SOAPBOX: The August 2019 ARS Spartan Sprint

KI4MZC
this was my first Spartan Sprint. I only worked the last half-hour or so, but it was pretty good for me. I heard a few other stations and almost got one DX. Oh well!  Things seemed to be a little noisy as they have been all weekend. I did get my friend, John, K4BAI, down in Columbus, Georgia, whom I rarely hear these days. Used a KX3 with computer logging and a straight key.  Antenna is a multi-band dipole. QTH is Cleveland, GA, about 90 miles north-east of you-know-where! I’ll see y’all next month!

K3RLL
Tried the QCX-40 tonight. When QRZ.Com showed all bands ‘poor’ (in red), they weren’t kidding. Best RBN report, of the few that heard me, was in Portugal ! Go figure? Terrible conditions here in PA tonight. Gave up early. Just not fun talking with the QRN crashes. HIHI. See you next month.  72/73 … Don
  
W5QLF
Nothing heard on 20 or 80 meters. Pickings were even sparse on 40 meters into South Texas. Signals came up a bit by 0130z with K4BAI coming in at his usual arm chair signal strength. Other stations who were patient enough to stick with me until the contact was complete included WB9HFK, N9GVP and W4VHH. 72, Joe, W5QLF

K3JZD
40 meters only. Used a bare QCX-40 with a mini 12v Li-Ion battery pack and earbuds.  2 watts into a 40m Dipole.  Used a 3D Printed straight key that was designed and built by K0MBT this time.  Solar Storm?  RF hole? Yes. Paid extra, but it took 35 minutes for me to get a RBN Spot while calling CQ. But no replies. Finally heard Mark - WB9HFK coming in just above the noise level and worked him.   After that, I could not get any more RBN Spots - guess I used up all of my credits.   Saw that some other regulars were getting some RBN Spots, but I was not able to hear any of them. Gave up after an hour - see yunz next month.  Jody - K3JZD

K4BAI
QSOs per band: 40M: 9, 80M: 3. Was about 20 minutes late in starting.?? Heard a MO station on 20M not in the sprint and a SOTA station. 40M was pretty good from IL north to PA, MN and NH and out to TX to the west. No 4 area stations heard. Worked GA, FL, and TX on 80M. See you all next month. 73/72, John, K4BAI

K9DRP
It was a tough night!  Very few sigs heard.  TNX to WB5BKL for half of my contacts (1 on 20, 1 on 40)! 73, Don, K9DRP

KB1M
Only 3 stations worked out of 4 heard on 40. IL was the hot state with 2 QSOs and GA got second place with 1. 20 was silent except for my own sidetone. Better days are coming, I'm sure. 72/73, Walt

WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp. Actually 12 QSOs but fully 1/3 were QRO. I guess I sounded really needy. 8 states this time. Best QRP signals:  20M - KØITT, 40M - K9DRP, 80M - K4BAI.  I try to remember to publicize the Spartan Sprint on the local QRP email groups. I hope you guys do also. The more the merrier. Had fun.