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W4APP Contest Soapbox
The 2009 W4APP EM87 GriDXpedition
Result = Multi-Operator Kentucky Winner
On Sunday July 12th, 2009 Karen KD4UKT and Aimee KI4YWD took Adam WK4P and his trusty sidekick, a Doberman Pinscher named Freyja, into one of the most remote regions in the eastern United States, the rare grid EM87. The goal was to establish an outpost in the Breaks Interstate Park, from which W4APP could activate EM87 on the six meter band. How rare is EM87? I have worked over 235 grid squares and have yet to work EM87 from my home in northwestern North Carolina, a scant 75 miles from the grid. I have worked many stations who had impressive grid totals (over 400) who were still looking for EM87, including several who only lacked 2 grids to have worked all of EM. A study conducted to promote the Fred Fish Memorial Award found EM87 to be rarest land grid east of the Mississippi River.
To finish reading the 2009 W4APP EM87 GridDXpedition soapbox click here!
The 2009 September VHF Contest from Whitetop Mountain
Result = 10th Place Overall in Multi-Operator
Once again W4APP made the trip to Whitetop Mountain Va for the September ARRL VHF contest. This was our 4th year operating this contest from Whitetop and our 3rd callsign we have used from the mountain; 2004-W4YSB, 2006 and 2008-WK4P, 2009-W4APP. Armed with our new callsign and a couple of new antennas we were anxious to see how they worked from our perch at nearly 5500 feet.
For several months one of our club member's mother had been fighting cancer and the morning we were to leave for the mountain Betty Norris KF4ASL passed away. It was with a very heavy heart that we left for the mountain having just lost a very special lady and radio amateur. Betty, you will be greatly missed by us all.
To finish reading the 2009 September VHF Contest soapbox click here!
The 2009 PSK Deathmatch
By Adam Lawler WK4P
Result = Champion of 2009 Deathmatch (3-Time Champion)
It had been two years since I last was a contestant in the PSK DeathMatch, a 48 hour, single-op only contest sponsored by the Michigan DX Association. In 2007 the DeathMatch lived up to its name, killing my Icom 746Pro (driver board). The radio limped to the end with limited output and somehow I was fortunate enough to bring home my 2nd DeathMatch sword.
In 2008 I was awarded the honor of being the bonus station for the DeathMatch. This is an honor I have never heard another contest bestow upon its champion. It also assures there will never be a back-to-back champion. As the bonus station I set a goal of making about 200 contacts and calling CQ on all the bands in play. I arranged to pick up my new sidekick that weekend as well, a seven week old Doberman Pinscher puppy we named Freyja, after the Germanic goddess. I finished with nearly 250 qsos, making the bonus points very available, but not a given, to everyone. I worked stations on 5 bands and called CQ on all 7.
To finish reading the 2009 PSK Deathmatch soapbox click here!
The 2010 North Carolina QSO Party
Result = Winner In-State Club SSB
For 2010 the W4APP crew had big plans. The goal was a tri-county operation, on the Wilkes/Ashe/Watauga county line. We knew it would be a big undertaking. You see, the tri-county line is between a third and a half mile off the Blue Ridge Parkway. We would have to hike in with all our gear, and then bring it out again in the dark. It would not be easy but then most good things rarely are.
To finish reading the 2010 North Carolina QSO Party soapbox click here!
The 2010 W4APP EM87 GriDXpedition
For the 2010 CQ WW VHF Contest W4APP again headed to EM87 to activate the rarest grid east of the Mississippi. This time W4APP was the guest of K4TDW, a resident of Clintwood, Va, who was gracious enough to allow us to operate from his home, thanks Danny.
Again this year KD4UKT took WK4P and Freyja up a week early to get things set up. This year things went as planned. K4TDW and WK4P were able to mount the tripod on the roof of K4TDW’s shed and quickly had the 6M5X mounted. By Tuesday evening WK4P was on the air making contacts from EM87 with 500 watts and 5 elements.
To finish reading the 2010 W4APP EM87 GriDXpedition soapbox click here!
The 2011 ARRL RTTY Roundup
Result = Roanoke Division and North Carolina Multi-Operator Low Power Champion
For W4APP the first contest of 2011 was the ARRL RTTY Roundup. We had been looking forward to this contest for a couple of months as it provided a chance to get W4APP on the air using the digital modes. We had big plans for the contest, but as it seems to be the norm the weather put a small crimp in things. Still we had a lot of fun and came out with a respectable score.
To finish reading the 2011 ARRL RTTY Roundup soapbox click here!
The 2011 North Carolina QSO Party
Result = Winner In-State Club SSB
For the 2011 NCQP the guys and gals of the Appalachian Contesters, W4APP, set out to defend their victory in the 2010 NCQP as In-State Club SSB Champion. We looked at several possibilities to help improve our score over the 2010 totals. The most intriguing was to again attempt a county line operation, where each contact would in effect become two.
To finish reading the 2011 North Carolina QSO Party soapbox click here!
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