SOAPBOX: November 2016 Spartan Sprint

K3RLL
For a while there, I thought Walter in NH and I had 40 meters all to ourselves this evening, but then heard Chas in MD. Well, that makes a grand total of . . . let’s see now . . . yes, TWO Contacts.  Many thanks to Walter and Chas and my apologies to anyone else out there in Radioland who may have called and I didn’t hear you.  Hope to hear and maybe work lots more of our group next month. Once this election is over, I’m sure the bands will improve. After all, aren’t they promising everything? 72, Don K3RLL

W3KC
Very slim pickings on election eve. IC703 (5w) to a 90 ft doublet via a homebrew link tuner on 40 and 80. 72 Chas W3KC

W5ACM
Some of the worst conditions EVER! 20M was dead. 40M didn’t sound much better. 80M was typical NOISE. Only the dedicated and few stuck it out for this one. My TWO contacts were with W3KC on 40M and the ever-present K4BAI on 80M. I heard K7TQ on 40M, but he could not hear me. The ATS-3a was operating superbly with 3W out to the vertical, and my CW even sounded good to me. Maybe we will get past this difficult time with the December Sprint. 72, de Andy W5ACM Houston, TX EL29eq

K4BAI
20M dead at the start.  40M very long at the start. Heard K7TQ, but Randy couldn't hear me callling him. Thought there should be a lot of activity on 80M, but that was not to be. W3KC just before 0300Z and W5ACM at about 5 minutes before the end.  Called CQ SP for about one hour and 15 minutes with only the two calls.  Took out time around 0300Z for the local CW traffic net and a QSO with my college roommate, K4QPL. Hope for better conditions and more activity next month.  73, John, K4BAI.

KB1M
Lonely night, only heard one other station (FL), luckily we were able to complete the QSO. I hope others had better propagation. 73 Walt