SOAPBOX: June 2017 ARS Spartan Sprint

N4EEV
2/80m (ME and TN); 6/40m (PA, GA, ME, MD, TX, GA); 3/80M (GA, MD, TX). WEIGHT 10.5LBS (K3 and BEGALI SIMPLEX). Surprised 20 was workable when I started as it was very watery, moved to 40m and found much better condx. Heard John K4BAI call me but had fast and deep QSB, later found him up the band and we moved to 80 where I finished up the sprint. Terrible static crashes and severe QRN. Managed to work K4BAI, WB5BKL, W3KC and K0ZK on 2 bands each. Thanks for the QSO, 72 Mike

KFØN
The participation seemed to be good this month, although propagation to western states was poor.  This may have been due in part to later sunset times and correspondingly higher “D” layer absorption during the contest period.  No CA stations were heard here, even on 20 meters.  Strongest signals were W1PID and W3KC who were both 579.  The QRN on 40 meters was brutal, though, which made for a lot of 229 and 339 reports.  I lost one QSO with Mike, N4EEV when my little LiPo battery curled up and died in the last minutes of the contest.  I hope we can make it next month Mike!  My little toy poddle, Muffy, fussed and complained the whole time because her “Daddy” wasn’t out in the living room watching TV.  She likes to curl up on my lap while I watch the television.  Oh well, sometimes life just works out that way!  Thanks to all who waded through the summertime QRN and gave me a call.  If anyone needs a 2XQRP confirmation with Iowa, I’m good for it. 72’s to all, Larry, KFØN

W1PID
20 meters was quite good. Best DX was NK6A in CA. I worked 4 TX stations. Nice to have a little more activity. I operated for the first half hour. vy 73 to all and thanks for the Qs.
Jim W1PID

K3RLL
What a great time this evening on the June Spartan Sprint! Up north for the summer with an actual, outdoor, real wire antenna! Wow, what a difference from the highly compromised antennas dictated by Antenna Restrictions in Florida .  My little G5RVjr here makes QRP fun again.  But it still wouldn’t be much fun without all the skilled and patient QRP Ops with whom I had the good fortune to run into here again this evening on 40m.  One was so much fun, we tried it twice. (You know who you are. Hi Hi ) Can’t wait for the July SP.

K4BAI
Good activity at the start, but dropped off rapidly. All three bands worked were in pretty good condition. Welcome to Mike, N4EEV, in GA. QSOs by band:  20M: 8. 40M: 17. 80M:  3. Thanks for all QSOs. Best DX on 20 and 40 was NK6A in CA.  Best DX on 80M was W3KC in PA and WB5BKL in TX. 73/72, John, K4BAI.

W3KC
Fun. Conditions good on 40 and 20. 80 was very noisy. IC703 (5w) to a low 90 ft doublet via a homebrew link tuner on 40 and 80, vintage Harvey Wells Z-Match on 20. 72, Chas W3KC

AB9CA
Well . . . I fell asleep after dinner . . . was awakened by a text for something I have for sale on Craig's list . . . then realized I had missed nearly all of the Sprint . . . but there was still a few minutes left before the fat lady burst into song. Had the FT-857 set up so used it at 5w. Heard John, K4BAI, calling on 40. Answered him and time expired. At least I did get in for a short while. Hopefully will stay awake next month . . . 73, dave, ab9ca/4

K7TQ
I went into the mountains east of Moscow, ID for the June sprint. KX2 to a 20/40 m trap inverted vee held up by a Jacklite pole. A good first 1/2 hour on 20 m with 6 Qs. Not so good next hour and half with 4 Qs on 40m. Two banders with KF0N, who had a great signal on both 20 and 40, K4BAI, and WB5BKL. This sprint was the first time that antenna made it all the way across the U.S. Catch you again in July.

KB1M
One QSO on 20, five on 40, for five states. Calling CQ not very effective for me tonight with only two answers. Fun evening as always. 72/73, Walt

WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5W to a 20M delta loop, a 40M dipole or a 40M extended double Zepp. Finally, some propagation. 20M was nice with 10 QSOs. 40M was very noisy here lightning QRN. A line of t-storms was just leaving the area headed east and that resulted in my low "R" reports of 3 or 4 to several of my 9 contacts on 40. 80M was also noisy with only 3 QSOs.  Best signals:  20M - K1SN, 40M - N4EEV, 80M - W5ACM. One QRO contact removed (but a nice chat about 40M QRN). I appreciate the efforts of everyone. And, as always, had fun.

K9QV
The bands seemed shorter than last month, but this allowed a few more contacts.  20m-6, 40m-4 and 80m-1.  I didn't get K7TQ on 2 bands this time :(  See you next month! 72 de Drew.

W5ACM
Great to be back with the Spartan Sprint! The ATS-3a was operating superbly with 3W out to the vertical, and my CW was acceptable, even without cleaning the copper contacts. They could use some attention though. Conditions on 20M were excellent, and represented 6 of my 10 contacts. It was great to have 20M contacts with NH, GA, CA, MD, ID and IN. 40M was OK, but the coverage was sparse and there were few takers – 3 contacts. Conditions on 80M were noisy but I managed one QSO with WB5BKL, Nick over on Lake Buchanan near Austin. Hoping for better in July, but glad that we had something happening this month after I missed May. Need more participants and better conditions! 72 de Andy W5ACM Houston, TX EL29eq