11/06/2007 | W1ZRO The gods must be crazy! I was going to hit this year's SSCW hard, from my Cape Cod QTH with QRP again as my power choice on a TS-570 set at 5 watts. My preparations were extensive. First, I replaced my old call sign, W0ZEN, with the vanity call W1ZRO, to save repeating my EMA section 3% of QSO's. Next, I upgraded, after 52 years, to Extra Class, to take advantage of a wider spectrum. Finally, I put up an 80/40 meter dipole at 27 ft. to capture more close-in stations overshot by my all-band vertical.

The gods acted in their mysterious ways. Hurricane Noel knocked out power to half the homes on Cape Cod on Saturday. Our power was lost one hour before the SS started and power was only restored 31 hours later, 3 minutes before the end of the contest. I made 0 points.

Preparation for the 2008 SS? Maybe a 10 kw backup generator for the whole house, a windmill or, more sensibly, a K2 Elecraft?

Jim -- W1ZRO