11/23/2009 | W7VO We had our first run at ARRL SS SSB (Multi-Single) from the new QTH here in OR, and had a blast. We had some problems, such as a power output control on the FT-2000 that was accidentally turned almost OFF for the first half hour of the contest. (no wonder nobody could hear us...) It took another 15 minutes to find the problem....

We opened up the W7VO doors to the local Columbia County ham club to let them experience "Contesting beyond Field Day", and had a few takers. My wife Shelley (W7VOX) had fun making a dozen or so contacts, her first ever on HF after being a ham for some 30 years..... Everybody else that came spent a lot of time tuning and listening around, and a few contacts were logged by them. Kudos (for the most part) to the hams on the other end who patiently worked through the exchanges with the new guys.......

A big storm that blew through on Sunday morning did something to a power line/tree close by, as the lights flickered, then power line noise increased greatly to the East. Another challenge besides QRM!

Our best runs were on 15M, which closed like a light switch at about 2300Z. 20M was unusable after sunset. Being a "little gun", it was hard to find a run frequency anywhere but 15M.

The good news is that were able to complete the "clean sweep" at about 2200Z on Sunday, my first ever. The elusive station from DE was the final one worked. -- W7VO