SOAPBOX: May 2018 ARS Spartan Sprint

W1PID

Nice... some activity. On 20M I worked K4BAI in GA and WB5BKL in TX. I couldn't scare up anyone on 80M, but I quit after 40 minutes. Thanks, guys for the Qs. 73, Jim W1PID

K3RLL

If it wasn’t for KB1M and K4BAI, this old Sprinter would have gone to bed empty-handed. Tuned around, listened and called.  Called, Tuned around and listened. "Where oh where did all the sunspots go? Far, far away.” My thanks to Walt and John for confirming that all the time spent erecting an even stealthier HOA-antenna was not totally in vain.  72/73 … Don K3RLL

NA4SO

Enjoyed - I am rockbound (crystal) to 14.058 but I heard Nick and made contact.  Not easy.  Think I will build a 40 meter and aN 80-meter Rockmite for fun. Thanks for the contest. 72, Ted

K3JZD

I needed 15 more NH stations to be participating since it was 599 both ways into NH on 40m tonight. Jody - K3JZD 

K4BAI

All three bands, 20, 40, and 80 were in good shape. QSOs by band: 20M: 7; 40M: 19; 80M: 4. Thanks for all QSOs. This is the best QSO total in some time. Hope we can do even better next month.  73/72, John, K4BAI

K5RRR

10 contacts (K4BAI x2, KB1M, AB9CA/7 x2, NK9G, KF0N, NW2K, WB5BKL x2). Last minute decision to operate from W5RRR for this month’s Spartan Sprint, but used my KX3 instead of the shacks rigs. Most contacts made on 40m even though 20m was in good shape. No one heard on 15m although strong FT8 signals heard up the band. A fun couple of hours! John, AB5SS

NW2K

1 on 20; 13 on 40; and 4 on 80. 13 states. Dipoles on each band, up 40'.  Three Beverage antennas, without which I would likely have zero QSOs!  Kenwood 590s at 5w.  72, Dean

NØTA

Started late, and quit early! Thanks for the Q's!

AB9CA/7

On the road for this event. Out in AZ land. Ant was vertical for 20 and Inv-L for 40. No antenna for 80. Ran the FT-857 at 5w. Started on 20 as it is full daylight here at the 6 p.m. start time. But made only 2 Q's and got only one RBN spot there. Then moved to 40 for the rest of the time. Ended up with 12 Q's total. W5RRR was the only 2-bander. SPC's were PA & TX on 20 and GA OR NY TX (3) CO AL CA (2) on 40. Thanks to everyone who heard my puny signal! Hope to see all plus more next month.  dave, ab9ca/7

N5EM

Nothing on 20M, but 2 Qs on 40M. 72, Ed - N5EM

WB5BKL

K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp or a 20M wire delta loop. 10 states this time. Best signals:  20M - WA7OJY, 40 and 80M - W5RRR. Toughest was K6CSL - Bert and I had to really work at 

it. John at W5RRR was super strong here in the Texas hill country. As always, my thanks to all. Had fun.

KFØN

Things were rather slow this month. I almost went QRT in the first half hour but then activity picked up somewhat. 20 meters was pretty much a wash with only one contact with K4BAI. Thanks John!  For some reason, there didn’t seem to be much activity on 20 meters. I listened for the beacons on 14,100 kHz and 4U1UN was very loud, so I thought the band should be open to the east coast, but not a signal except KB1M who was very weak. I called but no joy! Sorry Walt, but glad we connected on 40. Forty meters was the best place to be but a line of heavy thunderstorms in North and South Dakota made for rough copy on this end. Thanks to all who participated. It was a fun evening in spite of the slow start. 72 and 73 to the gang, DE, Larry, KFØN

KØEAP

This was my very first Spartan Sprint and I had a blast! Even though I only made two contacts during my 75 minutes of operating I was pleased with my results. I was running 1 watt of power the entire time. I called CQ on both 20 and 40m for most of the evening and when I wasn't getting any takers I went out a found a couple stations to work. One in GA and the other in WI both came back to my call. Overall it was a fun night and the weather was perfect in Minnesota to spend an evening outside playing radio. I can't wait for June! 73, Eric, KØEAP

KB1M

11 Qs for 8 states over a wide geographical area, generally low to fair signal strength, QRN, QSB. Any night working familiar and first-time worked QRP stations is a good night. Thanks for the QSOs. 72/73, Walt

WB9HFK

Fun as always ... See everyone next month! 72, Mark WB9HFK