Bob WL7GK SK

Just two days ago a number of hams and many others bid farewell to Bob Kreiser obituary. WL7GK was the raspy voice of Interior Alaska. Bob could be found as a regular on the Alaska HF nets and the repeaters. He loved to drive and motored with ham radio extensively, once even calling for emergency services to a bad wreck on an extremely remote part of the Alaska Highway. Bob could, and often did, break anything electronic. Still, his disasters brought learning experiences for all involved. Friendships were cinched.

Bob was not a contester, but he encouraged KL2R's evolution and had a few chances to operate from here. His own city location was plagued with noise. Bob was always among the first to volunteer for public service events and emergencies. He regularly pulled the overnight shift for Skywarn Recognition Day from KL7FWX, and he was a force behind several recent Field Day efforts under the KL7KC banner. He hated CW. His final gift to me was a Vibroplex Deluxe singler-lever paddle ca. 1975. In pieces.

WL7GK was a complex character. He was gruff. And loud. And very welcoming to honest, good-intentioned folk. His love of ham radio never wavered. I watched him come to terms with the end of his radio days. My heart broke. He did not linger long after. I can say he made the most of his time on earth in the 20 years I knew him. Godspeed, Senior Chief, and 73!

Keep Looking Up

Today KL1AZ mustered me and quite a few other folks to erect his tilt-tower. Using a small John Deere tractor as well as some good block and tackle, AL7F, N1TX, WL7GK, KL1NU, KL7EDK, KL3SP, WL7TV, KL3RP, and KL1SG managed to do it with ease. It was an incredibly warm fall day (55F). This evening, the sun was shining on the KL2R tower during JARTS.

N1TX: More Impressions of SSB Sweeps

Contest         : ARRL Sweepstakes
Callsign        : KL2R
Mode            : PHONE
Category        : Multi Operator - Single Transmitter (MS)
Overlay         : ---
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : AK

Locator         : BP64KU
Operating time  : 14h33

 BAND   QSO DUP SECT  POINTS
-----------------------------
  160     0   0    0       0
   80     3   0    0       6
   40    12   0    1      24
   20   187   1   28     372
   15    92   0   25     184
   10     7   0    5      14
-----------------------------
TOTAL   301   1   59     600
=============================
    TOTAL SCORE : 35 400

Operators       : N1TX, KL1JP, N6PU, WL7GK

Dan KL1JP and Elaine N6PU kicked off Saturday on 10, and shortly thereafter moved to 15 meters to good effect.  Elaine was new to Win-Test, and between that and getting used to the complicated Sweeps exchange, she had a steep learning curve.  However, she soon became expert.  The operators discovered that the cure for calling CQ and getting dead air in return was to have one of them remove their headsets. 

Dan took advantage of the relative heat wave of Saturday afternoon -- it had warmed to -15F -- to try installing a new 160m vertical (rev 2.0), which unfortunately wouldn't tune up.  The MFJ antenna analyzer was cranky in the cold, too.  Dang!

At 1800 local, their shifts were done, so I pressed on 40m for a short while before getting a headache.  After supper, I napped a couple of hours and returned to the airwaves to ply 80/40 to little effect.  I mean, something like 10 QSOs in six hours?  C'MON!

Elaine returned early Sunday morning as 20m was perking up.  Guest operator Bob WL7GK arrived around 0900 local.  He was new to contesting, and Elaine patiently showed him the ropes while I fought a Windoze problem on a rebuilt laptop.  She gave him a good hour tutoring before having to leave again.  Bob caught his stride with S&P, picking up several badly needed sections on 20 and 15m. 

After lunch I finally elbowed my way on to 20m to try to catch a little running.  After a couple of CQs, and operator called me and told me I was QRMing some net and asked me to move a few kHz.  I agreed, but only after I guilted him into giving me an exchange. :-) I also worked W2RCA, a special event station for the Radio Club of America, which was a bonus.

Just after 1600 local I broke 300 QSOs and pulled the plug, completely exhausted but quite pleased with everyone's teamwork. 

We had no equipment problems, save for the 160m antenna situation.  Dan and I are determined to solve the Top Band QSO gap sooner rather than later.

Notice: We have finally signed up with GlobalQSL for confirmation delivery via the bureaus.  Service of everyone's QSL request should be much more responsive.

ARRL Sweeps SSB - Tough, Fun Learning

I promise not to whine about how lousy the low bands were for us and will focus on the up sides observed here at KL2R.  Elaine N6PU soon developed a knack for keeping 15 meters open until late in the day on Saturday after some brief 10m fun with KL1JP.  N1TX manned the late shift on 40 and 80, and it might as well have a head-banging contest.  Elaine had a late-night work call-out and arrived about 1600Z.  She soon mounted up for some 20m action.  When guest operator Bob WL7GK arrived, she took him under her wing for the basics of operating this contest with Win-Test.  After a little more side-saddle time with Larry, Bob soon found a technique that suited him: S&P.  He netted several badly-needed sections, and I could see a big grin develop from this initial panicked look.

In short, I think we al learned something, both about each other as well as various technologies in the KL2R shack.  It's a training ground, first and foremost.