SOAPBOX: May 2017 ARS Spartan Sprint

K3RLL
Nice to hear 20 meters open this evening but didn’t sound like many others discovered it for the Sprint.  40m was really noisy here in Florida this evening and not many Spartan Sprinters there — OR I couldn’t hear them.  Chased W1PID Jim and N5EBD unsuccessfully. Maybe next time. Thanks for the fun evening.  72/73 … Don

W5QLF
I was surprised at the number of stations I heard tonight.  After a long dry spell of only 2 or 3 contacts during the Spartan Spring, it was refreshing to total up numbers in the teens again!  Thank you to those folks that suffered through my “AGN AGN” replays.  There was just enough fading to cover up a couple of letters in your calls.  Maybe we’re back on the road to decent propagation.  73, Joe W5QLF

N0TA
Started late and ended early. 5 on 40, and 1 on 80 - thanks for the Q's. Kx2 & vertical.

KF7WNS
20 and 40m both in good shape. WB5BKL and W5QLF two bandsers tonight. Sorry, Drew/K9QV  tough copy noise and QSB caught you at the same place every time...finally got it right...thanks. Lots of fun, 72, Gary/KF7WNS

K7TQ
A good evening with the KX2, internal battery, and paddles feeding a Force 12 C4SXL at 60 feet. Good first half hour on 20 m with 7 Qs, then good second half hour on 40 with 7 more Qs. Not so good last hour on 40 for a total of 11 Qs on 40.  WB5BKL, K9QV, and KF0N were two band catches. The internal battery was on its last leg at 10.0 V on transmit after starting with a full charge. Just right for a Spartan Sprint. Catch many of you again in June.

K4BAI
Tired after operating Florida QSO Party with W8UE as W4AN/M. Only operated 30 minutes in SP..  Good activity for a change.  QSOs per Band:  40: 7.  80: 2.  Heard, but could not work N0TA on 80M.  73/72, John, K4BAI

KF0N
Hey, what a night!  I was listening to my new rig, an IC-7200, when I checked 14,060 kHz for grins just to see if there was any activity in the May Sprint (participation in past months has seemed to have been fairly sparse).  Wow, the old S-meter really jumped!  Lots of great signals; my first QSO was with Randy, K7TQ, who sported a good S-5 to S-7  signal.  After 5 QSO’s, the band seemed to fold so I went down to 40M and worked more stations through the Spring QRN.  Forty yielded ten more contacts, the most notable being N8WE who was running only 1-watt!  Nice going Glen!  Guess I’m going to have to take my little ATS-1 out of mothballs for the June Sprint; then I won’t have to enter in the “Tubby” division!  I only worked an hour but what fun!  Nice to see you all.  If anyone needs Iowa confirmed, I’m good for it.  72’s to all who pulled me out of their local QRN! Larry, KF0N

KB1M
5 Q's on 20, 2 on 40, for 4 states. 40 was noisy.  MY thanks to all, 73 Walt 

WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5W to a 20M delta loop, a 40M dipole or a 40M extended double Zepp.  Finally, some propagation. In the middle of the session, I suddenly lost the CW sidetone - which resulted in my sending even more gibberish than I normally send. I found the problem about 20 minutes later, but will send my apologies to N5EBD for the very strange QSO.  Best signals:  20M - KF0N, 40 and 80M - K4BAI.  10 States this time but no 3-banders.  K9QV(?) was the most difficult QSO.  My thanks, and best regards to all. Had fun.

K9QV
Reduced weight by using smaller battery and homebrew key. Had some key problems, but was able to fix after an hour. Battery was VERY low by the end. Still managed more contacts than last month.  No contacts on 80m.  72 de Drew.