- I'm pretty comfortable with basic operation of my new Elecraft K3. I can do all the things I *think* I'll need to do to the radio during the contest: tune either VFO, adjust the filter bandwidth, adjust receiver audio, use RIT. Other stuff I need to do via the computer: turn on/off subrx, log, etc. I think I'm good to go. The manual is handy if needed, though.
- N1MM logger is set up reasonably well.
- I've practiced with the SO2V support in N1MM enough to believe I can tune around for S&P QSOs while CQing. The KRX3 has some restrictions about which bands it can be on relative to the main RX that may make it hard to do multi-band SO2V in the heat of battle, but I'll see how I do. If all else fails, I can abandon SO2V (so I'm not "Single Operator Distracted").
- The Secret Weapon (2-el triband wire yagi) has been built and tuned. I just need to hang it from the tree Fri or Sat, and I should hopefully be one S-unit louder at 70 degrees.
- And last but not least: the shack is CLEAN (it was a real pig-sty last week):
The overall goal is to make 500 contacts between the CW and SSB weekends, although now that I've secured 22 hours for CW, I think I should raise the bar a bit.
Still to do:
- Get all the Butt-In-Chair support ready, which I think will be: energy bars, water, ham sandwiches (no pun intended - I often crave them*, a pot of coffee, and some leftover Hallloween candy for late in the contest.
- Look over W0YK's packet spot filters and figure out how to use them.
- That's a Yaesu FT-857D next to the K3 (in case a meteor lands on the K3 during the contest).
- The WinKeyer and paddle are to the right and behind the wire inbox tray.
- No, I don't have an amplifier (yet).
- Yes, the shack is narrow: the room is 5 ft by 10ft. It's a little room at the back of a detached garage on our property. I like to think of it as "cozy."
1 comment:
Wanted to send my best from Shell Beach going into Sweepstakes weekend. I have a few chores around the shackadelic to finish before the starting line tomorrow afternoon.
I'll deploy my doublet in the morning before the winds and one goal is 12-hours butt in the chair time before my 1st break.
Good luck. Kick butt!
73
KA3DRR
P.S. I like the photograph of your shack.
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