11/21/2002 | W0NO After a fun CW weekend at W0NOs in Beloit KS (see CW soapbox for K0WA), the old Flatland Amateur Radio Transmitting Society reconvened at Alans for sideband, with the addition of Mike K0FJ. The five have traveled to Dayton together, and various subsets have done SS multiops for decades.

Talk of chances for polar path disturbances put the fear of sweep hindrance in our minds, but between our run and mult stations we had virtually all the traditional nasties in the log, many with insurance stations, in the first few hours. We were left with such nailbiters as ORG and OK and earned our mugs when rare ol NV went in the log at 1AM.

It was a pleasure logging so many stations with recent checks, and seeing enthusiastic comments on this soapbox from new and rejuvenated contesters! Doing Sweeps with a regionally competitive group is a treat, and this was K0FJs first time to be part of such an effort. Each individual brings unique talent and hardware to the effort. But the greatest fun is shared comraderie among three hams spawned in the late 60s and two more from either end of the 90s.

K0WA, K0BJ and K0FJ face 2+ hr. commutes to get to the station. BJ joined FJ in his van and their homeward journey is chronicled in this soapbox as W0WOB/m , their second SS. Many thanks to Alan W0NO who has enthusiastically built a competitive M-2 station in the short years hes been licensed. 73 -- K0BJ