Soapbox: June 2016 Spartan Sprint

K3RLL
Soapbox: Sort of tough going here in wet Florida this evening with Tropical Storm Colin blowing outside, but no lightning so great evening to see who we can hear on the Spartan Sprint.  Both 20m and 40m were open but a little tough to hear through the storm QRN.  My apologies to several stations kind enough to call and I just couldn’t hear you. Thanks to the ENTIRE Spartan Sprint staff for their efforts to promote QRP and radio fellowship with this enjoyable monthly event. - Don, K3RLL

KC5TTY
My second sprint (last one was about 10 years ago?) Lots of fun but the mosquitoes ate me up and I had to retreat from the battlefield.  My cw is bad so thanks to K7TQ for pulling me out. Rig was a MFJ 9200 with 20 and 40 meter band modules, 8 pack of AA batteries, ALT-T tuner and wire antenna consisting of a 51 foot piece in the air and a 16 foot counterpoise. Tuner probably tuned wrong anyway.  Still it was worth the effort and I made my goal.  1 contact for the first time in 10 years.  This is great!  Steve, KC5TTY, in Mosquitoville, Oklahoma

AC8AP
It has been a while since I participated in the Sprints and was good to give it a go in June. Conditions not the best but got a few in the log. 73, Alan, AC8AP

K4BAI
FT1000MP, 5W, TH6DXX, dipole, zepp, inverted vee. 20M was fairly long with TX and western stations, plus K3RLL in FL.  40M was a bit noisy, but skip was short and was able to work as close as GA and FL and out to ME and CA. We could use more activity. Almost every QSO was a chore and it would be more fun with more stations QRV. 80M was OK with several QSOs in TX.  QSOs by band:  20M: 8.  40M: 15. 80M: 4. Looking forward to more activity next month.  73/72, John, K4BAI.

NKØE
First sprint for me in a few months. Didn’t get on until almost halfway through the event, but squeaked out 5 contacts over the course of 20 minutes or so using my KX3 and a G5RV antenna up about 30 ft. Conditions were noisy on 40m. 73, Dave, NKØE

K3CKO
My call is  K3CKO. Name is Bob. I worked your contest as a non-member. (Editor's note: ARS does not really have "members." Our activities are open to all radio amateurs with an interest in low-power, lightweight operations. We are honored to have your SP participation. - KI6SN) I made 5 contacts. My rig was a KX3 at 5 watts using a 20 ampere battery charged by a solar cell. Antenna was Trap dipole for 40 and 20 meters I operated outdoors on my patio. The weight of my KX3, Battery, and Les Logan Speedx bug was 10.2 pounds. I made one contact on 20 meters and heard nothing more. I switched to 40 meters and made four more contacts. I heard several other stations but none that I could copy well. It was a good fun sprint and the first QRP sprint I have been successful in. Most QRP sprints I have tried were on weekends and are obliterated by contesters. I like the late evening sprint. I have been doing well in the SKCC weekend sprints which are QRO. I am new to QRP. If my operating meets your standards I would like to be a member. Respectfully, Bob Swarm, K3CKO (Welcome aboard, Bob! Hope to see you in the July 4 SP! - KI6SN)

NK6A
Decided to operate with my newly built MTR-5B.  Skinny category. Palm paddle and 9V battery, ear buds. Weight was just  under 11 oz. The Reverse Beacon Network showed my getting out to NH and PA. Power was just under 3W on 20 and 3 W on 40. Quite happy with my results. A lot of good ears out there. Thanks. 9 states. Many Texans, MS, Ohio and GA.  Although I was heard on the East Coast, I did not work anyone there.

KB1M
K1 at 5 watts, 40mtr dipole and 20 mtr invert v at 30ft coax fed. 20mtrs very poor in N.H. only was able to work WA8ZBT in TX. who had a big signal, also had a good sig on 40. 4 stations on 40 with AC8AP OH the strongest. First day back on the air in a month, it seemed like a year with no radio. First time I weighed station, key is 65% of total. 73, 72, Walt KB1M

KB4BKR
Various things have interfered with participating in the SP until this last one.  20m seemed reasonably active though I heard more stations than I was able to contact. 40m had lots of QRN from storms in the SE USA, and I didn't hear too many stations at all. The MTR continues to amaze me as a marvel of compact but usable design, and the Palm mini paddle is a good companion. I used an MFJ 17' whip with a base loading coil and 3 radials as a vertical, and it may turn into my favorite portable antenna.  Had to finally quit when the mosquitoes got too thick on the back porch. 73, Scott

AE7CG
Very happy to have QSOs with W5ACM and NK6A.

W5ACM
Still using the ATS-3a with two 170 mAh LiPo batteries, providing 3W out to my antique 18AVQ vertical and a final total of NINE QSOs this month. The bands were relatively quiet on 20M and 40M with a few stations heard on 20M but many more on 40M. K7TQ seemed to be doing quite well in the early part of the event on 20M from his Idaho QTH. It was noisy on 80M, but I managed a single contact with K4BAI. Compared to last month this was GREAT, and there appears to be hope for better 20M ops next month! The batteries survived the abuse and will be pressed into service in July. 72, de Andy, W5ACM - Houston, TX

N5GW
KX3 with internal bats and ATU to CFZ. 20M didn't sound all that good. 40M was noisy with summer QRN. Only one contact on 80M with K4BAI. Participation was down, I suppose due to vacation season.

WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5W to a 20 wire delta loop, a 40M dipole or a 40M extended double Zepp. Better than last month - but not by much. 4 QSOs on 20m, 7 on 40 and 2 on 80. No triples this month. Most signals were weak and the bands seemed noisy here. Best signals:  20M - W7TAE, 40M - N5GW (at 2W!), 80M - WA8ZBT. My thanks to all.  Had fun.