SCOREBOARD: February 2019 Spartan Sprint

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SOAPBOX: February 2019 Spartan Sprint

K3RLL

QCX-40 and LiPO to after-dark only black vertical (HOA): Despite high local line noise here and what seemed like really poor conditions this evening, I appreciate the four patient and skilled ops who kept the evening from being a washout here in Florida. RBN Spots were up and down dramatically and showed skip to be long tonight. Time to practice on the Sunspot Dance around the vertical for better conditions.  72 ... Don

W5QLF

Much better propagation this month into South Texas.   Thanks to Mark, WB9HFK and John, K4BAI for Qs on 40 and 80.  Thank you also Larry, KFØN, Jeff, KE9V, John, NØTA, Don, K3RLL and Evan, WA4AAK for contacts on 40.  Things are looking up in 2019. 72, Joe, W5QLF

K4BAI

40 was poor: 4 QSOs. 80 was great: 9 QSOs from AL, CO, TX, IL, IA, MN. Just needed more activity.  73/72, John, K4BAI.

WA4AAK

Two contacts on 40m, and six on 80m, running 3W to 5W. Local noise levels were very high as usual, keeping me from giving decent signal reports. As always, the Spartan Sprint operators did an outstanding job.  Thanks to all, and especially Richard, KI6SN, for creating and sponsoring this event! 72!

KE9V

40 meter effort yielded a few SP contacts this evening. Operated from the shack using a KX3 into a dipole at 30 feet. Heard a couple other stations calling but couldn’t work them. Propagation wasn’t great but the band seemed quiet here. Thanks for the Qs hope for more next month.

NØTA

Another slow Spartan Sprint. Thanks for the Q's. Kx2, vertical, Gen Log.

WB9HFK

Icom 7300 @ 5W. Antenna: 40M - Gnd Mtd Vertical with 60 radials. 80M - 150 Ft. Random Wire

NØAR

Cndx seemed to be better this month! Thanks for doing this. The first half hour I didn't hear a single station in the sprint! Suddenly the "cone of silence" lifted and the fun started. Always fun to work familiar stations. Took W5ACM and me at least 3 attempts to complete an exchange, thanks for hanging in there Andy. Rig was my ol' trusty K2, boy that still sounds sweet, a 43' vertical, 80-meter loop and RX loop. The only band of use was 80 meters. Nothing on the higher freqs. this month. 73 Scott, near St. Paul

KB1M

I was able to work two of the three stations heard on 40. I thought 40 might come alive when K4BAI peaked at S8 here, but that was very short lived. QRN was very quiet so not an excuse tonight. States worked GA and MS.  73 Walt

WB5BKL

K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp. QSOs evenly split between 40 and 80M. 9 states this time - nothing west of Colorado.  Best signals:  40M - K4BAI and KFØN, 80M - K4BAI and WB9HFK. QSB was at times brutal - my thanks to all that persevered.  Had fun.

W5ACM

The ATS-3a was doing quite well this month. My CW was “OK” with no additional burnishing on the paddle contacts. The batteries appear to be running well. I use a pair of 170 mAh LiPo cells. The radio makes 3W out, and this is the longest service I have had from this type of LiPo cells in this rig. Conditions were nothing special, but 80M was a bit better than last month, and participation was UP! I got 3 QSOs on 40M, but a surprising 5 QSOs on 80M. Thanks to all! 72 de Andy W5ACM, Houston, Texas.

So, What's a Spartan Sprint, and How Do I Play?

Spartan Sprints are two-hour gatherings sponsored by the Adventure Radio Society, held the first Monday of every month. The Spartan Sprints have a unique, three-faceted focus. They encourage outdoor operation with back country radio gear (if outdoor operation isn't practical, home-based operation is fine). They gather fascinating information about the upper atmosphere, documenting how low power signals can travel long distancs. And they encourage the growth of a like-minded community of amateur radio operator who generously share their knowledge and experiences.

Which Bands?

Bands of operation are 80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters, 15 meters and 10 meters. You may operate any number of bands - your choice. Many Spartan Sprint operators gravitate to the QRP CW calling frequencies on these bands.

Equipment and Antennas

Spartan Sprinters use 5 Watts or less. We encourage you to experiment with 1 Watt or less. You will be surprised at how effective these low levels can be, and how much fun QRPp really is. Similarly, we encourage you to experiment with simple wire antennas. And we encourage Sprinters to use equpment they built from "scratch" - that is, equipment built from schematics.

Exchange

Exchange RST, SPC (state, province or country) and power output. If you choose to call CQ, use the format "CQ SP," or "CQ QRP TEST." You can give yourself credit for working the same station on a second, third, or fourth band.

What Is the Weight of My Station?

The weight of your station is determined by weighing everything at your operating position up to, but not including, your feedline and antenna. In other words, your rig, key, keyer, antenna tuning unit, battery, headphones and so on. 

Submit Your Spartan Sprint Log

Please send the following information in an email to: SpartanSprint@yahoo.com

• Your call sign
• Total number of contacts during Sprint
• The weight of your station (in pounds - includes all gear except antenna and feedline)
• Soapbox comments about your Sprint experience

Check Out the Spartan Sprint Results

The results of each month's contest appear on the Friday following each month's first-Monday Sprint. They are posted here on this website. You can find results from previous months here, as well.

- Richard Fisher, KI6SN

RESULTS: January 2019 ARS Spartan Sprint

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SOAPBOX: January 2019 ARS Spartan Sprint

K3RLL
QCX-40 to 33' Unun wire up and over the garage.  Tough sledding tonight with very high noise level and very low signal levels. I think I was getting out better than I was hearing as a couple of stations were kind enough to answer my CQ but I just couldn't copy them. My apologies. Anyone else feel they are too old to ever see the return of our long lost sunspots? 72, Don K3RLL FL

N5EM
Running KX3 here on internal batteries and an external small Li-Ion pack at 3W.  One QSO.  With 20M seemingly dead, it's all 40M here. 72, Ed, N5EM

K4BAI
Guess most everyone was watching football.  6 QSOs on 80M and 7 QSOs on 40M. W1AW was very strong here on 20M, but got no answers to CQs and heard no other stations on the band. Should have been able to work New England when W1AW is so strong. Thanks for the QSOs and Happy New Year.  73/72, John, K4BAI

N1XF
I am taking a CW Academy Level 2 class and our Monday session finished just after the Spartan Sprint started. I’ve been wanting to try this for some time and tonight was that night. I only made one contact, but that is enough for me tonight. That contact was W2JEK , Don in NJ, we were both running 5W and gave each other a generous 599.  He actually was 599 at the peak and tailed off to about 539 with some QSB. I am running a KX2 with the internal ATU so I can tune up basically anything.  My current “anything” is a 107’ length of “random wire” in my backyard fed through a 9:1 unun I made in a custom 3D printed enclosure that has been outside for 9 months (after being told the PLA I used shouldnt be used outside, it is currently in experiment mode). I don’t have a run of permanent coax into my “Man Nook” (its not really a shack, per se), so I run a 25’ length of RG-174 out through a window (using a cut up pool noodle to keep the 17 degree temps outside) when I want to get on the air. For my first time in the Spartan Sprint, I think I have stood on my soapbox and monopolized enough of your time. Thanks, 73, Glen, N1XF

K9DRP
I worked every SP station I heard (both of them). I saw several stations listed on RBN, but I couldn't hear them. Propagation just has to be better next month. TNX K4BAI and WB9HFK. 73, Don, K9DRP

AB5SS
Couldn't get on the air until 9:30 so just used the big rig and went straight to 80M.  

W5ACM
The ATS-3a was remarkably cooperative this month, even after missing two Sprints. My CW was “OK”. The keyer contacts could use some burnishing… The batteries appear to be running well. I use a pair of 170 mAh LiPo cells. It makes 3W out, so it is good to go! I am hoping for good 20M CNDX next month(wishful thinking?). VY FB to work W4VHH on 40M and WB9HFK and K4BAI on 80M! 
72 de Andy W5ACM, Houston, Texas.

WB9HFK
RIG: ICOM 7300 @ 5W; ANTENNA: 40M Hustler 6BTV GND MTD with 60 radials; 80M 150 FT. Random wire

WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp. 7 contacts and 7 states this time. Only 1 contact on 40M, though WB9HFK, K4BAI, K3RLL and KF0N were heard. Best signals:  40M - W4VHH, 80M - AB5SS. 
Worked N4FP at 1W so encouraging propagation on 80!  My thanks to all. Had fun.

KB1M
Very little heard, felt lucky to complete two QSO's on 40. Weak signals with QSB. 73 Walt

NØAR
Good grief. Put in an hour and worked everyone I heard. 72's to all. Scott NØAR nr. St.Paul, MN

RESULTS: December 2018 ARS Spartan Sprint

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SOAPBOX: December 2018 ARS Spartan Sprint

W5IQS

This was my first attempt at the Spartan Sprint. I only participated the first hour and concentrated on 40 meters. Five great operators were able to hear my 5 watts (K2 and Dipole) and give me an exchange. Lots of fun and band conditions seemed OK here in Central Texas. My thanks to Cranz, WB5BKL for telling me about the Spartan Sprint. de Evan, W5IQS in Horseshoe Bay, Texas

KO5USA

Hello all. My first contest 12-04-2018. 5w. ICOM 7610. Dipole Antenna. Begali Blade for St key and Begali Janus for automatic key. I made 4 contacts and considered my first time to be a success. My first time using 5 watts also. Any assistance/information appreciated. 73, Tom KO5USA

K3RLL

Back in FL with highly compromised black temp vertical that still doesn't comply with HOA Restrictions but just don't tell anyone. 40 meters sounded pretty weak but was seeing somewhat reasonable R.B.N. reports tonight. Very happy to make goal of ten contacts and run into so many familiar calls. You know you're home when you think you recognize the fist and definitely remember their name. Great hobby!  Thanks to the entire Adventure Radio Staff once again.  72, Don

K3JZD

In an RF Black Hole during this event.  Before I had listened around on 40m and found next to nothing on the whole band, I had thought about running 1 watt. Decided 5w might be smarter.  I heard Don - K3RLL at RST 229 because I knew about where to look for him.   John - K4BAI found me.  John was also at RST 229.  That was all I heard on 40m. I called CQ on 80m for a little while, but no takers there. Jody, K3JZD, Pittsburgh, PA

NØAR

Greetings from what must last stop on the RF bus line. Worked K4BAI, ND4K, and WB9HFK. Everyone else wasn't heard. Rig KX3/PX3 at 5 watts, antennas 43' vert, and 80-meter NVIS loop. Happy Holidays to all. 72 Scott N0AR St. Paul, MN

ND4K

This one started out slow; however, I ended up making the most QSO's in my three month history with this event - seven on 80m and eight on 40m. WB5BKL was the only station worked on two bands. WB9HFK was loud all evening on 80m. Thanks to everyone for the contacts. I hope you have a happy holiday season and look forward to seeing you in the new year! - Dave

K4BAI

Good conditions on 40 and 80. Not much activity. Thanks for all QSOs and Season's Greetings.  73/72, John, K4BAI

NØAR

Greetings from what must last stop on the RF bus line. Worked K4BAI, ND4K and WB9HFK. Everyone else wasn't heard. Rig KX3/PX3 at 5 watts, antennas 43' vert, and 80-meter NVIS loop. Happy Holidays to all. 72 Scott NØAR St. Paul, MN

K9DRP

Better conditions this month for me.  Even split of contacts between 80 and 40. I've been using a bug for the past few weeks and it has ruined my paddle fist! Do they make memory keyers that work with a bug? I'm guessing it's not proper etiquette to call CQ on a paddle and then respond with a bug. The bug also added to the station weight. - 73, Don, K9DRP

WB9HFK

Lots of fun. We need more activity! Thanks to K4BAI for 2 bands. See everyone next month! 72, Mark Prather - WB9HFK

KØEAP

 I had a great time although I only made 1 contact. I called CQ for most of the evening with no success. I was glad to find my contact in NC calling CQ and was able to work him. Even with limited success, it is super fun to try. Eric, K0EAP

KB1M

QSB was fast and a solid copy signal could just disappear. ND4K was loudest station heard and seemed to be immune to most of the QSB. It was a fun evening as always.  72/73 Walt

WB5BKL

K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp.  Only 5 states this time - and there seemed to be a pipeline to GA. K4BAI had the best signal on both 40 and 80M. Again, removed two QRO stations from my score.  Nice to work some new-to-me stations! 2-Banders with ND4K and K4BAI. Had fun.