ACTIVITY 268 total logs submitted. Best ever. Thanks. 156 of those 268 were from within Wisconsin, with the remainder, or 112, from outside of the state. Of the 268, there were 61 paper logs, which we converted to electronic versions, thru the efforts of K9BTQ and WA9AXQ, which made it easier to process them.

Within Wisconsin, there were 110 that entered the Single Operator Fixed category, 17 entered the Single Operator Mobile category, 11 in the Single Operator Technician category, 11 in the Multi Operator Fixed category, 1 in the Multi Operator Mobile category, 3 in the Multi Transmitter Multi Operator Fixed category, and 3 in the Multi Transmitter Multi Operator Mobile category. There were no entries in the Multi Operator Technician or the Single Operator Novice categories.

In the out-of-state entries, we had entries from 34 states, 2 Canadian Provinces and two DX entries. All 72 Wisconsin counties, all 50 states and 6 of the Canadian Provinces appeared in the logs received - British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland, Ontario, Quebec and the Yukon Territory. In Wisconsin, multi-multi fixed entry W9EAU worked 67 WI counties.

Out-of-state the total was 66 counties, accomplished by KV8Q, from Ohio. With band conditions as such, we did not break any standing records this year. I do want to visit the Wisconsin Top Ten. I usually try to speak to the ratio between the fixed and mobile stations that are part of the WIQP entries, as it speaks to the total concept of WIQP that was established years ago, that allows for an even playing field, so to speak, in that, the bonus points awarded to a mobile entry even out the advantage of being a fixed station, with their better antennas and comfortable operating positions.

Having a mix of fixed and mobiles each year in the Top Ten proves out the wisdom of the elders of WARAC in providing those bonus points long ago.

You can see there are 5 mobiles and 5 fixed entries in the list this year:

RESULTS
The 2008 highest scoring WI Single Operator was a mobile, CW only station. The 2008 highest scoring non-WI Single Operator was also a CW only station. The winning club in the Wisconsin Club Competition is a repeat winner, although not from last year. This year we had 25 clubs enter the WI Club Competition. A long time acquaintance, and frequent participant in WIQP, found the magic formula to put him in the WI Single Operator winner?s circle as a mobile entry. Todd Fonstad, N9NE, as the WI highest scoring Single Operator, did it up right, or as he says ?Murphy stayed home.? He did a path from his Oshkosh home, thru SHE, FON, DOD, WAS, OZA, MIL, WAU, JEF. DAN, COL, MRQ, WSR, ADA, WOO, POR, WAP, WIN, CAL, BRO and OUT, 20 in all. During the 400 miles traveled that I mentioned above, he earned 67 multipliers, 30C, 36S and 1P, using low power, for a final total score of 119,447 points, an all CW entry. This should be a memorable event for Todd. Sure will be for me when I award him his plaque. Congratulations Todd for a job well done.

The highest scoring Single Operator outside of Wisconsin is a first time winner too. Thomas Hain, KV8Q, of Galloway, Ohio, which is WSW of Columbus, did 88 CW contacts on 80 meters, and 91 CW contacts on 40 meters, with a total of 66 WI counties, for a total score of 35,442 points (in his case, it apparently did matter where you lived as to what bands worked best). He even worked Todd in 13 of the counties that Todd visited, besides working 9 other of the mobile stations multiple times while they traveled around in Wisconsin. He did write a very nice article that will be published in the WARAC newsletter Hamtrix, detailing his operating during WIQP. Thomas is married to Debbie, KC8LYF. They were planning on going on vacation March 7th for a week. But something got in the way - the four letter word SNOW. Twenty inches of snow forced cancellation of their vacation, whence he discovered WIQP was happening Sunday, so he cranked up his Ten Tec Jupiter feeding his 102 foot G5RV between two trees and did WIQP. He says he was really just looking for WI counties. Now he says he has a title to defend next year. Congratulations Thomas. I believe you will enjoy the plaque and hang it in a place of honor in your shack.

The 2008 Wisconsin Club Competition winner?s plaque goes to the Fond du Lac Amateur Radio Club. If there was a word like ?fourpeat? as I mentioned in 2006, then this ?fivepeat? win fits. I went back and took a peek to see how they had done over the years. In 1996 they were 4th, in 1997 and 1998 they were third, in 1999 they moved to second, in 2000 they achieved their first first place win, in 2001 and 2002 they dropped to second, in 2003 they set the current Club Competition Record as the first place winner, which during 2003 thru 2006 they maintained. In WIQP 2007, they were bested by the Ozaukee Club, ending up in second place. This year they bettered Ozaukee, again taking first place with a total score of 555,168.5 points, with 27 of their members participating.

The Single Operator Fixed category, was won by Ted Gisske, K9IMM, of Mount Horeb. Ted made 300 CW Qs and 156 phone Qs with 49 counties, 44 states and 2 Canadian Provinces, a total of 95 multipliers. His final score totals 107,730 points. Congratulations Ted. The Single Operator Technician category was won by repeat winner Brian Long, KB9LRD, of Appleton, who made 210 phone Qs with 20 counties, and two states, for a total score of 12,930 points, while traveling thru 12 counties. Congratulations to Brian.

The Multi Operator Fixed category was won by a team from Green Bay, using the W9NEW call of the NE WI Radio Club. They had 283 phone Qs, 72 CW Qs, with 42 counties, 31 states and 2 Canadian Provinces, for a total score of 48,037.5 points. Congratulations to Gregg Seidl, K9KL, Brent Crier, N9BC, and Robert Duescher, KA9BXG The Multi Operator Mobile category was won by the N9AOT team, from Fremont. They did a 13 county trip, making 157 phone Qs. Their 22 county, 27 state and 2 Canadian Provinces produced a total score of 16,510.5. Congratulations to Terry Schilling, N9AOT, and Gary Hoehne, KB9AIT. The Multi Operator Multi Transmitter Fixed category winning entry was from the Eau Claire Area, using the Eau Claire club call sign W9EAU. Their 18 operators made 496 CW Qs and 714 phone Qs with 67 counties, 47 states and 6 Canadian Provinces. Total score was 307,080 points. Congratulations to Paul Bittner, W0AIH, Mark Seyffer, KB9S, James Staatz, KI9H, Roger Wise, KI0F, Robert Klevgard, KC9HVB, Alan Dewey, K0AD, Rolf Nestingen, KG0KM, Lawerance Neve, Jr., AB9NE, David Voss, KB9WPC, Darrell Schreiner, K9AIH, David Aho, N9TTX, Justin Glasener, K9MU, Judith Spangler, KC9LLK, Charles Betz, N0AKC, Burton Spangler, W9ZZI, Nathaniel Perry, W0OCZ, David Garnett, KB9SGY and Ronald Anderson, W9RMA.

The Multi Operator Multi Transmitter Mobile category was won by the NN9K team, who traveled to Wisconsin from Colona, IL. They made 780 CW Qs, and 6 phone Qs, while traveling through 18 counties, contacting 27 WI counties, 39 states and 2 Canadian Provinces, for a total score of 168,732 points. Congratulations to Peter Beedlow, NN9K, Timothy Rogerwall, N9BIL, and Stephen Darling, KE9ER.

2009 WIQP
Even though I mentioned last year in detail the format that entries come to us in, we continue to see logs in rather strange formats. Not a lot but too many in our view. Many of these logs are generated on a computer, but are sent to us on paper. If you have a computer, we encourage you to use a logging program that will produce the file that you can send to us. Logging programs are quite user friendly. All you need is a little bit of practice to become familiar with the program. Of course we suggest the N3FJP program, as it very cheap and works quite well. However, any logging program will work, as long as it produces a listing of the contacts made in chronological order. With all of the information we have on our website about sending in a file, and allowing for the lack on continuity between the various documents on the website, we wonder what we need to do. Perhaps we need to follow the KISS principle more closely, or perhaps we need to try and do some education stuff? If you need help, let us know. Enough said.

Several more comments. The second comment that needs mentioning is based on some suggestions we have had. We have been asked to consider doing a ?youth? or ?beginner? type of category, so the younger hams could participate in WIQP, competing against each other only, and perhaps win an award of some sort. We have had a Novice category for a number of years. Since Novice licenses are no longer issued, we have not had any entries in it for a while now. We are discussing the possibility of changing the Novice category to a category that would perhaps limit the entry to some sort of age group, or length of license possession, or something along that line. This year we had two youngsters participate, that we know of - Jackson, KC9KVU, age 9, and Nicholas, KC9MEA, age 11. So far we have only discussed an age limit. Perhaps we need to set a different kind of limit. This is where we ask for your input. Let us know what you think and please feel free to offer suggestions for both a name for the category and some specifics on what the rules for entry into this category should be.

Third comment. We have mentioned this for many years - a one-file entry. A number of entries did just that this year. While we are finding that it would work, it appears that we probably need one format for in-state and another format for out-of-state, based on questions we have been asked. Before we ask the programmers to make any change(s), would first need to decide if we are going to do a name change for the Novice category, and secondly, make sure the information we need is included in the header part of a one file entry. I believe the programmers would possibly make the changes, if we did it once. We really would like to have our suggested logging program, by Scott, N3FJP, be the model. We have not approached Scott yet, as we do not have the final details worked out.

In the interim, we are going to eliminate the need for dupe sheets. With the conversion of paper logs to electronic logs by Tom and Howard, it is quite easy for me to do the duping via the spreadsheet. Of course, that depends on being able to continue with the electronic conversion of paper logs. However, if the volume of paper logs continues to decline, the task should not be very time consuming. Maybe, just maybe, some day, all logs will be electronic. But, no matter what, we will always accept paper logs, if that is what you need to submit. I want to make that very clear - paper is ok with us. And if you do paper, henceforth, you will not have to submit a dupe sheet along with the log and the summary sheet.

Fourth comment. We plan to continue to do the 1800 Zulu to 0100 Zulu time frame for WIQP. With the government having permanently changed the hours for daylight savings time, that means that WIQP in Wisconsin will start at 1 PM local WI time. We also will be continuing to use our 3 letter abbreviations, although we are going to change the Canadian Province ones to reflect current practices. I suggest you monitor our website for further information as 2009 WIQP time approaches. And lastly, I say again and again. - thanks to all the many, many stations, both fixed and mobile, in Wisconsin and out of Wisconsin, who through their efforts make WIQP what it is each year. Without all the signals on the air for the seven continuous hours, WIQP would not be what it is - the BEST QSO PARTY in the USA. Please thank all the participants whenever you get a chance.

Without all their efforts, there would be no Wisconsin QSO Party. See you next WIQP, March 15, 2009, starting at 1800 Zulu, the good Lord willing. Lynn Tamblyn, K9KR Chairman WIQP for the West Allis Radio Amateur Club.

For a Job well done

At the monthly meeting of the Columbia county ARES meeting, September 18th, Columbia County Sheriff Dennis Richards presented a plaque to EC Rich Green, KC9FNM.

Sheriff Richards said "Without your help and communications assistance during the June flooding we don't know what we would have done. I'm sure things would have been a lot worse than they were.

"You literally saved a tremendous amount of damage and manpower by manning the flooding situation on highway 22 in Pardeevile. I was out of man power. I had no place to turn to for immediate resources."

Sheriff Richards went on to say: "You're doing security and fire watch at the fairgrounds during the (Columbia County) fair saves me a tremendous amount of man power. Pat Beghin , Columbia County Emergency Government Director was also very appreciative of your help in taking flood assessment reports at the EOC."

Rich thanked the sheriff for taking the time from his busy schedule to come to the meeting. Rich said, "We are always happy to help out in Columbia county in any way we can. This is why we have our monthly meetings and training sessions."

During the June flooding the Columbia county ARES group donated 423 volunteer hours, 1,758 miles and 38 hours driving time in their personal vehicles, 42 E-mails were passed among members and a total of 3 hours telephone time between Rich, his members and officials.

Don K9JYX

The 12th annual "Circus City Swapfest" was a huge success again this year.

We thank all of you that supported us.

The N9LKY memorial balloon flight was also a success. Launch time was 8:48am CDT from the Sauk County Fairgrounds in Baraboo. The balloon reached a final recorded altitude of 101,640 feet above sea level around 11:11am CDT just east of Beloit, Wisconsin. It's final report was given at 11:58am CDT, 2 miles south of Marengo, Illinois. The package was retrieved within minutes.

A special thanks to our chase teams: Len, N9QIP Brad, KB9VMC and Chris, KC9IZG Wayne, W9YYZ and Bill, KA9QFJ

Check our web site for photos of the launch/recovery and photos from the edge of space:
http://www.yellowthunder.org/

QSL Information:
If you worked the N9LKY memorial balloon flight and would a certificate, Please send $1.00 and a 9 x 12 envelope to:

N9LKY Memorial Balloon Flight 1120 City View Road Baraboo, WI 53913

Please include your callsign, approximate time of contact and your issued serial number.

June 2008

Meeting Minutes Yellow Thunder Amateur Radio Club, Inc. Tuesday, June 3, 2008.

President Steve Schulze, N9UDO called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

Old business: Tom, N9PQJ moved to accept the minutes as printed and the treasurers report as presented. Second by Bill, N9NNN.

Steve reports that the new format for the Sunday night net is working good. He also invited anyone that wished to, can take the net some Sunday evenings.

Steve reported on the ARES fox hunt. The 'fox' was hidden in plain sight near the boat launch in White Mound park. Steve was the fox master and Tom, N9PQJ loaned his fox box.

The Columbia County ARES team of Brian, KG9OG and Dave, W1VOW found the 'fox' first after several hours and some backtracking. The second team to find it was the Sauk County ARES team.

Field Day Business: Field Day discussion ensued. Steve mentioned that he may not be here for Field Day this year to possible work commitments. (I will be there, work schedule has changed (N9UDO ed.)) The group starts gathering Friday night at Owen Park and set up begins Saturday morning. For the Saturday night meal bring your own protein to grill. The club will provide the grills, charcoal and soda pop. Zilch will be at 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning. It was suggested that we send an invite to the boy scouts to come and see what field day is all about.

Dave, KB9CSW and Joe, WB9SBD may be trying a balloon tethered beacon on 1750 meters for Field Day.

Steve gave a report on the boy scout Circus Heritage Days at the Sauk County fairgrounds. It was too windy for a balloon flight. They demonstrated various operating modes and operating bands. Steve passed around the plaque the boy scouts sent YTARC for participating.

New Business: Linda, KA9CHM showed the group a $1,000 check given by Jim Paul's (N9LKY) mother for financing future balloon flights. Jim was very active with the balloon flights and was president of the amateur TV group BATS. There will be a memorial display at this year's Swapfest. Jim became a silent key in December of 2007.

Bill, N9NNN moved to adjourn. Second by Dave, KB9CSW. Meeting adjourned at 8:26 p.m.

After the meeting, Steve showed the group the videos of the Richland Center High School balloon flight. Madison was visible and Lake Michigan was also visible as the balloon sailed across it.

Respectfully submitted, Don Evenson, K9JYX

Members present:
Steve Schulze, N9UDO - Presiden
t Don Evenson, K9JYX - Treasurer (and fill-in Secretary)
Tom Harrison, N9PQJ - Vice President
Jane Steinweg, KC9NGI Mike Hoier, KA9PSL
Bill Timme, N9NNN
Dave Spearing, KB9CSW Joe Mayenschein, WB9SBD
Linda Mayenschein, KA9CHM
Bob Shaw, KC9LAT

July 2008

Minutes of the July 1, 2008 meeting of the Yellow Thunder Amateur Radio Club

Meeting opened at 7:30 pm by Steve, N9UDO, President.

Minutes of last meeting read and approved as read.

Treasurer's report: WE HAVE MONEY!!!! (contact N9UDO if you need total balance on hand) Motion by Rick, N9ROY, seconded by Juanita, KC9MAB to reimburse N9UDO for outstanding bills he still has. Total of approximately 11.29. Passed

Old Business: Field Day: It was cold, wet, and a blast. Held at Owen Park again this year, they set up on Friday evening, and was ready to go by 1:00pm on Saturday. All totals were, 198 contacts made. Bands worked were 10-75 meters and some 6 meters also. Operated as a 2A operation, which means 2 transmitters or more at same time. Tom, N9PQJ has a list of all stations worked if you would like a copy of it.

On Saturday, about 1:30-3:30 or so, it stormed pretty good. Thank Goodness for good food.....Sunday had the traditional LARGE breakfast meal. Also, a visitor from Texas showed up for a visit. Nice visit for everyone.

Ted Meyer, K9RCE, formally N9BXY, has donated some equipment to Yellow Thunder Club to be used by new hams to use till they are able to get their own equipment. Yellow Thunder Club will continue to have ownership of the equipment and can loan it out to members. If you are in need of the use of some of this equipment, please contact N9UDO. Don, K9JYX motioned, Dave KB9CSW seconded, to offer Ted a Life Membership in YTARC, and also to send Ted a plaque thanking him for the donation. Passed.

Swap Fest: Our annual swapfest will be held on August 9, 2008 at the Sauk County Fairgrounds in Baraboo. We will be setting up on Friday evening at 6:00. Gates open at 6:00am Saturday for vendors and 8:00 for everyone else. The cost is $5.00 at the gate for everyone. The grand prize drawing will be for a Tri-Band HT from Icom. Other items include a dual band magnet mount antenna and Dual-Band Base antenna. There are assorted miscellaneous items from ARRL.

There was some discussion pertaining to Board members being able to win the Grand Prize drawing. There was a lively discussion on this topic and K9JYX motioned that board members cannot win ANY drawing. Seconded by N9PQJ. 5 ayes, 5 nays. motion defeated with no majority. Motion by Jane, KC9NGI to have Board members be able to win the lesser drawings, but NOT the Grand Prize drawing. Seconded by Tom, KC9KPT. 9ayes, 1 nay. Passed.

We still have posters available to put up. If you need some, contact N9UDO. Motion by K9JYX to adjourn, seconded by W9ULK. Passed.