutions I had the opportunity
to go to Friedrichshafen, Germany, for the
2008 Ham Radio show. While there, I at-
30 November/December 2008 NCJ
tended the Bavarian Contest Club’s 25th
anniversary buffet dinner. What a great
experience. I met many new friends there
like P43JB, DL2CC, DL6LAU, DL6RAI
and DL4LAM.
It doesn’t get much better than that. I
am most grateful to Jay and Sharon for the
opportunity they have given me.
Thanks, Bob! It really doesn’t get much
better. The common interest we all have in
contesting is as much a source of pleasure
to those of us who participate in it as the
operating itself. Until next issue, see you
on the bands. 73 de W4PA.
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