SOAPBOX: February 2017 ARS Spartan Sprint

K7TQ
On 40 m the callers were either loud or non-existant. Good signals from K4BAI, in GA, NØTA in CO, AB9CA in AL, and W5QLF in TX. Stayed on 40 for first hour then after a short break finished up on 80 with only WB5BKL in TX.  That one was ESP.  Rig was new KX2 with Force 12 C4SXL at 60 feet for 40 m and 1/2 sloper on 80 m. From 0200Z to 0215Z on 40 m the RBN spotted me from UT to PA a range of 700 to 2100 miles with most of the spotting stations at the longer distances from ID to east of the Mississippi River.  SNR was 8 to 9 dB regardless of the distance.  Toward the end of the first hour from 0245 to 0248Z, I was still being spotted from UT to PA, but the SNR in PA had dropped to 1 and in UT to 6 indicative of 40 m closing down, I suppose. From 0330Z to 0332Z on 80 m the RBN spots were closer in from WA to CA with a range of 270 to 700 miles. SNR ranged from 2 in UT to 15 dB in nearby WA.  I did get a single spot from WI at 1400 miles, but only at a SNR of 3 dB.  Between 0350 and 0358Z the spots still ranged from WA to CA at the same distances. SNR was holding steady at 2 to 15 dB. The contact with WB5BKL in TX at about 1500 miles was well beyond any of the spots.

AB9CA
Was a few minutes late getting started. Dunno if that hurt much. The first couple of minutes seemed pretty good but it was tough after that. Started on 40 and worked 8. Then went to 80 and got 3 more. Noise on 80 did not seem too bad. 2-banders were WB5BKL and W5QLF. TX accounted for 6 of the 11 contacts. Rig was K3 at 5w to 100' wire or a 41' (mostly) vertical (it leans off to one side somewhat). Thanks for the run and hope to everyone plus more next month. 73 de dave, ab9ca/4

NØTA
KD1JV TriBander, vertical, 40m only. Did not hear many stations in CO, and the few I did hear were really weak. - 73, John, N0TA

K4BAI
Only operated first hour.  No new stations.  Heard AB9CA still calling much later so I predict he will be this month's winner.  40 was long at the start and soon went much longer.  Good signals from W5/6/7 and W1 just at the start plus surprise K3RLL in FL.  80M was OK to NH and AL  Thanks for all QSOs.  73/72, John, K4BAI.

KB1M
Only able to make one QSO, FL. Other than QRN and a loud digital station not much heard, a few calls were heard briefly then disappeared back into the noise.  73, Walt

NK6A
Stayed on 40M for 45 min.  Good RBN activity all the way to VE2. Where was everybody? Signals were anywhere from 8 dB to 23 dB. Went to 80 and didn't hear anyone. I have a very marginal antenna for 80. The Spartin Sprints doesn't seem to generate a lot of Calif participants. See you next month. 20 should be open a bit longer.

WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M dipole or a 40M extended double Zepp. 10 states this time - much better than last month. Best signals: 40M - AB9CA, 80M - W5QLF.  I tried 20M and could hear a faint signal but could not quit make it out.  CQed for a while with no luck - though several RBN skimmers  heard me. Also the RBN said I was doing very well on 80M but not as well on 40M. I had more QSOs on 40M than 80M - but that may be due to limited activity on 80. My thanks to all. Had fun.

K3RLL
Pretty good condx this evening. Think I finally qualified for the “Worked All NH” Award as 6 of my 10 contacts were with the beautiful State of New Hampshire. I’ll be watching for my new wallpaper to arrive any day. (SMILE) Thanks to those ops with good ears who were able to pull me out of the noise tonight.  Hmm, … are all the best ops in NH? And really happy to count K1SWL among them.  I think I built every kit he made and they’re ALL good.

Oh yes, RBN: The following shows 40m progress from start to finish Monday night (about 02:45z) showing spots for DX call: K3RLL

de dx freq cq/dx snr speed time
K3PA  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  6 dB 16 wpm 0241z 07 Feb
W2LB  K3RLL 7040.9 CW CQ [LoTW]  10 dB 16 wpm 0238z 07 Feb
VE3EID  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  10 dB 16 wpm 0237z 07 Feb
VE2WU  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  6 dB 16 wpm 0237z 07 Feb
WE9V  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  2 dB 16 wpm 0236z 07 Feb
K1TTT  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  6 dB 16 wpm 0234z 07 Feb
W2AXR  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  4 dB 16 wpm 0233z 07 Feb
NY3A  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  4 dB 16 wpm 0233z 07 Feb
KM3T  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  13 dB 16 wpm 0233z 07 Feb
K3LR  K3RLL 7040.9 CW CQ [LoTW]  24 dB 16 wpm 0231z 07 Feb
VE3EID  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  10 dB 16 wpm 0226z 07 Feb
VE2WU  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  5 dB 16 wpm 0226z 07 Feb
WE9V  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  3 dB 16 wpm 0224z 07 Feb
NY3A  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  6 dB 16 wpm 0224z 07 Feb
KQ8M  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  5 dB 16 wpm 0223z 07 Feb
W2LB  K3RLL 7040.9 CW CQ [LoTW]  5 dB 16 wpm 0223z 07 Feb
WZ7I  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  11 dB 16 wpm 0223z 07 Feb
K1TTT  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  10 dB 16 wpm 0223z 07 Feb
W2AXR  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  8 dB 16 wpm 0223z 07 Feb
KM3T  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  11 dB 16 wpm 0223z 07 Feb
K3LR  K3RLL 7040.9 CW CQ [LoTW]  13 dB 16 wpm 0216z 07 Feb
VE2WU  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  8 dB 16 wpm 0216z 07 Feb
VE3EID  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  10 dB 16 wpm 0216z 07 Feb
WE9V  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  6 dB 15 wpm 0213z 07 Feb
KM3T  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  11 dB 15 wpm 0212z 07 Feb
VE3EID  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  12 dB 15 wpm 0211z 07 Feb
WZ7I  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  11 dB 15 wpm 0211z 07 Feb
K1TTT  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  8 dB 15 wpm 0211z 07 Feb
W2AXR  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  7 dB 15 wpm 0211z 07 Feb
W2LB  K3RLL 7040.9 CW CQ [LoTW]  12 dB 15 wpm 0208z 07 Feb
VE2WU  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  6 dB 15 wpm 0205z 07 Feb
KM3T  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  10 dB 15 wpm 0205z 07 Feb
KQ8M  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  3 dB 15 wpm 0205z 07 Feb
K1TTT  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  8 dB 15 wpm 0202z 07 Feb
WZ7I  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  16 dB 15 wpm 0201z 07 Feb
AA4VV  K3RLL 7041.0 CW CQ [LoTW]  3 dB 15 wpm 0201z 07 Feb

Thanks to the entire A.R.S. Staff for another great evening in Ham Radio.  72/73 … Don

W1PID
20 dead. 40M K3RLL, W5QLF, WA8ZBT. 80M N1IX thanks to all. Jim W1PID