SOAPBOX: July 2017 ARS Spartan Sprint

K7TQ
For July I removed the internal battery from the KX2 and used it with my 20 m 1 Watter. Got 3 Qs with the usual suspects K4BAI, W5QLF, and WB5BKL.  For some reason the 1 Watter's internal keyer kept slowing down. I called it quits in half an hour. Nice try, but next time I'll have a battery and rig that will last the full time.

K3RLL
Activity seemed to run a little more slowly this evening, no doubt impacted by the holiday festivities.  Was enjoying a few nice contacts until along came insurmountable, overwhelming, spectacular QRM!  Yes, the local municipal fireworks are just way too close to hear the radio, so it was a good time to curtail the radio fun and enjoy the night sky spectacle celebrating the birth of our wonderful country.  God Bless America!

WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5W to a 20M delta loop, a 40M dipole or a 40M extended double Zepp. A very poor showing this month. Not only did I have pops, bangs, snaps and crackles from the radio, I also had them from outside! The fireworks upset the dog, who usually is the dependable second Op. The 13 Colonies contest was another distraction. Five states with best signals:  20M - AB0CD, 40M - K4BAI, 80M - K4BAI. As alway, my thanks to all.  Had fun.

K4BAI
20M open to midwest and north east, but not much activity. 40M in good shape, but lot of QRM from the 13 Colonies K2x stations and not much Spartan Sprint action. 80M was noisy and only stations worked and heard in the sprint were WB5BKL in TX and AB9CA in AL. Hope for more activity next month.  73/72, John, K4BAI

KFØN
My antenna was an 80-meter loop. The holiday and summertime QRN seem to have taken their toll on this months participation.  Not many stations heard on 20M or 40M here in the rf black hole of the Midwest.  I heard Del, KD6L on 20M but was not able to make contact with my massive 2-watt ATS-3.  Maybe next month Del.  The QRN was so intense here from local thunderstorms, I went QRT at 9 pm local time.  Thanks to the few with whom I was able to make a contact. Larry, KFØN

KB1M
20M, 2 Qs, 1 on 40m for 3 states. 40 was crowded with non-Sprinter stations so never tried a CQ on that band. 73, Walt