Florida QSO Party Operating Instructions

W4AAZ Station open and closing Checklist.
Rule 1: SAFETY FIRST!!!!
Rule 2: Protect all equipment
Opening Checklist

  1. If you don’t have a key, get the combination to the key lock box on the outside of the station 2 cabinet and retrieve the keys.
  2. Unlock the 2 padlocks on the front of 1 or both stations
  3. Open the door leading to the back of the station cabinets
  4. Plug the florescent light into the GFI plug box #1.
  5. Plug the Powerstrip for station 2 into the GFI box #2 top plug. The is the bottom plug is for the UPS for church internet. DO NOT UNPLUG.
    a. If you plan to use ONLY station 1 without computers, you can skip step 5.
  6. Plug in the Powerstrip for Station 1 into GFI box #1 if you plan to use Station 1.
  7. Plug blue network cable into wireless router behind Station 2, the yellow plug in on the center back of wireless router.
  8. Plug rectangular plug together for the rotor for Station 1
  9. Plug in antenna for the stations you plan to use.
    a. For the Florida QSO party Station 1, plug in the coax labeled 50 MHZ, 21 MHZ, 14MHZ, 7 MHZ on duct tape tab into radio. ONLY USE THESE BANDS
    b. For the Florida QSO party Station 2, plug in the coax labeled 14MHZ on duct tape tab
    into radio. ONLY USE THIS BAND
  10. Turn on rotor box on station 1
  11. Turn radio on at both stations
  12. Turn Computer on at both stations
  13. Log into the computer using the W4AAZ user name. Username and password will be on the computer keyboard. This is a user account, not an administrator account.
  14. Start N1MM on both computers. They will be ready to go for the Florida QSO Party
  15. In the call sign field, type “OPON” then type your call in the box as requested
  16. Both radios are set for a band they are capable of operating on. Station 1, 21 MHZ and Station 2, 14 MHZ. Both are set for USB and both are set for 25% (about 25 Watt output)
  17. On each computer, there is a shortcut labeled FLQSO. That link will take you to the FL QSO Party web page with rules, county codes and more. Your exchange at the club station (using call sign W4AAZ) is 59 OKA.
  18. You can only use the frequency privileges of the control operator during the contest.
    a. We do not have a good 10 meter antenna right now so we need to have at least a
    General for the contest

Closing Checklist

  1. If you are able, download the contest QSOs. If not, let DJ KI4ZER or me, Ron KI5FR.
  2. Shut down N1MM.
  3. Power down the computer.
  4. Turn off the radios.
  5. Turn off the rotorbox.
  6. Disconnect the antennas.
  7. Disconnect the rectangular plug together for the rotor for Station 1.
  8. Disconnect the blue network cable from wireless router behind station 2.
  9. Unplug the powerstrip from GFI #1.
  10. Unplug the powerstrip from GFI #2 (do not disconnect the church UPS).
  11. Lock front of each station with 2 locks each.
  12. Check behind station again to ensure all the disconnects listed above are accomplished.
  13. Unplug the florescent light from GFI #1
  14. DO NOT TURN OFF OR UNPLUG ANY GFIs
  15. Lock door to back of the station.
  16. Check all station locks
  17. Put keys back into lock box if used.
  18. Clean up any items brought
  19. Turn off A/C and any lights.
  20. When you leave, ensure all doors to the station building are locked.