SCOREBOARD: ARS October 2020 Spartan Sprint

 For an enlarged view, please click on the Scoreboard.

SOAPBOX: October 2020 ARS Spartan Sprint

 K3RLL

Trying out my new/old early s/n bare bones K1, so fortunately found after foolishly letting the fully equipped one I built get away from me some years ago. Why don't we get smarter when we get older?  40m was fun this evening with LOTS of good signals. Some problems with my paddle and then the digital guys seeming to need the frequency I pay dues for (GRIN), but it was a great half-hour running into well-known calls that have become old friends over the years. Many thanks to entire staff of A.R.S. for continuing to host the Spartan Sprint.  72/73 ... Don, K3RLL

W5QLF

One contact on 20 meters but 40 meters was hopping. Lots of familiar calls this evening plus some new ones that I hadn't worked before. Even a 1 x 1 station left over from the California QSO Party.  Thanks for the enjoyable CQP weekend. 72, Joe, W5QLF

AA2MX

First time I tried a Spartan Sprint. Only had 30 minutes, but enjoyed the contacts and format. I will participate again. Thanks

NØTA

Good evening. Trying out a QRP Labs QCX+ -> 40m. Think I was running a little over 4w into a doublet. Thanks for the Q's! - John, NØTA

K3JZD

After finding and working Don-K3RLL and John-K4BAI on 40m, the band was pretty darned quiet here in WPA. So, I called CQ SP for a while. Whenever I saw that I was getting RBN Spots from UT, WA, AZ, and EA8 I began to understand why the band was so quiet. Mike-KD5KC popped in there very briefly for me. After doing a lot of listening to a CQ SP with heavy QSB, John-NØTA became copyable long enough for me to work him. And I give Charles-N4SO my chaser of the evening award. I could almost hear Charles replying to my CQs several times during the event before he eventually came up to where I could copy his call sign and work him.  For nights like tonight, I could have used some Spartan Sprint players from out on the West Coast! Naked 40m QCX w/500 mAH LiPo Battery Pack running 4w with KØMBT 3D Printed Mini-Mini Key and Earbuds to a 40m dipole. 73 - Jody - K3JZD

K4BAI

20M almost dead at the start. No Sprint signals heard and no answer to a few CQs. 40 and 80M were quite good. QSOs by band: 40M: 12. 80M: 10. On 40 worked from ME to CA and as close as TN. But could not hear N4SO in AL. On 80M worked MD to TX. Hope for more activity next month. Thanks for the QSOs.  73/72, John, K4BAI.

N2APB

Okay, so the signal was 'spartan' at 1W, but not so much the station this time. Used a Collins R390 receiver and a homebrewed Ameco AC-1 transmitter for operation on 40 (so-so condx) and 80 (hot but sparce). Fun connecting with medium skip on 80m here from TN to MD, NJ, TX, IL, GA and TN. Just love using the boatanchors - even took them out on FD once (and only once). Hope my signal didn't drift too much. No bad reports, so TNX guys! - 72, George, N2APB

K9DRP

Just acquired an older HB-1B (with 80 meters) that I used tonight. Really cut my station weight. Things seemed lively the first hour on 40, but the action died off after that. 7 contacts on 40 and 4 on 80. TNX to WB5BKL fer 2 bands. A third of my QSO's with Texas, thanks guys. 72, Don, K9DRP

WJ9B

I made a total of eight contacts, one on 20m and seven on 40m. I worked KØZK in Maine on 40 meters. Also worked xtations in Ga, Tx, Co, In, and Ca. Elecraft KX1 internal batteries and tuner, 1 watt measured output. Weight: one pound with batteries, ear buds, palm key. I used an 80m inverted V, apex at 80 feet  and fed with twinlead. Lots of signals heard on 40m. On 40m: I got a 229 RST from WB5BKL and 339 RST from NK6A; finally worked John, K4BAI, after several tries. 73, Will,  WJ9B

KD5KC

Lousy night, but it was still fun! I came home from a long day running the power grid. Just 45 min before the start-time I was getting good RBN hits on 15m. At the start-time I got no RBN hits on 15m and only 1 weak hit on 20m. CQ-ing for 20 min on 20m got zero contacts. Moved to 40m and that got me 9 contacts, AL, CA (twice), ID, ME, Tx (three times), UT. 80m got me two, GA and TX. I was lucky to get Alabama-N4SO, he was calling right on the edge of my CW-filter passband and I could barely tell something was out there. Once I got him tuned in we made a QSO of it. There may have been a few more that were just outside my filter. I got a whisper now and then, but wasn’t sure of I was being called or if it was just a nearby station on the scope. Perfect zero-beat isn’t necessary, but you need to get inside the filter passband to be heard . . . just a suggestion.  K0ZK – you earned that one. Wow, it was tough, but we hung in and didn’t give up. THANK YOU! Nice to hear some old friends again. I am not scheduled to work shift for the November Sprint, so maybe we try it again. I’ve repaired the sub-1-pound radio my Great Dane ate. I’m working on a new antenna for portable. Perhaps in the coming months I’ll climb a local SOTA summit and see if I can beat the all-time record I set way back in July of 2014. Mike, KD5KC, El Paso

W5ESE

Used the Omni VI and a 300' Horizontal Loop. Conditions on 20m were very tough. 80m was nice and quiet; good condx. All bands were "long".

K4PQC

What a difference a month makes....not many stations were heard on 40 meters as compared to last month's Spartan Sprint.  Most of my contacts were made on 80 meters this month.  The only Georgia station I heard or worked on either 40 or 80 was John, K4BAI, Usually when John calls CQ he has lots of stations answering his CQs but I kept hearing him calling CQ without a lot of answers.  Lots of QSB.  Stations heard one moment and then poof they disappeared. It is hard for me to call CQ for long periods... my small battery will run out of juice. Even without many contacts this Sprint is about as fun as it can be without laughing.

KB1M

I had fun evening working 9 QSO's for 7 states, very little heard on 20, 40 seemed good with some surprisingly strong sigs. 72, Walt

WB5BKL

K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp.  Nice activity this month with some new-to-me calls. 11 states this time. 11 QSOs on 40M and 6 on 80 - did not try 20M.  Almost 1/3 of those worked were using less than 5W - notably WJ9B and N2APB at 1W! My thanks to all. Had fun.

N4SD

First time reporting. Rig Icom 7300 @ 5% + PS and a heavy Brown Brothers Paddle ~ 16 lbs. total. Definitely a Tubby. Will shed some weight for next time.  Antenna: Home brew EFHW's 40-10 and 80-10 @ 30 Ft. - Sperry, N4SD

W3KC

All QSOs were 80 meters which was in quite good shape. Been a while since I have done an SP and it was fun. - 72, Chas, W3KC

WA4AAK

Just 4 contacts, all on 40m: K3RLL, N0TA, W5ESE, and W5QLF. Thanks for pulling my signal through the QSB! Hope to contact these Sprinters and more next time. 72, Evan - Huntsville, AL

SCOREBOARD: September 2020 ARS Spartan Sprint

 For an enlarged view, please click on the Scoreboard.

SOAPBOX: September 2020 ARS Spartan Sprint

 

W1PID

20 meters was good to start ... NØTA in Colorado and WB5BKL from TX. I just didn't hear anyone else there. 40M was more active. It's always a Pleasure to work John. K4BAI in GA. He's a good operator and a real gentleman! Thanks all for the Qs. 73, Jim W1PID.

 

K3RLL
Nice to hear 40m alive and jumping this evening. Too bad there was this terrible QRN. (Half-hour passes...) Oh, that's the battery charger on my H-D. Duh!  Ran out and unplugged it and lost my frequency. Oh well, 9 nice contacts and almost a couple more.  Big signal tonight into FL was KE5JP - booming in.  Great fun and lots of familiar calls. Best hearing award goes to NØTA tonight. How he heard me, I'll never know.  72/73 ... Don

 
WB9HFK
Only worked about the first hour this month. See everyone next month! 73, Mark, WB9HFK
 
NØTA
Worked for an hour - most Q's in a long time. 13 States! Thanks! K3 @5w and a Doublet.
 
K9DRP
Used the Argo V tonight with a bug (bug really adds to station weight). 40 was the only game in town!  John, K4BAI did net me one contact on 80. KØZK had a great sig into ILL. TNX to K2PQ for sticking with me until I got his call right. Let's do it again next
month! 72  Don, K9DRP
 
KD5KC
11 contacts total, worked 9 on 40m, 2 on 80m, I could hear sigs on 20m, but no one calling CQ-SP.  CO-GA-IL-KS-ME-PA-TX all logged.  Condx were very noisy on 40m and 80m. This is a far cry from the undefeated record I set in July of 2014 with 206.1 QSOs per pound … but a career move takes a lot of nights away. Retirement is on the horizon. Perhaps I’ll be able to participate more soon. 11 QSOs / 30 pounds = 0.3667 QSOs per pound. I need to take out the little portable radio again. I did get it fixed after the Great Dane puppy ate the super-light-weight case. It is even lighter now, certainly competitive.
 
K4PQC
This month's conditions were much better than last month. Weather was clear and no storms so 40 meters was fairly quiet. My new 200 mah LiPo battery arrived in time for this month's Sprint so my rig is a little lighter by over 0.4 oz! I might be able to shave a little more weight by removing some wire and little used components and excess solder. I am using my trusty 160 meter loop or rather a modified rhombic without the terminating resistor @ 25'. Interesting that I didn't hear another station from GA. The picture is my rig with the cover removed.
 
K5MUG
Little better today, doubled my tally from last month. Signals still very weak tonight, had to work a little longer and dig a little harder. Dropped a few ounces for this month, my Elecraft Kx3/paddle started losing ground connection just before the August Sprint and I had to use an external paddle. A short tedious repair last week and it's in proper order and working well this month. Great group of folks tonight, thanks to all. Take care and stay well! Cray / K5MUG / San Antonio, TX
 
N4SO
Total contacts from Alabama: 10, all on 40 meters, with the best DX KØZK, Lebanon, Maine. Ken N4SO
 
W5ESE
Used the Omni VI and a 300' Horizontal Loop. Only made one contact on 20m, but 40m and 80m were in pretty good shape.
 
K4BAI
QSOs by band: 80M: 4.  40M: 21.  Total: 25. Thanks for all QSOs.
 
WA5BDU
Contacts: 8, Weight: 0.5 LBS, Power: 5 W, QTH: Arkansas. First time I've tried the Spartan Sprint in a long while. I wanted to get out the good old ATS3 again. Seemed like lots of activity. I stuck to 40 meters and used a 134' inverted-L. TU/73 - Nick, WA5BDU
 
WJ9B
I made a total of five contacts, one on 20m and four on 40m. Elecraft KX1 internal batteries and tuner, 1 watt measured output. Weight: one pound with batteries, ear buds, palm key. I used an 80m inverted V, apex at 80 feet and fed with twin lead. Lots of signals heard on 40m but few could hear my 1 watt signal. On 40m: I got a 229 RST from NK6A and 339 RST from KFØXV. Finally worked John, K4BAI, after many tries; NØTA had a strong signal and gave me RST 559. Three first-Mondays in a row, I am on a roll. 73, Will, WJ9B
 
K3JZD
Naked 40m QCX w/500 mAH LiPo Battery Pack running 4w with KØMBT 3D Printed Mini-Mini Key and Earbuds to a 40m dipole. Did anyone notice that there was a little QSB on 40m? Jody - K3JZD
 
WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp. Wow - propagation on 40M! One QSO on 20M, 3 on 80M and the rest on 40M.  Best signals: 20M - W1PID, 40M - KE5JP, 80M - W5ESE. Seemed like every other Op was named either John or Don! Had fun.
 
KFØXV
This was my very first Spartan Sprint. I work the 3pm to 11pm shift so I don’t get to Do many thing like this.This one happened to be on a holiday and I was off. I was able to get 9 states and 1 Canada, ONT. Hopefully I’ll get to do it again. I was able to work the full 2 hrs. KX2 @ 5 watts,  40/80 mtr Dipole. Joe/KFØXV

RESULTS: August 2020 ARS Spartan Sprint

SOAPBOX: August 2020 ARS Spartan Sprint

K3RLL

40m was awfully quiet this evening. Signals were not loud here into rural PA but little background noise and no QRM so it was fun. Thank you ARS. Maybe it's time we start a GoFundMe page for sunspots.  Whatsa?  72/73 … Don

 

NØTA

Pretty slow. Quit after the first hour.

 

W5QLF

I had to wait until a line of thunderstorms had passed thru San Antonio before hooking up the antenna at 0130Z. The noise level wasn't that high on 40 meters but there were not many stations heard. WB9HFK had a remarkable lack of QSB on his signal and was the only consistent signal I heard for over 45 minutes on 40m. Worked NØTA, WB9HFK & K4PQC on 40 meters and AB9CA on 80 meters.

 

K4BAI

QTH: GA. QSOs by band: 40M: 6; 80M: 2. Lost the first one hourand 25 minutes to a power outage after an afternoon thunderstorm that brought down trees, power poles and lines. Had thought of using the car battery and sitting in the car in the garage and using the regular station antennas and a flashlight, but we decided to visit our daughter and her family a few blocks away where they did have power. Watched the Atlanta Braves lose badly to the New York Mets. Very thankful electricity came back on and gave us back air conditioning, ham rig, computers, TV, and outside safety lights. We have a battery back up for the burglar alarm, so never lost that. Thanks for all QSOs.  73/72, John, K4BAI.

 

WJ9B

Four contacts, nØta on 20m, plus three contacts on 40m (NØTA, NK6A, K4BAI). Elecraft KX-1 internal batteries and tuner, 1 watt measured output. Weight: one pound with batteries, ear buds, palm key. I used an 80m inverted V, apex at 80 feet fed with twinlead. I heard several others who could not copy my 1 watt signal. BTW, I purchased the kit to put 80 meters into the KX-1. Two months in a row, maybe I will remember: first Monday of the month!  73, Will, WJ9B

 

K9DRP

Even with nasty QRN I was able to log 1 on 20, 6 on 40, and 1 on 80. I heard WB5BKL on both 20/40, but not well/long enough to work him. K4PQC was the loudest on 40.  SPCs were CA, CO, GA, TX, IN, AL, and NM. Let's do it again next month! 73, Don, K9DRP

 

K5MUG

Using a KX3 at 5w into 20/40m fan dipole at 40 ft, installed N/S. Thunderstorm let up at my location (San Antonio) about 5 minutes or so before Sprint time letting me start up front, for what it was worth. Started on 20m with no stations heard, moved to 40m about 30 minutes in. Tagged AB9CA at 0136Z, with WB9HFK, K4BAI, N4SO, and K7PD following. Squeezed K7PD in the last minutes – thanks for your perseverance and patience. Tough night, heard a few that couldn’t hear or read my sig, lot of weak sigs and QSB, many repeats. Station of note:  K4BAI / John booming in at 599 plus from GA. Another enjoyable event, take care and 72, Cray / K5MUG / San Antonio, TX

 

W1PID

QSOs on 20M, 2. QSOs on 40M, 3. QSOs on 80M, 1. Thanks all. 73, Jim W1PID

 

KA5PVB

I was told about your group by Scott, W5ESE, whom I had worked last month in the 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint. I started out on 20 meters (14.060) at 8 PM last evening and called CQ for 15 minutes with no "takers"! Went to 40 meters (7.030) at 8:15 and called CQ for 45 minutes, again with no takers!) Gave up after an hour of listening to myself calling CQ. Questions: was I on or near the correct frequencies? (Yes: plus or minus 3.560, 7030 to 7040, and 14.060) My code speed here is only about 10-15 WPM, is this "too slow" for this group? (Not at all. Sprinters are always happy to slow down for other operators.) Equipment used: FT-817ND at 4 watts, 80/40 meter inverted V at 30 ft., MFJ-813 Pwr/Swr Meter, MFJ 949D Tuner, and headphones. Total weight of station is about 4.8 lbs. I enjoy working QRP levels for QSOs whenever possible and would enjoy trying again next month if speed is acceptable for the group! (ABSOLUTELY!) Best 73, Chuck Dobbins, KA5PVB, Alpine, TX. (Chuck, TNX for trying. Everyone has a night like your's once-in-a-while. PSE hang in there. CU in September - KI6SN)

 

W5ESE

Conditions weren't great, but it was much better than the July sprint. Used the Omni VI and a 300' horizontal loop.

 

K4PQC

Station weight: 90.70 grams = 3.2 oz. = 0.20 lbs.Terrible storms here in GA mostly from hurricane Isaias. Not so much the winds but lightning crashes that made making contacts very difficult. After moving to Bishop, GA this is my first Spartan Sprint in almost 4 years from my new QTH. 5 contacts on 40 meters and one on 80.  Rig: ATS 3B homemade PCB case and paddles <3 w using an 11.1 V LiPo 500 mah battery.  Ant: 160 meter loop @ 25'  Maybe next month will be a little quieter.

 

KB1M

20 and 40 seemed to be noisy with deep QSB. Best DX was with  N0TA (CO).   Thanks for the QSOs. 73, Walt

 

WB5BKL

K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp.  One QRO QSO removed. Eight states this time - NH and IN were popular. Best signals: 20m - KB1M; 40M - K4PQC; 80M - AB9CA.  Heard but not worked:  WØITT, NØTA.  3-fer with AB9CA. Several regulars missing - hope they are OK.  Had Fun.

 

AB9CA

Ran the IC-7200 at 5w to wires. Was a few min late getting started. 20 did not seem to have many on. Worked 2 from TX and 1 from CA. Moved to 40 which was the main band of the evening. Logged 11 there - NC NH AL CO PA VA TX. Then went to 80 and found a few more: NH TX IL GA MO. Thanks to WB5BKL for 3 bands, W5ESE and W1PID for 2. It was a fun evening. Of course we could always use a few more participating. Maybe business will pick up if the sunspots return. 73, Dave, AB9CA

 

RESULTS: July 2020 ARS Spartan Sprint

For an enlarged view, please click on the Scoreboard.