Our First Contest
Our first club contest was the September 1996 ARRL VHF QSO Party. The location was on top of a hill on a right-of-way overlooking Lewis Run, Pennsylvania in FN01 (see above image). We do not have any other images from that contest. Being newbies to contesting Tony, N3KTA, and Dave, N3BXK, did the best they could and fumbled through their first solo attempt.
They used a Uniden HR2510 10M rig into a 2 M transverter kit. The antenna was a 2 element homebrew Yagi on a 20 foot mast. Power was supplied by sealed lead acid batteries.
They made some decent contacts for their first time. It got extremely cold in the evening. Dave EVEN had to wear a jacket (not a common sight with him)! But it was a clear & beautiful night.
Below is the unofficial log of their portable expedition:
1996 September VHF QSO Party
OPS: Tony, N3KTA & Dave, N3BXK
| DATE | FREQ. | MODE | UTC | CALL | GRID |
| 14 SEP | 144.206 | USB | 1948 | N2XTX | FN02 |
| 14 SEP | 144.206 | USB | 2009 | AA3GM | FN01 |
| 14 SEP | 144.206 | USB | 2040 | VA3ST | FN03 |
| 14 SEP | 144.206 | USB | 2042 | KE2PM | FN02 |
| 14 SEP | 144.206 | USB | 2058 | N3NIA | FN01 |
| 14 SEP | 144.188 | USB | 2345 | K3UZY | FN11 |
| 14 SEP | 144.210 | USB | 2348 | N2ODK | FN12 |
| 15 SEP | 144.200 | USB | 0016 | K3MQH | FM19 |
| 15 SEP | 144.200 | USB | 0130 | N3PBD | EN91 |
| 15 SEP | 144.195 | USB | 2310 | AA8BC | EN90 |
| 15 SEP | 144.190 | USB | 2314 | K3DMG | EN90 |
Note from Tony, N3KTA:
" I was introduced to contesting by John Miller, N3NIA, in the summer of 1996. John allowed me to operate from his station during the 1996 ARRL June VHF QSO Party. I was hooked! That September he allowed Dave and I to use his mesh tent for our portable expedition to the hills of McKean County. He sent us on our way with the tent and some grandfatherly advice. I'll never forget that day. My first contest.
John went silent key on December 13, 1998. I can still hear his heavily accented Philadelphia voice as I type this. He was a good man who loved Morse code and contesting. He got me interested in contesting just as my interest in the hobby was slipping. He won't be forgotten.
Thanks John. 73"
