Brainstorming happens a lot on the Thursday Night NCCC Net (3830 @ 8PM California time)!!!

N6RO & K6VVA started kicking around the idea of doing a CW SO2R Video, as a follow-up to K5TR's SSB online clip. Ken/N6RO would be the SO2R operator, and Rick/K6VVA the Videographer, Editor, Producer, et.al. RO suggested VVA come up during a Spartan Sprint contest, and then the NAQP was tossed around. There were some scheduling conflicts, so from time to time Ken & Rick would pick up where they left off talking about alternatives.

K7NV (the NCCC's new VP/CC) frequently joined in the discussion mix, and at one point it appeared the clinic was "almost" going to happen during the ARRL Field Day. Then Ken suggested a unique concept: inviting interested NCCC members to the N6RO station during the IARU Contest, and turning what was to have been a one man video show into a full blown "NCCC SO2R Clinic". That's when the real excitement blossomed, and things started falling into place. Considering the possibility of future NCCC SO2R Clinics, Rick/K6VVA suggested adding "Version 1.0" to the title :-)

N6BV was also added to the "Instructor Roster", and the concept expanded to include both CW and SSB SO2R action. Thus, the high-powered line up of SO2R Gurus Ken/N6RO (CW), Kurt/K7NV (CW) and Dean/N6BV (SSB) was cast in stone.

WX5S filled the final staff line-up slot as official NCCC SO2R Clinic v1.0 "Chef". Matt's BBQ skills are 2nd to none, and his culinary delights enjoyed during frequent N6RO Multi-Op contests.

Headphone monitoring capabilities for the SO2R Clinic attendees was deemed a priority by Ken. As discussions about "Y" connectors, etc. took place on the Net one night, K6VVA exited briefly and returned to exclaim he had found his Samsung Q5 powered headphone mixer in a box of audio recording equipment he hadn't used in years. Post-NCCC Net tests revealed sufficient connectivity to handle stereo audio routing from Ken's Top Ten DXD box to the video camera, and provide the requiste additional headphone jacks with their own separate volume controls! We were ready to roll.

SUCCESS!!! Everything finally came together (except for 10 meter propagation during the IARU). In case you were not there in person, we sincerely hope you will benefit greatly from the NCCC SO2R CLINIC v1.0 videos contained on the DVD. Ken, Kurt & Dean have helpful SO2R Commentaries, and the 12 SO2R On-Air Video segments provide excellent examples to learn from.

NCCC - The Northern California Contest Club thanks all of its members who participated in this event and contributed to its success. A special TNX to Ken, N6RO, for hosting this special event!