Tweaking continues on the W4HOD version of the W4SSY spud gun. An air leak appeared at the base of the air chamber. After repairing it, the gun is successfully holding a 50 psi load. There appears to be a very minute leak around the pressure gauge, and we will decide if it warrants repairing.

Monday is the big day. W4HOD club members will meet at the Alabama QSO Party location and start shooting rope into the trees. We will meet for lunch in Auburn and then head out to the operating site. I hope the weather holds for us. Bob, KA4PKB and Cheryl, AA4YL bought extra fishing line and hooks at Academy Sports Saturday night, so we will have spares if needed.

While traveling to South Dakota, Iowa and other points in the midwest, Admin has long admired a radio tower on I-65 North near Nashville. It is diamond shape and quite impressive. It has always reminded me of a work of art. A friend said that it probably was the antenna for WSM-650. Well, the friend was correct. The link below tells some great data on the tower, with some great photos.

http://hawkins.pair.com/wsm.html

Monday evening was one of the more interesting evenings this Admin has spent in quite a while. I witnessed the construction of a spud gun, based on the QST article in the March 2009 issue. It was a team effort, mostly led by Bob, KA4PKB. Mike, KI4TWB and Cheryl, AA4YL chipped in parts and the construction was handled by Bob and Mike. Cheryl photographed the construction and tried to stay out of the way. The design is different from the QST article, but fits our club needs much better. Initial testing with 30 psi yielded about a 200 foot shot into the hayfield. Testing on trees is next for the final tweaking.

Thursday night happy hour was great fun. Darrell-K9MUG, Bob-KA4PKB, Gene-KI4EEY, Mike-KI4TWB and Cheryl-AA4YL gathered at Locos in Auburn for food and drink. Antennae for the Alabama QSO Party and Field Day, the newly crafted Spud Gun, the extensive beer list at Locos, and politics were a few of the topics covered, along with lots of gossip. I believe a great time was had by all. We will move the happy hour to Opelika next week.

The DRCG Long Distance Contest (DLDC) is June 12-13, 2010.  The rules are here.

The BARTG Sprint 75 will occur on June 12, 2010 during one of the DLDC off-times.  Rules here. This is a pilot contest to see if there is sufficient interest in 75 baud RTTY contesting.

The first weekend of June means it’s time for the Alabama QSO Party. This year it’s on June 5 and 6 UTC. Heart of Dixie ARS will be operating the AQP from Notasulga in Macon County, Alabama. We have access to a sturdy building with two adjoining lots with lots of trees for antennas. We will be operating both SSB and CW, so look for us on the bands.

Location for W4HOD station

One of two vacant lots next to the station location

Portion of 2nd vacant lot beside station location

Several members of HODARS went to the BirmingHAMfest on Saturday. Those seen by AA4YL were KI4KUT, K9MUG, and KA4PKB. Also seen were KE4KWE and wife Reta, KJ4TD and WB4BYQ, from EAARC and KC4HW, WA4WLI, K4ZGB, and others from the Alabama Contest Group.

KA4PKB and AA4YL helped man the ACG booth so Tom and Jim could spend some time looking around the fest. Afterwards several of us had lunch at The Fish Market on US Highway 280. Present at lunch were friends of K9MUG- Ed and his wife Joan from the Lake Martin area. I do not remember Ed’s callsign but will post it soon.

A beautiful Saturday for a hamfest and great fellowship.

http://www.landelldemoura.qsl.br/EnglishWavTrans.htm

The RTTY NAQP contest is next weekend, February 27-28. Empty your chad box and get ready for this 12 hour contest. Rules are posted here.

The HODARS Thursday Lunch Think Tank gathered at Firehouse Subs in Aubun this week. Great fun and laughter was enjoyed by all. Present was Michael Wegner, KI4TWB, Bob Schafer, KA4PKB, Gene Harlin, KI4EEY, Don Huey, KA4NDY, and Cheryl Whitlock, AA4YL. Darrell Penrod, K9MUG and Ken Sullivanne, W4KDS were not able to make it and their great humor was missed.

Several HODARS members gathered for lunch with the Alabama Contest Group after the Montgomery Hamfest last November. The barbecue at Country’s was delicious and the air was filled with great DX stories and fellowship.

Shown are HODARS members:

Front Row: Kim Huey, KG4CQZ, Cheryl Whitlock, AA4YL, and Darrell Penrod, K9MUG

Back Row: Don Huey, KA4NDY and Bob Schafer, KA4PKB

Great meeting  for HODARS tonight. I would like to offically welcome Michael Wegner, KI4TWB back into our membership. Also our club chairman Ken Sullivanne, W4KDS was present after a brief illness. It is great to have both of them back with us. Their great wit has been sorely missed. A very productive meeting and great fellowship.

Officers for 2010:

http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html