SOAPBOX: October '21 ARS Spartan Sprint

 K7PD

Decided to try the KX3 turned down to 2 watts.   British Columbia on 20 meters was not in the Sprint, Got WVØH, N9OHW, NK6A, AND K7TQ on 40. Antenna is 64 ft. center-fed doublet. Band apparently went south, I turned power up to 5 watts and got nothing new.

AB9CA

Had only about 45 minutes. Nearly made a Q on 20 with WB5BKL but QSB got him. Moved to 40 and logged 7 then seemed to run out of guys who could hear me. Logged NY GA NH VA ID CO TX. Went to 80 but was likely too early for anyone to be there. Rig was K3 at 5w to Inv Vee. Thanks for the Qs! Hope to hear everyone plus more next month! Dave, AB9CA

K4PQC

The WX here in N. Georgia was atrocious - flooding rains and raging thunder storms.  All of the bands were noisy with static and lightning crashes. I could only work the loudest stations and, apologies to those who either couldn't complete QSOs or took multiple tries and time to complete - especially to WO9B and W5ESE that took multiple tries and finally with their patience we were able to make contacts. I heard John - K4BAI on 40 and 80 but was only able to work him on 80. I had to shut down my station several times because of nearby lightning strikes. My ARS Spartan Sprint station here is scaled down to a Steve Weber KD1JV designed ATS-3b with the case removed, ear buds, homemade paddles plus a 250mah LiPo battery supply.  72/73 to all and especially to those who had to put up with my multiple request to repeat either calls or info, Phil

NQ2W

It's great to be back on the air. I enjoyed hearing some old friends and making some new ones. I used my K1 to a temporary sloping 40m dipole fed at about 40 feet. WB9HFK won the strong signal honors this time around. All in all, I think 40m was in pretty good shape for this sprint...but that's the opinion of someone who has been off the air for more than 5 years! Thanks for the contacts. I hope to be back next month. Now, back to piecing this station back together. 72, Will, NQ2W

WB5BKL

K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp or a 40M dipole. One QRO QSO removed from score. 8 states this month.  Impressive QSB on 20M (Don, NK6A was 589, then 339 - called it 449 - AB9CA similar). Best signals: 20M - AB9CA, 40M - K4BAI, 80M - W5ESE. Doubles with AB9CA and K4BAI. Had fun.

K3JZD

Just used 40m.  However I had a high noise level which covered some QRP signals.  All I could accomplish were QSOs into GA and TX.  Used my backup SOTA kit this time: FT-817 with a 16850 LiIon battery pack.  Not really a lightweight station here, but it needed some exercise.   73 - Jody - K3JZD

K7TQ

I operated from the top of the Lewiston, ID grade which has a 2,500 foot drop off favoring the east and south. The cities of Lewiston, ID and Clarkston, WA are below at the confluence of the Clearwater River and the Snake River.  Watching the cities light up as it got dark and radioing was a great way to spend the evening.

W5ESE

Conditions seemed pretty decent; 40m being the money band. Used the Omni VI and a 300' Horizontal Loop.

N9OHW

First Spartan Sprint in many years.  9 QSOs to 8 SPC's, calling from SCV in California. 2 QSO's on 20M and the rest on 40M.  MTR-3B to a Buddipole.  Battery was a 12V LiPo for 5W, but I later realized I could have saved about 6 ounces if I had remembered to use a 9V battery for 3W.  Most memorable QSO was K4BEN, my college-aged nephew Ben whom I Elmered when he was in high school, calling from his dorm in Virginia via a remote ham radio in Massachusetts. Unplanned and a pleasant surprise! 73, Mike

WVØH

Eight 40-meter QSOs at 2Watts and 0.6056 pounds running my MTR4BV2 and a 7.2v (9v) rechargeable battery by EBL. My paddle is a single lever homebrew from a bamboo hamburger skewer wired directly onto a stereo plug shoved in the back of the rig. I worked WB4HMA on 7030.000 but a CQer came on and we tried to connect thru the QRM but had to move down a bit to complete the QSO and we finally made it. Whew! He was number 8 and nobody else after that. Thanks to all who participated and to KI6SN for doing this month after month. Much appreciated. 72, WVØH Myron

KE4I

Didn't hear many stations. I think this is my first, but I look forward to doing it again. Dennis

WB9HFK

Rig: Icom 7300 @ 5W; Antenna: Hustler 6BTV Gnd Mtd with 60 Radials.

K4BAI

QSOs by band: 40M: 14; 80M: 3.  No stations heard on 20M here. Thanks for all QSOs. 73/72, John, K4BAI.

AA9RK

Ten Tec Argo 556, power cord, 5 ft of RG-213, MFJ-993B tuner. Bad QSB, but good QSOs. 4 watts into a dipole. 73 de AA9RK, Michael

K3RLL

RBN was giving good reports but signals seemed weak on 40m this evening, with the strong exception of W1PID. I think we had pipeline between PA and NH tonight. HIHI. Thanks for the contacts and for the Spartan Sprint. Always fun with great ops.  72/73, Don