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Friday, August 6, 2010
Soapbox Comments: August 2010 Spartan Sprint
K6DGW
I'm tubby, K2+SLA battery on our deck. 9 on 20, 4 on 40, had to QRT about 30min early.
K5JHP
Boy the bands were in terrible shape. Must have been the solar event of several days ago. Looking fwd to next month, without the solar activity.
KØNWT
FT-450AT at home in the AC into a g5rv running 5 watts. Lots of noise tonight, but still fun! Good to hear John K4BAI again. ThankS!
KB1PBA
Very bad QRM on 40m.
K6CSL
Beginning 20 was lively but very noisey. K7TQ had a big, big signal on 40. CU all again next month. Bert, K6CSL PS: My station is Tubby, but runs 5W.
WA5BUC
Good to work K4BAI, K5JHP, W4VAB, N4UN, WA9TZE, N5GW, & NQ2W. Also heard K5GQ but couldn't connect. Let's see what September brings.
AE7CG
Worked Andy, W5ACM in Houston, TX and Gene, N5GW in Vicksburg, MS. So nice that QRP operators listen for QRP signals!
NQ2W
Rig used this month was a TenTec 1340 to an inverted vee at 40 feet. The last few times I used this rig I didn't make any contacts so I re-aligned it. My efforts paid off as I was able to work each station I heard. Unfortunately, the 40m band conditions here weren't that great. Thanks to everyone that heard me and thanks to the organizers. Hope to CU in the NAQP and next month during the SP.
K4BAI
20M was open at the start, but no one answered my CQs on that band and the two stations I could hear, K6DGW and NU7T couldn't hear me calling them. After ten minutes, I went to 40, which seemed OK, but activity was down. 19 QSOs on 40 . I could hear and work stations as close as TN. Best DX on 40 was K7TQ in ID and VE3MO. Best signal on 40 and 80 was WA9TZE, but Jim was chirpy. 80M was a pleasant surprise with 13 QSOs. Pretty good for August. Best DX on 80 was W2JEK in NJ and WB5BKL in TX. Rig: FT1000MP at 5W, WM-2 watt meter, 88' CF zepp, 40M dipole, 80M inverted vee dipole. Hope for more activity and therefore more fun next month. And hope to work you all in NAQP CW this Saturday.
W1PID
20 meters was long at the very beginning of the sprint. I worked K7TQ in ID, NU7T in NV, K6DGW in CA and W7OM in WA in the first ten minutes of the sprint. Periodically the band went dead. It went long in several waves during the next hour. I quit after about 40 minutes, but listened on an hour for another half hour. I ran the FT-817 and an OCF dipole. Thanks for all the QSOs.
N1VWD
I have been away for a while, good to be back, I had a good time. IC-703+ @ 5W into a Windom at about 35 feet.
N4UN
KX1 at 4 W into an OCF dipole at 25 feet. External AA battery pack, Palm mini paddle, and ear buds. Started off on 20m with no luck. Did hear K6DGW and NU7T, but they could not copy me. On to 40m for a few contacts, but lots of QSB. Stayed too long on 20 and 40 searching. On 80m there was lots of activity. Better luck here even with 4 watts; surprising to me. Thanks much to all.
WA4SQM
20M band was pretty quiet here. 40M was typically noisy with summertime static.
K6APW
Weak propagation. Heard several participants on 20 and 40 meters but almost buried by QRN.
N5GW
K1 with paddlette on battery to hb tuner and cfz. Too hot for outdoors (heat index 107).
W5ACM
Band conditions were not quite as reasonable for the sprint this month compared to July. The QSB on 20M was a bit difficult, but I got nine contacts before moving down to 40M. The ATS-3A continues to perform well. The two 200-maH LiPo's were charged after the July sprint and then again just before the start time for the August event, and held up with no problems, even with a fair amount of CQ ops. Unlike last month, the conditions on 40M were not as good as expected, but when I moved to 80M, I could only make one contact with K4BAI before the noise level got to me. It was an exciting Spartan Sprint! Three contacts were with stations running less than three Watts, including KI6J at one Watt and AE7CG and WA4SQM at two Watts. Nice!
W8YMO
Elecraft K3 near Cleveland, OH.
WA9TZE
5W to Kenwood TS-870 to a 3 el beam at 50 feet. Enjoyed getting back in the Sprints again. 20M, had 9 QSOs AND 6 states. And on 40m had 19 QSOs and 13 states. 80M had a lot of QRN due to approaching storms, but got 10 QSOs and 8 states. See you next month.
WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5w with 40M EDZepp + 20m delta loop. Worked a few new (to me) calls and got WA9TZE on three bands. Though most of my Qs were on 20m, it seemed pretty tough to me. Had fun.
KD2MX
Got off to a quick start on 20M as the band was long. Worked NU7T, K7TQ, K5JHP & N5GW in quick succession. K6DGW was very loud here but he didn't have a clue that I was there. Tried for a good while to work him and then the band dropped out. Nothing heard on 40M. Tried some CQs to no avail. Just used my FT-897 @5watts into the home big loop.
AE4TC
This was a challenging sprint for me. I felt like my ears were going to bleed at the end of it. 5 QSO's on 20m the best dx was W7OM in Wa. 2 QSO's on 40m and had to break out the ZM2 tuner for 80m were I was able to make 5 more QSO's. Total QSO's 12 running a FT817 @ 5w into a ground mounted vertical with 40 radials.
K4ORD
Made 5 QSOs on 20M best DW was WA, 10 on 40M and 10 on 80M. The QRN was low on 80M for a change. Near the end on 40M the QRM was very bad from digital signals or whatever it was. Rig was K2 @ 5W ANTs were 160M and 40M dipoles and 20M wire vee. Thanks to all for the qso's, CU next month.
WA8HSB
Business travel took me and my KX-1 & Buddistick to Umatilla, OR this month. Operated from McNary Beach overlooking the Columbia River just upriver from McNary Dam. Nice view and weather! It was interesting operating from the NW. Had 4 Qs on 20m and 2 Qs on 40m. Heard a couple of East Coast stations on 20m; W1PID and one from ME but, signals weren't strong enough to make a go.
I'm tubby, K2+SLA battery on our deck. 9 on 20, 4 on 40, had to QRT about 30min early.
K5JHP
Boy the bands were in terrible shape. Must have been the solar event of several days ago. Looking fwd to next month, without the solar activity.
KØNWT
FT-450AT at home in the AC into a g5rv running 5 watts. Lots of noise tonight, but still fun! Good to hear John K4BAI again. ThankS!
KB1PBA
Very bad QRM on 40m.
K6CSL
Beginning 20 was lively but very noisey. K7TQ had a big, big signal on 40. CU all again next month. Bert, K6CSL PS: My station is Tubby, but runs 5W.
WA5BUC
Good to work K4BAI, K5JHP, W4VAB, N4UN, WA9TZE, N5GW, & NQ2W. Also heard K5GQ but couldn't connect. Let's see what September brings.
AE7CG
Worked Andy, W5ACM in Houston, TX and Gene, N5GW in Vicksburg, MS. So nice that QRP operators listen for QRP signals!
NQ2W
Rig used this month was a TenTec 1340 to an inverted vee at 40 feet. The last few times I used this rig I didn't make any contacts so I re-aligned it. My efforts paid off as I was able to work each station I heard. Unfortunately, the 40m band conditions here weren't that great. Thanks to everyone that heard me and thanks to the organizers. Hope to CU in the NAQP and next month during the SP.
K4BAI
20M was open at the start, but no one answered my CQs on that band and the two stations I could hear, K6DGW and NU7T couldn't hear me calling them. After ten minutes, I went to 40, which seemed OK, but activity was down. 19 QSOs on 40 . I could hear and work stations as close as TN. Best DX on 40 was K7TQ in ID and VE3MO. Best signal on 40 and 80 was WA9TZE, but Jim was chirpy. 80M was a pleasant surprise with 13 QSOs. Pretty good for August. Best DX on 80 was W2JEK in NJ and WB5BKL in TX. Rig: FT1000MP at 5W, WM-2 watt meter, 88' CF zepp, 40M dipole, 80M inverted vee dipole. Hope for more activity and therefore more fun next month. And hope to work you all in NAQP CW this Saturday.
W1PID
20 meters was long at the very beginning of the sprint. I worked K7TQ in ID, NU7T in NV, K6DGW in CA and W7OM in WA in the first ten minutes of the sprint. Periodically the band went dead. It went long in several waves during the next hour. I quit after about 40 minutes, but listened on an hour for another half hour. I ran the FT-817 and an OCF dipole. Thanks for all the QSOs.
N1VWD
I have been away for a while, good to be back, I had a good time. IC-703+ @ 5W into a Windom at about 35 feet.
N4UN
KX1 at 4 W into an OCF dipole at 25 feet. External AA battery pack, Palm mini paddle, and ear buds. Started off on 20m with no luck. Did hear K6DGW and NU7T, but they could not copy me. On to 40m for a few contacts, but lots of QSB. Stayed too long on 20 and 40 searching. On 80m there was lots of activity. Better luck here even with 4 watts; surprising to me. Thanks much to all.
WA4SQM
20M band was pretty quiet here. 40M was typically noisy with summertime static.
K6APW
Weak propagation. Heard several participants on 20 and 40 meters but almost buried by QRN.
N5GW
K1 with paddlette on battery to hb tuner and cfz. Too hot for outdoors (heat index 107).
W5ACM
Band conditions were not quite as reasonable for the sprint this month compared to July. The QSB on 20M was a bit difficult, but I got nine contacts before moving down to 40M. The ATS-3A continues to perform well. The two 200-maH LiPo's were charged after the July sprint and then again just before the start time for the August event, and held up with no problems, even with a fair amount of CQ ops. Unlike last month, the conditions on 40M were not as good as expected, but when I moved to 80M, I could only make one contact with K4BAI before the noise level got to me. It was an exciting Spartan Sprint! Three contacts were with stations running less than three Watts, including KI6J at one Watt and AE7CG and WA4SQM at two Watts. Nice!
W8YMO
Elecraft K3 near Cleveland, OH.
WA9TZE
5W to Kenwood TS-870 to a 3 el beam at 50 feet. Enjoyed getting back in the Sprints again. 20M, had 9 QSOs AND 6 states. And on 40m had 19 QSOs and 13 states. 80M had a lot of QRN due to approaching storms, but got 10 QSOs and 8 states. See you next month.
WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5w with 40M EDZepp + 20m delta loop. Worked a few new (to me) calls and got WA9TZE on three bands. Though most of my Qs were on 20m, it seemed pretty tough to me. Had fun.
KD2MX
Got off to a quick start on 20M as the band was long. Worked NU7T, K7TQ, K5JHP & N5GW in quick succession. K6DGW was very loud here but he didn't have a clue that I was there. Tried for a good while to work him and then the band dropped out. Nothing heard on 40M. Tried some CQs to no avail. Just used my FT-897 @5watts into the home big loop.
AE4TC
This was a challenging sprint for me. I felt like my ears were going to bleed at the end of it. 5 QSO's on 20m the best dx was W7OM in Wa. 2 QSO's on 40m and had to break out the ZM2 tuner for 80m were I was able to make 5 more QSO's. Total QSO's 12 running a FT817 @ 5w into a ground mounted vertical with 40 radials.
K4ORD
Made 5 QSOs on 20M best DW was WA, 10 on 40M and 10 on 80M. The QRN was low on 80M for a change. Near the end on 40M the QRM was very bad from digital signals or whatever it was. Rig was K2 @ 5W ANTs were 160M and 40M dipoles and 20M wire vee. Thanks to all for the qso's, CU next month.
WA8HSB
Business travel took me and my KX-1 & Buddistick to Umatilla, OR this month. Operated from McNary Beach overlooking the Columbia River just upriver from McNary Dam. Nice view and weather! It was interesting operating from the NW. Had 4 Qs on 20m and 2 Qs on 40m. Heard a couple of East Coast stations on 20m; W1PID and one from ME but, signals weren't strong enough to make a go.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Soapbox Comments: July 2010 Spartan Sprint
K3RLL
FT817 to G5RVjr - Nice to hear some really, really strong QRP signals tonight on 40 meters for the Sprint. Thanks to those who pulled me out of the noise tonight.
K7TQ
K3, Force 12 C4SXL @ 60 feet. Good conditions this month. 20 m lasted over an hour and 40 was decent too. Got K4BAI, NU7T, and AB0CD on 20 and 40 m. Had a couple of non-Spartan Sprinters stop by for a short chat.
WA5BUC
Fun Sprint. Rig: FT-817 2W to a 40 meter EFHWA up about 30'.
KØNWT
PFR-3A for a couple, FT450 for the rest, all 5W;50'Speaker wire EFZ + G5RV; all battery power; Great Fun!
K6CSL
Again tonight I started on 10m with no luck, moved to 15m, no luck their either, then moved on to 20m and 40m. Both 20 and 40 were quite noisey here this evening.
W2VV
FT-817ND @ 5W into an 80 foot zip-cord dipole at 50 feet. I was backyard portable in Ohio, visiting family for the 4th. I got a late start but managed to make seven contacts on 40m and 80m. 80m was very noisy here but 40m was much better. Thanks everyone for another fun sprint.
ABØCD
Rough conditions, but nice challenge for me. Of course, I was fired up for the first summer 20 meter foxhunt and was wondering why I wasn't hearing KT5E or N0UR when it dawned on me it was Spartan Sprint night and the fox hunt was set for Tuesday! 3Qs on 20 and 8Qs on 40. Elecraft K-2 into homebrew 88-foot doublet at 25-feet fed with 300 ohm twin-lead/LDG 4:1 balun.
W5ACM
Band conditions were quite reasonable for the sprint this month. All of the QRN from the stormsaround Houston was gone by 8PM, and although the QSB on 20M was a bit difficult, I still got five contacts before moving down to 40M. The ATS-3A continues to perform well. The two 200-maH LiPo's were charged just before the start time, and held up with no problems, even with a fair amount of CQ ops. There was no need to move to 80M, and I noticed that several stations on 40M were quite active right up to the end. With the exception of a QRO station on 7040 that never ID'ed, and appeared to be testing/tuning an amplifier, it was an excellent Spartan Sprint!
WA3FAE
A little more challenging than Field Day, the noise level was higher and QSB was more prevalent. Everybody seemed to roll down to the next band at the same time. Must have been lousy conditions at their location too! Good time and good perseverance by all operators to make the contact.
K4BAI
FT1000MP, 5W, zepp, dipole, inverted vee. Activity much better this month. 20M was good for the first half hour. 40M was excellent. 80M had high QRN, but still made QSOs as far away as PA and IL. Hope to work many of you in IARU HF contest this weekend as W4AN from the QTH of W8JI.
AB9CA
Rig was ATS-3 at 3w with 8 pack of AA NiMH for power. One pack lasted the whole sprint but they did seem to be getting tired near the end. 20 seemed in good shape - 26 q's there. The band was maybe a bit long with q's from CA, NV, DE, 3 from ON, MA, ME and some other longish ones. 40 seemed to have decent prop - 30 q's - but the noise was pretty bad. Did not find much activity on 80, only 6 q's there. Worked WA8ZBT on 3 bands, think he was the only 3 bander tonight. Worked W2SH, WA3FAE, K4BAI, AF4O, W5ACM, WB5BKL, NQ2W, K4ORD, W9CJS, AE4TC, W4VHH, and maybe one or two others that I have overlooked, on 2 bands. There seemed to be more activity than I've heard for a while. Good to hear so many familiar calls and especially good to hear some new ones in there. If you are new, welcome, and hope to hear you lots more. As always - thanks go to the guys who do the work to make these fun evenings possible!
WA5BDU
Fun! This was my second or third Spartan Sprint. I slimmed down a little by making a paper clip and bottle cap paddle and a battery bank of three small LiPo cells in a box. Rig is an ATS-3. My exchange was RST - AR - 5W. QSOs came about 50/50 on 20 and 40 meters. A fair amount of QRN on 40, otherwise conditions were OK.
K4UPG
My first attempt at the SP. Always wanted to play but being antenna restricted and having a church mission team meeting on the first Monday each month normally restrict my chances. Took advantage of the 4th of July day off to get an antenna up temporarily and give it a go. Wish I could play more and use a real antenna instead of a portable low NVIS type sky hook. Enjoyed the challenge!
N3ZL
Fun two hours, brought back memories of operating in some spartan sprints a few years ago before I was ready to operate in full blown cw contests. Seemed to me as if everyone was staying on 40m and not moving to 80m, but maybe I just missed them when I took a quick break to work a few DX stations on 20m.
AI3G
KX-1 at 3 watts, antenna end fed wire indoors. Had fun again with QRP. Thanks to K4BAI for his patience with my signal.
WA8MTI
This time conditions were much improved. The FT817nd, T1 tuner and LDG 4:1 balun fed my 80m doublet on 80, 40 and 20. I used a 7AH battery for 5 watts. Think next month I'll just use the internal batteries and try 1 or 2.5w and get the weight down to 3lbs 12.5oz. Thanks to all who worked me and my rusty fist. Was using a newAmerican Morse Iambic key and after using a paddle for 40+ years, I just couldn't get the hang of it.
W1PID
I ran a DSW40 with 2 watts to an OCF dipole for about 20 minutes. Later I went on 20 meters with the tubby rig just for fun and to see how 20 was. I made 5 more QSOs, but didn't add them to my score. Thanks all. CU next month.
AF4O
My first Spartan Sprint. I have a place not far from my house on the edge of town behind an unused building at the edge of a long field. Ive been there several times for portable operation where going to the parks was not feasible. I wondered how long it would be before i got a visit from the PD. This time it happened. He said he was just checking out the vehicle. I told him what i was doing and showed him my HB-1A. He asked how far i had talked so far. I asked if i was harming anything and he did not mind at all, even saying he was sorry he bothered me. Of course i said he wasn't bothering me. I guess they have to check on nuts sitting in the back of their trucks behind abandoned buildings near dark :-). Antenna was a long wire about 65' with a approx 30 ground wire and L tuner. A short video on my youtube channel (plantopguy5) soon.
NQ2W
Started out on 10 meters - listened and called - nothing. Went to 15 meters - listened and called - nothing. Went to 20 meters and made 5 Q's. Down to 40 meters and made 8 more. New rig and antennas out in the weather make a big difference - 40/20-meter inverted vee/fan at 40 feet and 2-element phased 10-meter quad at 25 feet on roof mounted, 8-foot, homebrew quad tower - see FD '10 soapbox for picture. Cool set-up but I'm not completely satisfied, yet. Stay tuned as I'm thinking about some improvements...Thanks for hearing me and thanks to everyone that helps make this Sprint possible.
AE4TC
Had a great time. Was able to reduce my station weight this month with a smaller power supply and improved the number of contacts this Sprint. 19 total Q's, 3 on 20 and the rest on 40m with 12 different states. I was using a FT817, 5w into a Hustler vertical. Thanks!
W9CJS
80 M sounded dead but opened up an hour into the sprint. 40M was hopping the entire 2 hours. I use my IC-703 @ 5w. I'm amazed that some of the stations were running near 1 watt and I could hear them and work them. Like most ops I also have a 100 watt transceiver but there's something about the challenge of QRP that I enjoy.
WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5w with 40M EDZepp + 20m delta loop. All my Qs were on 20 and 40m. There were a couple I just could not pull out on 20m - my apologies. Usually, I only make one or two contacts with TX but this time there were 5. Activity seemed up a little - which is always good. Had fun.
K4ORD
Had company so only able to get on for last 46 minutes, nothing heard on 20m , on 40m made 9 QSO'S and on 80m made 1. Best dx was K7TQ, ID & AB0CD, CO. Rig, K2 @ 5W and ant's were 40M & 160M dipoles. Thanks to all, cu next month.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Soapbox Comments: June 2010 Spartan Sprint
K4PQC
Two watts using an A T S -3 and 160 Meter horizontal loop at 30.' Band conditions were fairly good on 20 meters (9 contacts) and just fair on 40 (6 contacts.) 15 total contacts with 8 different States including WA. Even though band conditions were good I was not able to start until just before the beginning of the second hour. Are the Spartan Sprints fun or what? Thanks to all who make them happen!
WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5w with 40M EDZepp + delta loops for 20, 15 & 10M. Nice to have Qs with the four corners: ME, WA, CA and FL. Most were on 20M with a few on 40M and one each on 10 and 15M - thanks to K4BAI. Worked John on 10, 15, and 40M, but never heard him on 20M. 80M yielded zip here. I tried to publicize the sprint locally (HLARC, AQRP, QRPadillos), but only worked one other Texan, W5ACM. I could hear folks working Scott, W5ESE, but I never even heard a whisper of his signal. Had fun.
K4ORD
The bands were in great shape, worked K4BAI on 5 bands and WA8ZBT on 3 20m,15m and 10m pays to check the higher bands this time of year you never know, HI. 80m, 1 QSO; 40m, 15 QSOs; 20m, 15 QSOs; 15m, 2 QSOs; and 10m, 1 QSO. Rig: K2 @ 5W. ANTs: 80m and 160m dipoles and 20m vee. Thanks to all and looking forward to the July sprint.
W5ESE
I used an AT Sprint 3 and a 300' Horizontal Loop this month. All contacts were on 20 meters. Conditions seems to be okay. Thanks everyone for the contacts.
K7TQ
Good time on 20 for first 1/2 hour. My 40 m antenna was down so that was end of this month's Spartan Sprint.
KD2MX
Not much time tonight but enjoyed what time I had to spend. Conditions on 20M were pretty good and signals were strong. Managed one QSO on 15m. 40M was very noisy and I didn't want to play there. Just used my FT-897 @5watts into the home big loop.
K5GQ
Dipole for both 20 & 40m. Signals were up and down on 20M. Just could not get a good run started. On 40 M there were thunder storms in the area; just enough static to make it hard to work stations. Then the rig developed a keying problem. It was an open on one of the legs in the SM connector. (Just when I was starting to work a few calls.) Worked three stations on both bands.
NQ2W
Started out with my Ten Tec 1340 but no one heard me - gotta check the alignment. In desperation I switched to the ole Icom-745 and made three Q's. Unfortunately, my weight more than tripled. Hopefully, next month will be better - most likely will be using a new rig hooked up to antennas that are actually outside.
AE4TC
Using a FT817 at 5w into a ground mounted Hustler 6BTV with 40 ground radials. 7 Q's on 40m and 6 Q's on 20m. I heard someone on 15 but not long enough to make a contact. Had a great time.
K4BAI
FT1000MP, 5W output, TH6DXX stuck south, 88' center fed zepp, 40M half wave dipole, 80M inverted vee dipole. Took 20 minutes out at 0200Z for a CW traffic net. All five bands were open. Thanks to K4ORD for the tip on 10 and 15M. QSOs per band: 80: 2; 40: 27; 20: 9; 15: 3; 10: 3. There didn't seem to be much of a skip zone and I was able to work NC, TN and FL on 20M and another GA station, AL, TN, NC, and FL on 40M. 40 and 80 had a lot of QRN and could find only K4ORD and WA8ZBT there. Had five band QSOs with K4ORD and WA8ZBT and also worked WB5BKL on 10 and 15M. Still could use more activity. Thanks for all QSOs and CU next month.
N4BP
Good opening on 20M. 40M very noisy with local thunderstorms.
W1PID
I ran an icom 7000 at 5W and an OCF dipole. Six QSOs on 20M, six QSOs on 40M and two QSOs on 80m. I operated for about half an hour. The bands aren't great, but the real issue is lack of participation. Thanks all.
W5ACM
Like so many previous months, I was hoping for some 20M activity, and I got it! Conditions on 20M were curious. I started on 20M, made some contacts, thought it was gone, went to 40M, got tired of the noise, and went back to 20M. MORE contacts! Finally, about 90 minutes into the event, I gave up, relented, and headed back to 40M. A VERY patient NF0R tried hard to get my call, but the batteries were headed south... I was down to 1W, and knew that if I kept trying, one or both of the LiPo's would die. That was it! Thanks to all! The ATS-3a and backyard vertical did well, even with some above-average CQ-calling ops. The two LiPo, 200 mAh batteries, held up well. The good news is that they survived, and will be good to go in July.
K5JHP
Bad night, lots of noise and only a few stations on, maybe better next month.
K6CSL
Bands 20 and 40 in very poor shape for this one. Almost every station heard here was weak and unstable with severe QSB.
Two watts using an A T S -3 and 160 Meter horizontal loop at 30.' Band conditions were fairly good on 20 meters (9 contacts) and just fair on 40 (6 contacts.) 15 total contacts with 8 different States including WA. Even though band conditions were good I was not able to start until just before the beginning of the second hour. Are the Spartan Sprints fun or what? Thanks to all who make them happen!
WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5w with 40M EDZepp + delta loops for 20, 15 & 10M. Nice to have Qs with the four corners: ME, WA, CA and FL. Most were on 20M with a few on 40M and one each on 10 and 15M - thanks to K4BAI. Worked John on 10, 15, and 40M, but never heard him on 20M. 80M yielded zip here. I tried to publicize the sprint locally (HLARC, AQRP, QRPadillos), but only worked one other Texan, W5ACM. I could hear folks working Scott, W5ESE, but I never even heard a whisper of his signal. Had fun.
K4ORD
The bands were in great shape, worked K4BAI on 5 bands and WA8ZBT on 3 20m,15m and 10m pays to check the higher bands this time of year you never know, HI. 80m, 1 QSO; 40m, 15 QSOs; 20m, 15 QSOs; 15m, 2 QSOs; and 10m, 1 QSO. Rig: K2 @ 5W. ANTs: 80m and 160m dipoles and 20m vee. Thanks to all and looking forward to the July sprint.
W5ESE
I used an AT Sprint 3 and a 300' Horizontal Loop this month. All contacts were on 20 meters. Conditions seems to be okay. Thanks everyone for the contacts.
K7TQ
Good time on 20 for first 1/2 hour. My 40 m antenna was down so that was end of this month's Spartan Sprint.
KD2MX
Not much time tonight but enjoyed what time I had to spend. Conditions on 20M were pretty good and signals were strong. Managed one QSO on 15m. 40M was very noisy and I didn't want to play there. Just used my FT-897 @5watts into the home big loop.
K5GQ
Dipole for both 20 & 40m. Signals were up and down on 20M. Just could not get a good run started. On 40 M there were thunder storms in the area; just enough static to make it hard to work stations. Then the rig developed a keying problem. It was an open on one of the legs in the SM connector. (Just when I was starting to work a few calls.) Worked three stations on both bands.
NQ2W
Started out with my Ten Tec 1340 but no one heard me - gotta check the alignment. In desperation I switched to the ole Icom-745 and made three Q's. Unfortunately, my weight more than tripled. Hopefully, next month will be better - most likely will be using a new rig hooked up to antennas that are actually outside.
AE4TC
Using a FT817 at 5w into a ground mounted Hustler 6BTV with 40 ground radials. 7 Q's on 40m and 6 Q's on 20m. I heard someone on 15 but not long enough to make a contact. Had a great time.
K4BAI
FT1000MP, 5W output, TH6DXX stuck south, 88' center fed zepp, 40M half wave dipole, 80M inverted vee dipole. Took 20 minutes out at 0200Z for a CW traffic net. All five bands were open. Thanks to K4ORD for the tip on 10 and 15M. QSOs per band: 80: 2; 40: 27; 20: 9; 15: 3; 10: 3. There didn't seem to be much of a skip zone and I was able to work NC, TN and FL on 20M and another GA station, AL, TN, NC, and FL on 40M. 40 and 80 had a lot of QRN and could find only K4ORD and WA8ZBT there. Had five band QSOs with K4ORD and WA8ZBT and also worked WB5BKL on 10 and 15M. Still could use more activity. Thanks for all QSOs and CU next month.
N4BP
Good opening on 20M. 40M very noisy with local thunderstorms.
W1PID
I ran an icom 7000 at 5W and an OCF dipole. Six QSOs on 20M, six QSOs on 40M and two QSOs on 80m. I operated for about half an hour. The bands aren't great, but the real issue is lack of participation. Thanks all.
W5ACM
Like so many previous months, I was hoping for some 20M activity, and I got it! Conditions on 20M were curious. I started on 20M, made some contacts, thought it was gone, went to 40M, got tired of the noise, and went back to 20M. MORE contacts! Finally, about 90 minutes into the event, I gave up, relented, and headed back to 40M. A VERY patient NF0R tried hard to get my call, but the batteries were headed south... I was down to 1W, and knew that if I kept trying, one or both of the LiPo's would die. That was it! Thanks to all! The ATS-3a and backyard vertical did well, even with some above-average CQ-calling ops. The two LiPo, 200 mAh batteries, held up well. The good news is that they survived, and will be good to go in July.
K5JHP
Bad night, lots of noise and only a few stations on, maybe better next month.
K6CSL
Bands 20 and 40 in very poor shape for this one. Almost every station heard here was weak and unstable with severe QSB.
Friday, May 7, 2010
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