This is Our Humble Contest Shack

The Two Rivers Contest Club has earnest beginnings. Rich Strand KL7RA operated a world-class multi-multi contest station from the very same location for decades. This is the very same building from which he had many successes. N1TX and the gang at KL2R are working now to make it a serious SO2R and multi-two station. In the past three years, we have operated primarily as multi-single and SO1R. Just in the nick of time (10/10/09), the C3 pointed at Europe is now at the 85-foot level, and the 40m dipole is at 100 feet. We have a full complement of antennas for 40-10 and SO2R and multi-two.

Many of our contesters enjoy digital events, and you can hear N1TX and KL1JP pounding brass. The shack currently features two Yaesu FT-950s (one with DMU-2000), MicroKeyer II interfaces and Station Masters to control antenna and bandpass filter switching. An ACOM 1010 and an Alpha 89 are recent additions to cap off high power abilities.

Shelley Levine KL1SE (left) and Rod Mitchell KL1Y worked hard for contacts during CQWW SSB in 2006, taking Alaska M/S. Sadly, both have moved away. Our other successes are small but fun, too. For example, KL1JP and N1TX won Field Day 2007 in Alaska using CW and digital modes only and 100 watts. Making contacts from the Far North is a more difficult situation than many may imagine, and our QSO counts so far have been tiny when compared to many larger scores outside the polar regions. Bands are capricious here.

Shack improvements have been a high priority in 2010. Inside storage was minimized and operating space plus a workbench maximized. There's plenty to do inside at 40 below before additional antenna work begins in the spring.

KL2R's primary reason for existence is to serve as a training ground and experimental station for those interested in contesting. Alaska provides some unique challenges to this hobby. Success depends on developing keen operating skills, many times even for "casual" contacts. The Two Rivers Contest Club offers a chance for members to learn these skills and to try new techniques and technologies in a casually competitive way.

Founding member Dan Wietchy KL1JP has been a key motivator for and contributor to much of the work that gets done around the shack. Wayne Santos N1CKM (left) now operates from New England, but hopefully this contest "Manimal" will return soon for another Alaskan gig. We look forward to next summer when members Ken Farr W6HF and XYL Luci KL1WE return for another season. Elaine Meindl KL6C adds a lot of enthusiasm to some contests each year when she's not working or enjoying the great outdoors. Phil Sauvey KL8DX is a Field Day regular now. Gary Pearse NL7Y and Justin Burket KL1RL need to operate more! We are also looking for more locals to join the fun.

Larry N1TX will tell you, "You had better be careful what you wish for. I can now see how KL7RA could become obsessed with building a contest station." He is usually at the key(s) or mic at some point during a contest. XYL Connie KL1BE is supportive, but she resists getting close to a microphone during a contest. "I just know her voice would be worth 15 multipliers an hour," N1TX waxes. Her tasty meals and hot coffee keep the team going throughout contest weekends.

Larry got interested in contesting almost as soon as he was licensed as KA3HIY in 1981. WB3EPC introduced the idea, and mentor Jerry Bliss K6III helped the magic come alive when both were stationed in England during the mid-1980s. Back in New Hampshire, VHF and microwave contesting, Field Day, ARRL Sweepstakes, and ARRL DX were big events. Dale Clement AF1T provided a lot of equipment and expertise for N1TX to succeed as a rover during the VHF/UHF fun.

The club mascot, Louie, is a three-legged min-pin, and is a real DX hound. He has final say over who becomes a club member.

At left, Gary NL7Y checks out the ergonomics of an early operating position configuration. Things have since evolved to be more comfortable and user-friendly. The DMU-2000's RF Scope and PC monitor have been swapped from this photo. An Astron SS-30M powers the FT-950 and Microham Microkeyer II. The shack PCs run Windows XP now, having only recently upgraded from Win2k Pro. No Win7 yet!

So far the consensus is that the DMU-2000 is an extremely useful accessory for the FT-950. It adds much more information about the status of the rig and operating environment, and it offers easy menu access. You can store/recall configurations via CF card.

This mammoth structure is only a remnant of KL7RA's antenna farm. He had seven towers, some of which hit 190 feet. This tower is Rohn 55 tapering to Rohn 45 and approximately 140 feet tall. (Photo credit: KL1RL.)

The Force 12 C3 at 55 feet is fixed towards US and South America, ESE from Two Rivers. A vertical delta loop (Radio Works Super Loop 80) strung between the tower and trees is used on 80-30m. A second C3 has been installed at 85 feet and pointed towards Europe. A Force 12 EF-140 rotatable dipole for 40m adorns the 100-foot level directed E-W for NA and JA.

Top Band needs some work, and we're looking at an Inverted-L. We're also considering an 80m horizontal loop to augment the Super Loop 80.

An Array Solutions SixPak 2x6 antenna switch mounted at the tower base feeds two positions, A and B. W3NQN bandpass filters and a Hamation AS-419 Bandpasser BPF unit allow simultaneous operations. In order to use both fixed-pointed tribanders for maximum coverage, we recently added a Mini StackMatch.

Lightning protection is provided at the tower through Polyphaser in-line protectors. Their mounting plate in a weatherproof box is grounded to a leg of Rohn 55 using one-inch tinned braid. Additional lightning protection is installed at the shack with copper grounding bars from Storm Copper with a single-entry tie point planned.

The tower also contains a wireless ISP access point and backhaul equipment, a 6/2/70cm vertical for use with FT-8900 and FT-847 VHF radios, and two phased, five-element yagis for APRS transmissions. N1TX-0 serves as an iGate.