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Follow the Quest of the Knights

The KnightLy News!

07 November 2007

Update!!!  --- 14 November 2007 ---  Update!!!

Hear ye! Hear ye!
The KnightLites first unabashed Sonneteer in training *
Announces and Proclaims...

December
Knights

Christmas time is once again upon us.
A George’s QRPigOut is in store.
Rhett and Joanna hosting us once more;
a special gift again from them to us.

Each year we pilgrimage to Scarlett’s Ridge
while navigating by its beacon light.
A clue we use ensures we find the site;
the rising center driveway aft the bridge.

Come climb aboard the Scarlett’s Ridge Express
together as we wander back in time;
from middle age, or well beyond our prime.
our childhood returns I must confess.

Cornbread and home made chili is the fare.
But fellowship is why we gather there.

* Sir Gary (N3GO)
    14 November 2007
14 November 2007

2007
KnightLites
7th Annual
Christmas at the George's

The 7th Annual KnightLites Christmas/Holiday Party and QRPigOut event of the year with hosts Sir Rhett (KE4HIH) and Lady Joanna (KE4QOZ) is just a month away... Join your fellow Knights and fair maidens in celebration of this festive and joyous KnightLites Christmas holiday.

    RSVP [1], [2], [3 or More] or [Decline] right away, and mark December 20 on your calendars. This is the regularly scheduled third Thursday of the month, and easy to remember for us all. Post this on your radar, and ours. Your RSVP will establish an accurate headcount giving Sir Rhett and Lady Joanna a comfortable margin to plan and prepare for another awesome get-together. Don't wait until the last minute, and create a frenzied 11th. hour flurry. RSVP now while fresh in your mind... It will make it much easier on them, and allow time for planning a fun-filled agenda.
   
There's no time like now to make your decision, and begin pondering just how you're going to manage all this extra excitement!

    All are welcome... Family, Friends, and those who ponder what we all are up to!
       
    Tote your favorite (nonalcoholic) refreshments, and... if so inspired, a showcase sample of your favorite recipe...
(informal and optional as before)
       
Date:     Thursday December 20, 2007
Time:      5:00 PM - 8:00 PM.

           Follow these directions:        

        *************************************************************************************************

        HINT:  Call -  K E 4 H I H  - on DFMA's Hillsboro machine 147.225/825 and ask for guidance if you find you're lost or running late.

        *************************************************************************************************

    Punch the following coordinates into your GPS and it will guide you to the door.

                Lat 36 deg 03.066 min N; long 79 deg 02.363 min W.

    For those who like to Google: 
Click here for a satellite view and map!

    If you exploit back seat drivers, trial and error, etc., navigate to the intersection of  I-85 and US 70 (I-85 Exit 170), then proceed as follows:

        Leave I-85 at exit 170 and proceed West toward Hillsborough.
Folks traveling North/East on I-85 will join east-bound US 70 for about 150 yards,
then make a U-turn from the left lane at the appropriate intersection.

        Either way, the first traffic light one passes after getting onto US 70 intersects Pleasant Green Road to the right, and Mt. Herman Church Road to the left, sporting also an entrance to Eno Volunteer Fire Department.  Proceed west from this intersection just 1.5 miles West on US 70 where, being carefully attentive, one may see house number 3725 on a low sign on the left side of the highway.  Turn left here onto a gravel lane which crosses a bridge and splits into three driveways.  Climb the one in the middle that looks steepest and meanest.  Look for a sign `George' at the bottom and home in toward the Christmas tree up in the woods serving as your beacon.

    Give me (N3GO) a holler, or call out to Sir Rhett (KE4HIH) or Lady Joanna (KE4QOZ) on 147.225/825 MHz
(The DFMA machine at I-85 and I-40).

If all else fails, their phone number is 919-732-8492.

On the cellular band, call N3GO at 919-522-5460.

        *************************************************************************************************
       
        Drive safe... in both directions... We will all party hearty and partake of yet another awesome and adventurous KnightLites family holiday gathering.

72
Gary,   N3GO



07 November 2007  

Hear ye!    Hear ye!

Knoble Knights and Fair Maidens!

The Quest of the Knights has arrived ! ! !

At our October QRPigOut, there was a drone of disappointment fueled by the long period since our having embarked upon a joint construction project. The many reasons for this were shared, and agreed to, but this only heightened the drone. Many projects were suggested, but rejected out of hand because they were either too simplistic, kits are available at reasonable cost, they would require too much committed time and effort, and so on. What was needed was a project we could all work on, that is flexible enough for us to do “our part” independently; with little risk to each others success; requiring enough individualized effort to exercise our creativity; satisfy our need to “melt solder”; was low in cost; would result in a significant new “something” of our own creation; and would be a source of pride and value to all. We pondered… and the drone went on.

Sir Chris was in need of a carpool to the QRPigOut that night, which I was serendipitously able to provide. He had brought along the most recent copy of the publication QST to show me a construction article for a home-brew single-sideband transceiver. Recalling this, I had an intense outbreak of inspiration, and the "Quest" began.

The project (inspired by the QST article) is defined as a SSB radio transceiver. Each of us in attendance took ownership of a functional portion of the project, with an objective to breadboard our respective function (as is, or of our own design), and together… when all functions are completed and working, we will sequester ourselves (time, date, and place not yet defined) to integrate all modules into a working transceiver… which itself will lead to yet a new adventure, with its own challenges, to debug and optimize the "whatever it becomes" for performance. It will be akin to pouring in a bucket of bolts and nuts into a box, while holding out hope that they all come out connected and properly matched.
. 
This bold new project concept has only two principle objectives:

 1) to bring us together for fun and fellowship, while providing something to quench our thirst for something to build, and doing so without introducing stress or obligation. It allows us to keep united and active in our shared hobby, without interference to our “family first” values.

  2) Above all, there is no pressure to succeed, and the focus stays on fun. If one or a few of us fail to complete "our" functional piece, the missing function will only slightly increase the workload for those of us who remain and remain able to make it to the goal line. Others may join us as we journey forward, and still others may come and go. We are confident that we have the talent to pick up the loose ends, add functions and features, etc.

The KnightQuest moniker was coined by Sir Chris (KD4PBJ), as a play on words much like KnightLites. An inspired name for what is indeed an inspirational quest of the Knights of QRP. So inspired was I from the revelation that we have once again embarked upon a journey we can share and enjoy together, I cast caution to the wind and declared that I would announce this to all of you with a sonnet.
Oops!

It took only a moment after hitting the send key for me to realize that I had made such a commitment. For me to maintain my integrity, and stay true to my word, I immediately recognized that I had better do some homework to make sure that I really know what writing a sonnet entails… and voila! -- a new adventure began.

A door of discovery opened before me, and with never ending serendipity that seems to surround me; I not only learned more than I would have imagined about the writing of a sonnet; but I also unwittingly stumbled upon a most awesome tutor and coach for these. An honest to goodness literature professor, world renowned poet, and poet laureate no less. For this wonderful and delightful new skill for which I have now been endowed, I dedicate this… my very first official, and purposely crafted and inspired sonnet, to the honorable (and Sir if I may) Dr. David B. Axelrod.  (www.poetrydoctor.org/sonnet.htm)

The KnightQuest of 2007
Sir Gary (N3GO)

A whimsical toy for us to design  
to get what we get as the final test
with everyone working to do their best;
what started as whim is being refined.

Options and features are all on the floor
its various circuits we will revise
with freedom aplenty to improvise;
until we decide we can do no more.

As we vow to be Knights of Q R P
a concocted creation not yet done
has brought us together just for fun;
while family remains our priority.

If from our normal lives we must depart;
we would not be able to call this art.


72

Gary,  N3GO   


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Check into our weekly Roundtable
     

Ragchew with your fellow Knights Sunday evenings at 9:00 Eastern Local time on 3575 KHz, and visit the Roundtable and check out our NCS report to see who you were losing in the QRN. 
- - OR - -

Come visit and break bread with is at the QRPigOut 

Monthly QRPigOut

Don't forget QRPigOut!  Enjoy munchies, fun and fellowship

THE THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH!

This fun event takes place at the Golden Corral in Research Triangle Park (RTP), just 1/2 mile south on Rt 55 (toward Apex) at I-40 exit 278.  

Google Map

Folks start gathering around 7:00 pm.

See You there!

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