RESULTS: 2013 Flight of the Bumblebees

The 2013 Flight of the Bumblebees had some of the highest participation in the history of the contest. Operators from around the United States, Canada and from France were active during the four-hour event on Sunday, July 28.

Scores are posted at: < http://bit.ly/17PSmdH >.

The Top 10 included:
N4BP
KXØR
N7OU
NØSS
AC7A
K6XM
K4BAI
AB9CA
N1EU
K7TQ

A total of 94 logs were submitted from both /BB and home stations.

Sincere thanks to all who took part in the 2013 edition of this annual event. Please save July 27, 2014 for the next Flight of the Bumblebees.

Richard Fisher, KI6SN
The Adventure Radio Society

RESULTS: August 2013 Spartan Sprint

(For an enlarged image, please click on the Scoreboard)

SOAPBOX: August 2013 Spartan Sprint

WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5W to a wire delta loop or a 40M dipole. Tried 15 and 80M with no results.  Most of the QSOs were on 40M with 4 two-banders from 20M:  NQ2W, K6XM, NK6A and AB1AV. This was my best outing in quite a while though I only got 12 states.  I was still making contacts at 0259...  Removed one QRO contact (8W!) before making this Submission.  My thanks to all.  Had fun.

WB4MNK
Got pull away after one contact with K3RLL on 40 meters. Nice solid 579, Don.

N4BP
I'm on my way home from the Sturgis, SD Bike Week rally and stopped at a motel in Benton, IL. My home station in Plantation, FL was remote controlled using LogMeIn for radio control and Skype to hear my K3's audio.  My Internet connection at the motel was very slow, so just put in a few minutes to make an appearance.  Besides the awkward delays from the slow connection, the bands seemed extremely noisy.  I suspect there was a storm going on at home, but hard to tell being over 1,000 miles away!  Rig was the K3 @ 5w, antennas were Cushcraft A4S and 40/80 coax trap dipole. Logging and CW sending was done with N1MM Logger.  For any manual sending, was forced to use keyboard mode, extremely awkward. Thanks to those who hung in with me.

K3RLL
KX3 to G5RVjr: Sprint started out pretty hot but seemed to suffer a premature demise tonight. Didn’t hear anyone on 20 meters tonight. I guess those solar storms the last couple of days took a toll on our bands.   Big signal was WA8PGE tonight.  72 and thanks for the fun de Don K3RLL, on location in World Famous Redbank Valley Pennsylvania.

K5JHP
Could only work one hour.  Hope for more activity next month.

N5EM
Good conditions, though noisy.  Heard quite a few hunt and pounce stations that I did not work.

KG3W
It's been over a year since I had been in the Spartan Sprint. Forgot what fun it can be. Went as trim as I could. HB1B, Palm paddle, T1 tuner and 850 mah lipo battery. I thought the battery would run down to soon but it was still at 11.4 volts when I finished up, and I was CQing alot. Got out to Iowa and Texas on 40. 20mtrs was no good for me and only had 1 contact on 80 with K3RLL. He and I are only 25 miles apart. 72 and thanks for all the contacts tonight.

K6XM
This was my second attempt at the Spartan Sprint and I did much better than the first time. One of the big lessons that I learned from the first attempt was that I needed to get started on time. Everyone seems to vacate 20 meters after the first half hour, which is still over an hour before local sunset. And 40 meters doesn’t begin to open until almost the end of the contest. So this time I got started just after 6 pm, and worked 15 stations in the first half hour. It also seemed like there was more activity this time. I worked a lot of calls that I hadn’t heard before. I used my new Anker Astro Pro 10000 battery to run my KX3. It worked pretty well and only used about half of its charge in the two hour contest. Thanks for another fun event!

K4BAI
Started on 20 and could only hear W7OM, who couldn't hear me. Went to 40 where there was some more activity, but not as many heard as usual. Most activity was around 7040 rather than 7030.  Tried both parts of the band.  Went back to 20 at 0215Z for three QSOs, K6XM, WVØH, and NK6A all with great signals.  The remaining QSOs were on 40 with stations as close as W4VHH in NC and AB9CA in AL and as far away as NK6A, K6XM, and W7OM.  Also good signsls from W1PID and AB1AV in NH.  On 80M, got no answers to CQs and heard only WB5BKL, who didn't hear me calling. Thanks for all QSOs.

AA4GA
It's been a over six months since I've operated a Spartan Sprint, but glad to be back - thanks K4BAI for the reminder!  Unfortunately, my antenna and/or the bands weren't cooperating.  I started on 20m and worked no one at all.  After a move to 40 I was able to make a few QSOs and decided to try 20 again.  I also tried 80m with no luck either, so it was a single-band operation for me!  I did check the Reverse Beacon Network and was heard on 80m, but there were no reports at all on 20 for my CQs.  I was using a new paddle for this running:  a TeNeKe micro.  The paddle was taking a bit of work to get used to - this was the first time I'd used it on the air.  This along with Sindy, my ATS-3B, powered by a 950 mAH LiPo.  See you next time!

AB9CA
Was fun as usual. Had only an hour last evening. Rig was K2 at 5w to 100' wire. 40m was the 'main band' for sure. Made only 3 Q's on 20 before going to 40 where 20 were found. Went to 80 for a few minutes before leaving early but found no one. Looks like 12 SPC's on 40 and 3 on 20. TX was the most popular here with 6 Q's then NH (!!) with 3. GA, NY, and PA with 2 each. Worked W1PID and NQ2W on both bands. Thanks to everyone for the fun and see ya'all next month.

W5ESE
I used my AT Sprint 3 and Whiterook MK-44 paddles. The antenna is a horizontal loop fed with open wire line. A lot of QRN here. Conditions seemed poor. Been several months since I've been able to participate. Thanks for sponsoring the Sprint!

W5ACM
Still using the ATS-3 with three 300 mAh LiPo batteries, providing 5W out and a final total of 20 QSOs this month. I had a GREAT TIME! While I only had three contacts on 20M, I found 40M conditions to be fantastic. I jumped in and started calling CQ. This is not always a good idea when running a rig that has very-low current batteries (weight...). However, it paid off! I worked a lot of stations that I had not heard before, but there was some payback... The battery voltage was drooping at 1.5 hours into the event. I had to hang it up. There are no protection circuits on these batteries. If you run them down too far, they die - period. They puff up, get hot, catch on fire, and explode if you don't throw them into the "dead battery pit" ASAP! I accepted the premature end, and had a beer. It was a fabulous evening from Houston. Hoping for more 20M ops next time!

NQ2W
Ten-Tec Jupiter running 5W to a mini-beam at 25ft for 20m and an inverted vee at 40ft for 40m. My "lightweight" equipment was packed away in preparation for the Skeeter Sprint. I was privileged to work 8 stations on 20m from FL to CA and a few states in between and 14 stations on 40m mostly up and down the east coast and as far west as TX. I heard CA and WA on 40 but they couldn't hear me. Two banders with AB9CA, KB5FCF, and WB5BKL. KG3W was loud from PA on 40. WA8PGE's 50mW was FB from OH on 40. Hope to hear you all again. Thanks to all.

AB1AV
Thanks W1PID for reminding me the first Monday had arrived again... Worked about an hour, on 20 and 40 meters. Rig was ATS3 & Zmatch tuner to 88' doublet up 55'.  Antenna seems pretty directional -- from NH reached MO, OK, TX, and Southern CA.  Some great signals, & some were a struggle. Fun as always.

WA4AAK
Only had time to join in on the first half hour, but still managed 6 contacts on 40m with 3 watts thanks to some highly skilled operators on the other end.  Didn't hear any Sprint stations on 20 or 80.  Looking forward to the next one!

W1PID
KX3, OCF dipole. Not much activity. Best DX: NK6A and K6XM in CA. Thanks to all for the QSOs.

ANNOUNCING: ARS 2013 FOBB

RULES:
Adventure Radio Society 2013 Flight of the Bumblebees, Sunday, July 28

            The Adventure Radio Society Flight of the Bumblebees is a four-hour event held annually on the last Sunday of July. It is open to all radio amateurs.

2013 ARS Flight of the Bumblebees

Sunday, July 28

1700 to 2100 UTC

CONTEST PERIOD BY TIMEZONE (Local Time)

·                    1 p.m. to 5 p.m.   – Eastern

·                    12 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Central

·                    11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Mountain

·                    10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Pacific

·                    7 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Hawaii

The contest period accommodates multiple time zones simultaneously. No matter where you live, there will be time for Bumblebees to travel to a field operating site, set up their station, operate the contest, and travel home.

WHO CAN PLAY?

Both home-based and portable operations are encouraged.

WHAT QUALIFIES AS A BUMBLEBEE?

Participants who operate portable from field locations are designated as Bumblebees. They get to their operating site principally under their own power by walking, biking, boating, and so on. The distance traveled to the site is at the Bumblebee’s discretion. Bumblebees add /BB to their calls. (NOTE: Home-based stations do not add /BB to their callsign.)

IF YOU’RE ELIGIBLE, GET A BUMBLEBEE NUMBER

If you plan to operate the 2013 FOBB portable – in other words, from a field location – you’re invited to request a Bumblebee identification number. Instructions for obtaining a Bumblebee number are in the next section, below, headlined "Apply for a 2013 Flight of the Bumblebees Number."

There is no limit to the number of Bumblebees. You may apply for, and receive, a Bee number at any time up to July 28 prior to the contest.

GROUP OPERATION

Group operation is welcome in the Flight of the Bumblebees. You may operate under a single call and report a single score, or under multiple calls and report multiple scores. In any event, you are limited to operating a single transmitter at a time.

POWER OUTPUT

To keep with its minimalist theme, maximum FOBB power output is 5 watts.

OPERATION

We operate CW on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters, around standard QRP frequencies.

           

EXCHANGE

• /BB: If you are a Bumblebee, your exchange is RST, state/province/country, and your Bumblebee number.
• Home Stations: If you are home based, your exchange is RST, state/province/country, and your power.

Here are examples of exchanges:

Bumblebee KI6SN/BB (Bumblebee No. 5) sends:

579

CA

BB 5 or NR 5

Home-based station KI6DMB sends:

579

CA

5W

PLAYING IN 2013 FOBB

Everyone in the contest can work anyone else in the contest. In other words:

·                    Home-based stations can work other home-based stations and Bumblebees.

·                    Bumblebees can work other Bumblebees and home-based stations.

SCORING

Here are the details:

·                    Each contact is worth one point.

·                    The same station can be worked on different bands for additional QSO points and multipliers.

·                    Contacts with Bumblebees generate a multiplier of three. NOTE: If you worked KI6SN/BB on two bands, it counts as two Bumblebee contacts.

Here’s an example of how your score will be calculated:

• Say, you make 21 FOBB contacts on 40 meters.
• You make 32 FOBB contacts on 20 meters.
• In that combined total of QSOs, you contacted 14 Bumblebees. NOTE: If you worked KI6SN/BB on two bands, it counts as two Bumblebee contacts.
• To determine your multiplier, multiply 14 Bumblebees times 3.

Using the FOBB Scoring Formuala:

• Contacts: 21 + 32 = 53
• BB Multiplier: 14 X 3 = 42
• Total: 53 QSOs X 42 BB Multiplier = 2,226 Total points

COMMENDATIONS

Separate but equal commendations are awarded to the high scores for the home based and Bumblebee participants. We will also commend Bumblebees in the following categories:

• Most interesting equipment
• Most fascinating FOBB venture
• Most beautiful site
  
  

SUBMITTING YOUR FOBB DATA:

Send your FOBB 2013 Reports via email to:

< ARSBumblebees@gmail.com >

REPORT FORM:

Your:

• Full name
• Callsign
• Location of FOBB operation:
• Total number of contacts (all bands):
• Total number of Bumblebees (all bands):
• Comments about your 2013 FOBB experience:

Photographs of your adventure are welcome and encouraged.

RESULTS:

Results and soapbox comments will be reported on the ARS Spartan Sprint and FOBB website. That posting will be announced on the QRP-L mailgroup.

SAFETY:

As with all ARS events, please keep safety in front of mind when conducting operations in the field. Such things as weather, power lines, terrain, dehydration and fatigue can be lethal. Above all, we want all participants to have a fabulous and safe experience.

– 73, Richard Fisher, KI6SN,
The Adventure Radio Society

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

FIELD STATIONS:
Apply for a 2013 Flight of the Bumblebees Number

            The Adventure Radio Society Flight of the Bumblebees is a four-hour event held annually on the last Sunday of July. It is open to all radio amateurs.

2013 ARS Flight of the Bumblebees

Sunday, July 28

1700 to 2100 UTC

CONTEST PERIOD BY TIMEZONE (Local Time)

·                    1 p.m. to 5 p.m.   – Eastern

·                    12 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Central

·                    11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Mountain

·                    10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Pacific

·                    7 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Hawaii

The contest period accommodates multiple time zones simultaneously. No matter where you live, there will be time for Bumblebees to travel to a field operating site, set up their station, operate the contest, and travel home.

IF YOU’RE ELIGIBLE, GET A BUMBLEBEE NUMBER

If you plan to operate the 2013 FOBB portable – in other words, from a field location – you’re invited to request a Bumblebee identification number. Here’s how:

1. CHECK THE DATABASE: An online database has been set up to show assigned Bumblebee numbers. Visit: < http://bit.ly/15aGgN1 >.

2. OFFER THREE OPTIONS: Check the database  < http://bit.ly/15aGgN1 >  for eligibility. Then send an email to:

 < ARSBumblebees@gmail.com > with:

• Your Callsign
• Your First Name
• The field location you anticipate to be operating from
• Your Top 3 Choices for FOBB Number

3. YOUR FOBB NUMBER ASSIGNMENT: Check the database, < http://bit.ly/15aGgN1 >,after submitting your top three choices to see which number you have been assigned. The number listed in the database is your official 2013 FOBB number.

– 73, Richard Fisher, KI6SN,

The Adventure Radio Society

Results: July '13 ARS Spartan Sprint

(Please click on scoreboard for an enlarged view.)

Soapbox: July 2013 ARS Spartan Sprint

K6XM
This was my first Spartan Sprint, and a bit of a learning experience. I didn’t get the portable antenna that I was making finished in time, so had to use the home station antenna. My station was a KX3 with built in paddle and was run off of its internal rechargeable batteries. I had a bit of a learning curve with the KX3, since I hadn’t had much opportunity to use it. I started 1/2 hour late, which appears to have been a serious mistake. Everyone seemed to give up on 20 meters before I had a chance to work them, even though the band was still open. I ended up on 40 meters, which didn’t really start to open until near the end of the contest. I could hear several east coast stations (very weakly) on 40, but they couldn’t hear me. Lots of room for improvement for next time. Thanks for running the contest,

K3RLL
Just assembled KX3 to G5RVjr here in PA tonight with a real, honest-to-goodness outside G5RV antenna. What fun QRP can be with a reasonable antenna. What a difference from my attic dipole in FL. Didn't hear much on 20 meters and 40 was slow to warm up, but it came on nicely.  Very happy with the 14 patient ops who came back to me tonight as I was learning how to use the new rig.  Thanks to all.

K4FB
KX3 @ 5 watts to a  ground mounted 6BTV vertical.  Nice to work several stations on both 20 and 40.

KI6SN
FT-817ND and EFHW with counterpoise served well on 40 meters. Operated "in the field" - my back yard - fully off the grid. K4BAI and AB9CA heard and worked me an hour before sundown. Amazing. Other stations pulling me out of the din were K6XM, K7TQ, WB5BKL and W5ACM. Superb operators. Great to work old friends and make new ones. Many thanks to all.

AB9CA
Was a fun sprint as usual. The bands seemed to be in fair shape. Noise was not as bad as sometimes. Rig was FT-857 at 5w to 100' of wire. 9 Qs on 20, 16 on 40, and 3 on 80. Worked K6XM, WA5RML, W1PID, W5ACM, AE4TC, W0CH, NQ2W, (and maybe a couple of others I have overlooked) on 2 bands. Worked no one on all three. Got a late start and quit a bit early so only about an hour and half on the air. Thanks to everyone who stopped by. Some were tough to pull out, requiring several fills. But they are always worth it!! Hope to hear everyone next month.

AE4TC
It's been a while since participating in the sprints. It was good to hear some familiar calls and some new ones. Wasn't able to operate the whole event. Managed 11 QSO's, 6 on 20m and 5 on 40m. FT 817, 5w into an inverted vee @ 45 feet. Next month will operate battery with portable paddles and smaller tuner.

WA5RML
FlexRadio 1500 @5 wts to vertical (20M) and G5RV (80/40M); Weight of 13.7 lbs includes laptop, power supply, Vibroplex paddles, FlexControl knob.  My first Spartan Sprint in awhile -  Tough night to jump back in!  9 QSOs included: (a) 20M - NK6A, KI6J, (b) 40M - K4BAI, K4FB, AB9CA, W0CH, N5GW, and WA8REI (Hi Ken!  Tough QSO!), and (c) 80M - AB9CA (again).  Heard Randy, K7TQ on 20M at the start, but he couldn't pull me out.  Thanks to all how participated!

K7TQ
Stayed home this month, but used the light weight gear at 1.3 lbs. 20 m was the best band with 8 Qs.  I ran out of stations around 0140 so off to 40 m.  Not much cooking there with only 4 more.  Good signals on 20 from WB0WQS and on 40 from K4BAI and K6XM.  Nice to work Richard, KI6SN, who runs the show.  Catch you all next month.

W5ACM
Still using the ATS-3 with three 300 mAh LiPo batteries, providing 5W out and a final total of 11 QSOs this month. I only managed two contacts on 20M with W1PID in NH and NK6A in CA. The band was OPEN but QRP stations were very hard to find. Everyone had apparently migrated to 40M a bit too early, but noise conditions on the lower band were not bad and the contacts were solid. AB9CA in AL made a foray to 80M - nice signal - my only 80M QSO. My backyard vertical uses a resonator at the top for any very narrow piece of 80M that you wish to work. Mine is peaked at 3560, and it's nice when conditions cooperate. June was not up to the quality of the April event, but the season for higher band cooperation is not over yet! Hoping for more 20M ops next time!

W1PID
Best DX W7OM in WA. Finally worked K7TQ. Great to hear Larry, W2LJ, and Ken WA8REI! 20 meters was the best producer. Nice to see activity picking up.

K4BAI
Nice write up on Spartan Sprint in WorldRadio Online Magazine.  Had hoped it would result in more activity this month, but activity was still down from the past. 20M was open, but not really good at the start, but kept returning to 20M and made 9 QSOs on that band.  27 QSOs on 40M, which was the money band this time.  Heard no activity and got no answers to CQs on 7030 kHz. All 40M QSOs were between 7040 and 7042 kHz.  Worked 3 CA stations to the west and as far as NH to the north. Best signals were from LA, TX, OK.  No skip zone noticed as made QSOs in FL, AL, and TN. Nice to work local newcomer KK4BNC on 20M.  Thanks for all QSOs.

NQ2W
K1 running 5W to a mini-beam at 25ft for 20m and an inverted vee at 40ft for 40m. I wasn't aware of the rule change for determining station weight until last month's posting of the SP results. I apologize for my oversight and have corrected my station weight to include my antenna tuner and associated cables...now I have an incentive to better adjust my mini-beam so I can forego using the tuner and get my weight back down...now, where did that doggone time go? Signals seemed to either be strong or weak with few in the middle range. Regardless, I was able to log 13 Qs on 20m and 10 Qs on 40m. Two-banders included N5GW, K4BAI, AB9CA, and WB5BKL. Of the QRPers, K3RLL was loudest but two QRO stations, one from VA and one from PA, were ear-busting loud. As usual, very enjoyable. Looking forward to the BB and other upcoming QRP events this month.

N5EM
Using KX3 with internal AA NiMH, running 5W to R7 vertical and dipoles.  Band seemed open; made 2 QSOs; worked NK6A on 20M and K4BAI on 40M.  Heard bits of others.

N5GW
I was on vacation staying in a cabin on the Cumberland Plateau with the xyl. I had the K1 running at 3W with internal battery pack to a HB microtuner and CFZ in a big oak tree. The bands were not in great shape due to QRN from local T-storms, and also deep QSB at times. Most sigs were weak, except for a few including K4BAI who must have good antennas. Most Q's were on 40. 20 faded here after about 46 min. However it's always fun when the outside temp is 73 instead of 93 back home in MS.

WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5W to a wire delta loop, a dipole or a 40M extended double Zepp.  All QSOs were on 20 and 40M.  14 states this time with a lot of the usual suspects and a few new-to-me calls.  I sure would like to see more activity.  I try to publicize the sprint on the AQRP and QRPadillos mailing lists and will add my local club (Highland Lakes ARC) next month.  You might consider doing the same on your favorite local lists. Many thanks to all.  Had fun.

WØCH
Thanks for a fun evening, glad to see 20 meters cooperating.  I've missed participating in the sprints and hope to be on more often.

Results: June 2013 Spartan Sprint

(For enlarged view, please click on scoreboard)