Results: October '11 Spartan Sprint

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Soapbox Comments: October '11 Spartan Sprint

K7TQ

Had not been able to participate in an SP for too long.  Started on 15 m and got 3 Qs in short order.  GA and TX were the states.  Moved to 20 m after about 10 minutes on 15 and had a nice time working stations there until around 0130 Z.  20 was still open, but seemed most folks had already moved to 40 m.  I gave 80 m a couple of tries, but quite noisy here in ID.  Worked K4BAI, John, and WB5BKL, Nick, on 3 bands and several others on 2 bands. Lots of good strong Signals and a few weak ones as well went into the log.  Thanks to all who stopped by.

NK6A

could only put in an hour this time.

WB5BKL

K3/10 @ 5w to a 15m 2-element delta loop, a 20m wire delta loop or the 40m extended double Zepp.  15m was open (apparently to the west) when I started, but I could only work K7TQ.  Tried to work K6CSL but he was almost exactly zero-beat with K7TQ and impossible copy for my old ears.  Sorry Bert.  Also made 11 Qs on 20m, 11 Qs on 40m and 4 on 80m.  Did end up working K7TQ on 3 bands.  Nice to hear increasing activity and some new (to me) calls.  Thanks to all.  Had fun.

WB5MNK

I want to apologize to the stations I could not copy but I had my filter set up wrong and did not realize it. I will do better next sprint. I had fun but was not very productive. Thanks to all the stations that I worked and the ones that called me but I was not able to copy.

NQ2W

An OHR 100-A running 5W to a mini-beam at 25 ft for 9 Q's on 20 meters and a Ten-Tec 1340 at 5W to an inverted vee at 40 ft for 4 Q's. I thought I was gonna break a record...the first few minutes on 20 were the best I've experienced in a quite a while...then reality settled in and the Q's became much more infrequent. Oh well, maybe next month. 40 was lousy, QRM and intermittent line noise made it very difficult copy (except K4ORD...he was loud). I'm thinking of adding some filtering to the 1340 and converting the main tuning knob to a 10 turn pot...we'll see if that's possible ... can't hurt. Thanks to everyone that heard me and thanks to the organizers. Hope to see you all next month.

AE7CG

Thanks to Randy K7TQ, Bob N4BP, Scott W5ESE, and Nick WB5BKL for QSOs. I ran 2 watts to a 10-foot high dipole. The Spartan Sprint was great fun. See everyone next month!

KD2MX

just had a few minutes to spend.  Nothing heard on 20, 40 was pretty good.

AB9CA

Fun, as always. The bands seems little punk but not too much noise. That was kinda nice. Rig was K2 at 5w to 100' dp. Worked NQ2W, NK6A, WT5RZ, W5ACM, W5ESE, and WB5BKL on 2 bands but no 3-banders. 20 seemed to be OK but few there, only worked 6. 40 was the workhorse with 26. And only 5 on 80. But it was good to hear Jay, AJ4AY, over in Mobile on there. We are so close it is hard for us to hear each other. Thanks go to the folks who do the work to make these happen. And thanks to all who stopped by . . . and hope to hear ya'all next month.

N4BP

Started on 20M, but band went belly up almost immediately!  40M was good, but not much participation.  With that fall nip in the air (only getting to the upper 80's now), 80M is almost usable and managed one easy QSO there with K5JHP.  Sure wish participation would pick up so I could sit in the chair for two hours instead of only one.

K4BAI

QSOs by band:  21: 1 (K7TQ); 14: 7; 7: 22; 3.5: 7.  We could have used more activity.  Band conditions were pretty good on 80 through 15.  Thanks for all QSOs.

W5ESE

KD1JV AT Sprint 3 (@3W 80m/40m, @2W 20m), with a 9.6V wall wart and Whiterook MK-44 paddles. Antenna is a 300' horizontal loop, fed with open wire line.  Good activity and conditions this month, although the QRN was pretty high on 80m. Will submit my log to ARRL's 'Logbook of the World.'

WA1ZCQ

Bands in poor shape during the times of this month's sprint. 40 was the only place I hear other station here in 1 land. Started late, 30 minutes into the sprint. First station heard was Jim - K4ORD-VA, RST 559, I received a 449. Listened around on 80 & 20 as well but no signals. Hung in there for about 60 minutes, no stations calling CQSP. Called on 7033.5 and 7044 with no luck. Station: 703 @ 5W with 60' indoor wire, inverted "L" configuration (approx: 22' flat-topped, 38' vertical) Total station weight: 703 + NiMH battery pack + Whiterook paddle + associated wiring/cabling = 5 lbs.

WT5RZ

Wow, what a fun night. 20 started out jumping with 6 quick contacts. @0 seemed to get quiet very quick so I shifted to 40 for another 14 contacts. I tried 80M a couple of times, but only logged 1 lone contact there, W5ESE. Somehow W5ESE and I managed to contact one another on the 3 bands. Had a good time!

WØPQ

K1 (5 WATTS) G5RV

W5ACM

I started on 20M with six excellent contacts, and would have liked to stay there, but the crowd thinned out early. There was still plenty of activity on other parts of the band, and conditions were reasonable. For me, 40M sounded very noisy and I only got one QSO - AB9CA. Surprisingly, 80M was better and I had some good contacts with AB9CA, WB5BKL and W5ESE. Overall, it was a fun event! My ATS-3A is still on the workbench - so once again, the ATS-3 that I built in 2004 was pressed into service. Since it has MUCH larger (and heavier) batteries, I can call CQ as much as I can stand, so I did! Using this antique, Altoids entombed rig doubles my weight, but it is a great performer, and the keyer paddle - made from relay parts - is much easier to tame than the ultra-light-weight spruce paddle on the ATS-3A. I am getting to like this rig! C U next month!

K4ORD

Made 5 qso's on 20M, best dx WA, CA, 20 qso's on40m, best dx ID, MT, WA  and 2 on 80M. The QRN  was back on 40M, S7 TO S9 , some signals were strong and some weak. Rig K3@5W ant's 40M and 160M dipoles.   Thanks to all.

NØAR

Well this old "ham from Heath" got hooked on the GORC Heathkit Nostalgia Event, so out came the HW-8. Haven't used it in 5 years so was impressed that it fired right up. If you worked me it was on the old rig at a whooping 2 watts out. Nice to be able to hear most all of the contesters at one time. :)  Seriously it was just a blast working so many familiar calls. I hung in there until my ears hurt. See you all in the next event with my trusty K2.

AI4SV

Finally, a chance to shed some pounds -- Tonight the rig was my well-traveled TenTec 1320, a 2Ah battery, and Palm Paddles. The antenna was attic dipole. Almost all the calls came in the first hour.

K5JHP

Bands seemed long with SSB stations on 40. Hope for better prop condx next month.

Results: September '11 Spartan Sprint

Soapbox Comments: September '11 Spartan Sprint

NQ2W
An OHR 100-A running 5W to a mini-beam at 25 ft for 6 Qs on 20 meters and a Ten-Tec 1340 at 5W to an inverted vee at 40 ft for 6 Q's...the number of contacts on each band was identical to last month. Signals on both bands were not that strong. QRM, QRN, and QSB didn't help matters. Thanks to everyone that heard me and thanks to the organizers. Hope to see you all next month.


KD6L
Old call AD6WE - Glad to be able to finally participate again and give out Wyoming with my new call. Five watts Index labs QRP+  40 meter semi-horizontal delta loop . 12 contacts on 20, 6 contacts on 40.


N9BT
Power 5W, RIG is Yaesu FT-817ND, Antenna 40M dipole, band condx good. Sadly, I was inside.


AE4TC
Got a late start and had to QRT early but enjoyed it none the less. Worked 20 and 40m. 6 q's on 20 and 5 on 40m for a whopping total of 11 qso's. I was running an FT-817 with 5w into a 88' doublet up 45 feet. Thanks for the fun contest.


WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5W and either a 20M delta loop or a 40M extended double Zepp.  Most Qs on 20 with a few on 40 and two on 80M. Was not able to work anyone on all three bands. Removed two QRO QSOs and one dupe from score. 16 states this time and several new (to me) calls. My thanks to everyone. Had fun.


K4ORD
Nice to have less QRN this month and 20M in good shape, got 15 on 20M, 22 on 40M and 3 on 80M . Rig K3 @ 5W ant''s were 40 and 160M dipoles. Lost power for 11 hours just 5 Minutes after the sprint was over, HI. Looking forward to next month's sprint.


WA5BUC
First Sprint in several months. Good to be back. Worked N4BP on 20 & 40. New stations this month were NK6A in California and K9FO in Illinois. Thanks to all.


WB4MNK
Started on 20 meters and worked two stations but band was not good so went to 40 meters which was noisy and most signals seem weaker than than normal. Had fun and thanks to all I made contact with. See you next month.


K4BAI
20M was quite good at the start with east coast stations and lots of CA/AZ stations.  40M was also fair and best DX was NK6A, W9CF in AZ, and W7OM.  80M was surprisingly strong with good signals from as far away as NY and TX.  We could use more activity, but the Sprint was fun.  See you next month.


N4BP
Summer static still prevails from local thunderstorms.  The Mich Labor Day Sprint overlapped the Spartan Sprint, so spent some time in both.  The SP had the greater activity. Worked NW2K on three bands.  Best DX W7OM in WA on 20/40.


NW2K
5W, matchbox, 80M loop at 30 feet.  20, 40, 80 (7, 21, 12 QSOs, respectively) in good shape with 80 being quiet here for a change.  I think I should have stayed on 20 longer.  Not usually able to participate because of a schedule conflict and thankful for the holiday.  Thank you for the QSOs and see you next time.


K9FO
Enjoyed the sprint!  Good activity and conditions on 40 and 20.  Rig:  Icom IC-703,  dipole antennas.  Thanks for having the test.


AB9CA
Rig was K2 to a field vertical - a 20' crappie pole lashed to a picnic bench. It was a 20m vertical with a load coil for 40. Nothing to use on 80. Still enough guys with good ears pulled me out to log 32 - 14 on 20, and 18 on 40. The crappie pole even made it to CA, AZ, and WA. Good ears out that way for sure. Thanks to everyone that stopped by. Maybe next month I can be a bit louder. Thanks to the guys who make these possible! See ya'all next month.


AB0CD
Used the realigned Heathkit HW-9 until I retuned the antenna. Then everything went dark. ??? Finished with the K2. Ran everything on 40 meters at 5W into an 88-foot doublet barely 20 feet up if that. Worked a few of the usual suspects. Fun mix with the MI QRP Club Labor Day Sprint.


WA8PGE
weight of my station included a laptop for the SDR. 20 started out well then died quickly, 6 QSO's there, best DX on 20 was NK6A in CA. 19 QSO's on 40, best DX on 40 was W7OM in WA.  QSO with W1FMR got clobbered by QRM, couldn't count it. Rig: SDR Softrock RXTX 6.3 into a 5w amp, Software was Rocky 3.6.


W9CF
I used my ATS4a, W5JH baby black widow and a radio-quiet switching wall wart. I only had a few answers to my CQs -- I obviously need a better antenna. I only heard stations on 20 and 40. My CQs on 80 went unanswered. Antenna: inverted vee @ 35.' 


K3RLL
I think we had more than a little competition from the MI QRP Club contest tonight and signals didn’t sound as strong as usual, but it was still fun. Thanks to Richard Fisher, KI6SN, his extensive staff and all those who make these ARS events possible.

Results: August '11 Spartan Sprint

Soapbox Comments: August '11 Spartan Sprint

K8AX

WA8PGE suggested I enter this event.  I followed that suggestion and had a great time.  Conditions on 20 were not great, so most of the time was spent on 40.  Here, most of the activity seemed to be around and above 7040 kHz.  Lots of activity was heard around 7030 kHz, but that included few if any contest stations.  Outdoor antennas are not permitted in my neighborhood, but I remain a good neighbor with a stealthy antenna and mostly operate with low power. Rig: Icom IC703+ set at 5 watts output. Antenna: Stealthy inverted L, 30 ft vertical, 40 ft horizontal.

W5ACM

I started on 20M and stayed there! Last month my ATS-3A developed a serious receiver problem. In other words it is totally deaf. The problem has not yet been solved, so out came the older and heavier ATS-3. It was built seven years ago in an Altoids box with a pair of 650 mAh LiPo cells, metal paddle, serious connectors, etc. The bottom line is that it is twice the weight, but very durable. After a little experimentation and re-education on its operation, I was on the air. The signals on 20M were not loud, but very easy to copy. Thanks to K7RE, W4VHH, WA8PGE and K8AX! I hope to have the ATS-3A fixed by September... We will see if that really happens... The power output stayed around 3 Watts for the duration with plenty of extra battery capacity for calling CQ.

NQ2W
Used my newly built OHR 100-A running 5W to a mini-beam at 25 ft for 6 Q's on 20 meters and my ole trusty Ten-Tec 1340 at 5W to an inverted vee at 40 ft for 6 Q's. The activity on 20 was kinda sparse even though I think it would have supported a lot of Q's - worked stations in IL, MO (x2), TX, SD, and BC. 40 was lively, as usual, and noisy, as usual, with propagation up and down the east coast. All in all, a good sprint and it's nice to have another band to play with without adding a lot of weight. Thanks to everyone that heard me and thanks to the organizers. Hope to see you all next month.


WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5w to a 20M wire delta loop.  I guess everyone was tired after the FotBBs on Sunday. All contacts on 20M and most from the midwest - except K7RE's nice 1w signal from South Dakota.  Tried 40M, but not enough 'oopmh' tonight for K4ORD to pick out my call.  Thanks to all.  Had fun.


KB1OOO
First time doing spartan sprint, lots of fun! Thanks to everyone for putting up with my keying, I was using my iphone app iDitDahText as paddle and keyer which I'm not as used to at 25wpm.  Station is K1 running 5w into a ZS6BKW up about 35' at my parents lake house on beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee, Moultonborough NH.  12 contacts on 40M and 2 on 20M.  I'll get the antenna up higher next time at my home QTH in N. Conway NH. 


KD4UKW
My first-ever Spartan Sprint. I only had a few minutes to operate from the shack at home, but it was great!  I made my first-ever 1,000 mi/watt contact with SD (1,277 miles, 1w both ways, on 20m), and my first-ever milliwatt contact (OH, 425 miles, 500mw).  I'll be back!  I ran a K2 on battery power to a 45' vertical wire.  Hmm, I need a lighter battery and a mini/portable key to bring down my weight.


K7RE
I only did 20M, as the thunderstorm QRN was unbearable on 40M and below. I used my Sierra and a Chinese li-ion battery rated at 8 AH, but probably yields more like 4 AH. I sure wish that we could scare up more activity.  I worked several 1W stations on the east coast, so propagation could not have been too bad. I alos was only running 1W out of the Sierra. Antenna was my 3 element ancient tribander.


WA8PGE
The night started out rather slow, I was not able to work (or hear) anyone for the first 45 minutes but things picked up towards the end of the event. I made 14 QSOs, most in the last half hour, more stations around 7.040 than 7.030. I worked 1 QRPp station: KD4UKW running 0.5 watts. Rig: SDR Softrock Ensemble (20,30,40m) into a 5w amp, Software was Rocky 3.6. Antenna: inverted vee @ 35'


K4BAI
I had looked forward to the SS this month, but got busy with the log for the US Counties QSO Party held last weekend and forgot about it.  Got on for the lat 17 minutes.  By that time, there were no SS signals on 20, 80 was noisy with no SS activity heard, and 40 was pretty good, but most of the activity was over.  Managed 7 QSOs from TX to NY.  Got K6JSS/7 in NV on 7031 just after the SS was over.  Thanks to NW2K for the reminder about the SS that I did see in time to have a little fun.  See you all next month for the whole two hours, I hope.  This weekend in NAQP CW, I will be signing W4AN single op from the WW4LL station.  Hope all of you will be active in that fun event.


KS4L
Nice to do a Spartan Sprint again.  Used my newly completed ATS-4 with my 80m inverted vee.  The ATS-4 was powered by a 3-cell (11.1v) LiPo battery.  All contacts were on 40m.  I quit about 0220 UTC.  Never heard anybody on 20 or 80, in spite of several CQs and listening several times.  There was a DX pileup around 7.033MHz that was LOUD at times!  Thanks for the Q's!


NY4G
First Spartan sprint for me.  Rig was a K2/10 with internal battery and a Palm Mini Paddle. Antenna was a G5RV.  Contest was a blast.  Started on 20m and found N5OE in TX operating QRP  and 20m was relatively inactive.  Immediately found K3RLL on 40 meters.  Soon the region around 7040 was ablaze with activity calling CQ SP.  I made most of my contacts there.  The prize was back on 20m.  SD was calling K7RE.  I have the devil of a time getting SD QRO and now I can hear SD QRP power - WOW!!!.  Thanks to all who participated.


K4ORD
Lots of S9 QRN on 40M again, made 1 qso on 20M and 13 on 40M,  Two stations called that I could not get out of the noise, one had QL in the call. Rig K3 @ 5Want 40M dipole up 40.' Thanks to all.


WB4MNK
Enjoyed the sprint as usual. Hope to see everyone next month. Thanks to all I made contact with. KX1 and S9 vertical 31'


W1PID
Very few on 20 meters even though I think the band was in good shape. Stations on 40 were strong ... especially K3RLL and WA8ZBT. I think participation is approaching the lowest I remember. I only operated about 12 minutes. I ran an HB-1A at 4W with a 65 foot wire out a second story window. It's kind of an emergency antenna, but simulates conditions in the field pretty well. Thanks to all for the QSOs.


K3RLL
FT-817 to G5RVjr up 40’ – Nothing heard on 20 or 80 here. Signals sounded weak on 40 tonight, except for K4ORD of course, but appreciate all those who pulled me out of the noise. Nice to contact WB4MNK back in FL from here in rural PA summer home. Tnx to all.


K5JHP
Hoping for better prop condx next month.

Results: July '11 Spartan Sprint