(For and enlarged view, please click on the Scoreboard)
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Soapbox: September 2013 Spartan Sprint
AB9CA
Was a fun sprint. Activity was more than it has been for a while. Good to see the new call alongside those more familiar. Station was the K2 at 5w to 100' wire. Activity was fairly evenly spread between 20m, with 29 Q's, and 40m, with 36 Q's. Also went to 80 for a few minutes and picked up 3 there. But the noise was pretty bad so did not stay long. The most active states were: TX - 10, MI - 9, CA - 5, CO, MN , NH, PA - 4. Good to see those Pesky Texans out in force! Thanks to everyone who stopped by. Hope to see ya'all again next month.
K5GQ
ATS-III. Nice to be able to work a SP.Heard N4BP on 20 But just could not finish contact. Signals were strong on both 40M and 20M.
K3RLL
Got late start as phone rang at exactly 9 PM EDT. (Sigh) But daughters come before radios. Nice group out tonight on 40 meters and fairly long skip. NO2D had great signal in from CO as did KE0G from MN. Tnx for all the fun, short time tonight or not.
NKØE
Another fun sprint. Ran my K1 into a multiband EFHW at 5W. Started fast on 20m but switched over to 40m after a half hour when activity disappeared. 40 was a challenge at my QTH tonight - signals were not strong and QSB was maddening at times. Still, a fun evening and a great way to wrap up the holiday weekend.
AA4GA
Same station as last month - only change was to raise up the half of my antenna that had fallen! Now back at around 40,' and that surely helped - plus, I get the feel that condx may have been better as well, but that's hard to judge with the antenna change. Anyway, I had 7 QSOs on 20 and 19 on 40 with KE0G and WB5BKL worked on both bands. On my 950 mA 3S LiPo, I started with the voltage at 11.79 (the ATS rigs don't like voltage over 12v, so I don't fully charge the battery) and ended up at 11.15v, using 382 mAH of juice. That's with a lot of CQing. I suppose I could get a lighter battery, but I do like not having to worry about running it too low or if I'm CQing too much. Rig again was "Sindy", the ATS-3b at 4-5 watts out, depending on band.
WØCH
Pretty good conditions here in Missouri. I worked only 40 meters in between other tasks around the shop. My 7AH gel cell battery doesn't help my "Skinny Score" very much!
W5ACM
Still using the ATS-3 with three 300 mAh LiPo batteries, providing 5W out and a final total of 17 QSOs this month. Once again I had a GREAT TIME! This month it was an almost even split between 20M and 40M. It started slow on 20M, but then more folks started showing up. Band conditions were very quiet, i.e. very little QRN. 40M was almost as good, but a bit noisier. I avoided excessive CQ ops so that I could make the batteries last the whole two hours. It sounded like there were a lot more folks on this month. Nice! VFB to finally work Henry W5HNS in San Antonio. It was a fabulous evening from Houston. Hoping to get my ATS-3A operational for next time!
WA5BUC
First Sprint in quite some time. Started on 20 (no Q's). Then went to 40 for 3 Q's. Fun event.
KG3W
Same station set up as August sprint. Had 2 more contacts than last month. Woo hoo! Only 2 were Michigan qso party. Bands condx were full of static crashes. Best signals were N4BP & AB9CA. Heard Don K3RLL but could not get him on 40. Must have spent 10 minutes trying to get K5GQ. Maybe next time Mark. Thanks everyone for 2 hours of QRP fun this evening.
AE7CG
Thanks to K4BAI, WB5BKL, and KE8M for QSOs on 20M.Rig is an MFJ Cub running 2 watts to a dipole up 10 feet.
K4BAI
Many more QSOs than in recent months.Maybe it was because of the holiday or that the Mi QRP Club had a sprint at the same time. In any case, let's keep the activity level up. 20M was pretty good with QSOs to New England and the west coast. Skip was fairly long with the closest QSOs being in NJ and TX. 40M was good all over. No activity heard on 7030, but a lot of activity between 7039 and 7044 kHz. 80M was very noisy, but N8EA in MI had a good signal. QSOs by bands: 20M: 16;40M: 32; 80M: 3. Thanks for all the QSOs.
K5JHP
Bands were pretty good. Could have worked more but time was cut short. Better next month.
WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5W to a wire delta loop, a 40M dipole or a 40M EDZepp. Wow - lots of activity this time. My thanks to all of the MI QRP Sprint folks who joined in. My last QSO might have been a little late, so I did not count it - but this sprint was still a personal best for me with 43 QSOs and 20 states. My apologies to those I could not quite hear - we had a line of T-storms that were more-or-less stationary to the southeast of here. My thanks to all and to the ARS sponsors.
N4BP
Overlapped with the MI QRP Labor Day Sprint. No problem to participate in both. In fact only one SPer was a dupe for the MI Sprint since 20M remained open only very briefly after the start of the Spartan Sprint and the remainder was spent on 40M.
W5HNS
Finally found a no-conflict 1st Monday. Was operating /5 from Lubbock and used 20 and 40 meters. Maybe should have stayed on 20 a tad longer but contacts were few and far between. For me, most signals were very weak including the usually strong K4BAI. But then I am sure he was beaming up the east coast. Was surprised to hear Texas stations on 40 meters. Especially strong most of the time was WB5BKL and W5ACM.
NQ2W
K1 at 5W to a mini-beam at 25ft for 20m and an inverted vee at 40ft for 40m. Lots of QRN in Albany, NY on both 20m and 40m...I didn't even think about trying 80. Even through the noise, two banders were had with N4BP, K4BAI, and AB9CA. Thanks for the Qs and here's hoping for quieter conditions in October.
NK9G
Operated with Yaesu FT-450. Noisy compared to my K1 on a battery. Had Fun, lot's of activity
AB1AV
Off to a good start on 20m with ATS3, & used it for a 9:30 traffic net too. Then zapped it somehow and killed the receiver, so that was it for this month.
WA8TMI
Great conditions. Wish I had more time. I must have a major lobe off the wire towards TX as they were coming in strong! FT2000@ 5W to the doublet. Got 5 20m and 2 on 40 before I had to go. Thanks all.
Was a fun sprint. Activity was more than it has been for a while. Good to see the new call alongside those more familiar. Station was the K2 at 5w to 100' wire. Activity was fairly evenly spread between 20m, with 29 Q's, and 40m, with 36 Q's. Also went to 80 for a few minutes and picked up 3 there. But the noise was pretty bad so did not stay long. The most active states were: TX - 10, MI - 9, CA - 5, CO, MN , NH, PA - 4. Good to see those Pesky Texans out in force! Thanks to everyone who stopped by. Hope to see ya'all again next month.
K5GQ
ATS-III. Nice to be able to work a SP.Heard N4BP on 20 But just could not finish contact. Signals were strong on both 40M and 20M.
K3RLL
Got late start as phone rang at exactly 9 PM EDT. (Sigh) But daughters come before radios. Nice group out tonight on 40 meters and fairly long skip. NO2D had great signal in from CO as did KE0G from MN. Tnx for all the fun, short time tonight or not.
NKØE
Another fun sprint. Ran my K1 into a multiband EFHW at 5W. Started fast on 20m but switched over to 40m after a half hour when activity disappeared. 40 was a challenge at my QTH tonight - signals were not strong and QSB was maddening at times. Still, a fun evening and a great way to wrap up the holiday weekend.
AA4GA
Same station as last month - only change was to raise up the half of my antenna that had fallen! Now back at around 40,' and that surely helped - plus, I get the feel that condx may have been better as well, but that's hard to judge with the antenna change. Anyway, I had 7 QSOs on 20 and 19 on 40 with KE0G and WB5BKL worked on both bands. On my 950 mA 3S LiPo, I started with the voltage at 11.79 (the ATS rigs don't like voltage over 12v, so I don't fully charge the battery) and ended up at 11.15v, using 382 mAH of juice. That's with a lot of CQing. I suppose I could get a lighter battery, but I do like not having to worry about running it too low or if I'm CQing too much. Rig again was "Sindy", the ATS-3b at 4-5 watts out, depending on band.
WØCH
Pretty good conditions here in Missouri. I worked only 40 meters in between other tasks around the shop. My 7AH gel cell battery doesn't help my "Skinny Score" very much!
W5ACM
Still using the ATS-3 with three 300 mAh LiPo batteries, providing 5W out and a final total of 17 QSOs this month. Once again I had a GREAT TIME! This month it was an almost even split between 20M and 40M. It started slow on 20M, but then more folks started showing up. Band conditions were very quiet, i.e. very little QRN. 40M was almost as good, but a bit noisier. I avoided excessive CQ ops so that I could make the batteries last the whole two hours. It sounded like there were a lot more folks on this month. Nice! VFB to finally work Henry W5HNS in San Antonio. It was a fabulous evening from Houston. Hoping to get my ATS-3A operational for next time!
WA5BUC
First Sprint in quite some time. Started on 20 (no Q's). Then went to 40 for 3 Q's. Fun event.
KG3W
Same station set up as August sprint. Had 2 more contacts than last month. Woo hoo! Only 2 were Michigan qso party. Bands condx were full of static crashes. Best signals were N4BP & AB9CA. Heard Don K3RLL but could not get him on 40. Must have spent 10 minutes trying to get K5GQ. Maybe next time Mark. Thanks everyone for 2 hours of QRP fun this evening.
AE7CG
Thanks to K4BAI, WB5BKL, and KE8M for QSOs on 20M.Rig is an MFJ Cub running 2 watts to a dipole up 10 feet.
K4BAI
Many more QSOs than in recent months.Maybe it was because of the holiday or that the Mi QRP Club had a sprint at the same time. In any case, let's keep the activity level up. 20M was pretty good with QSOs to New England and the west coast. Skip was fairly long with the closest QSOs being in NJ and TX. 40M was good all over. No activity heard on 7030, but a lot of activity between 7039 and 7044 kHz. 80M was very noisy, but N8EA in MI had a good signal. QSOs by bands: 20M: 16;40M: 32; 80M: 3. Thanks for all the QSOs.
K5JHP
Bands were pretty good. Could have worked more but time was cut short. Better next month.
WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5W to a wire delta loop, a 40M dipole or a 40M EDZepp. Wow - lots of activity this time. My thanks to all of the MI QRP Sprint folks who joined in. My last QSO might have been a little late, so I did not count it - but this sprint was still a personal best for me with 43 QSOs and 20 states. My apologies to those I could not quite hear - we had a line of T-storms that were more-or-less stationary to the southeast of here. My thanks to all and to the ARS sponsors.
N4BP
Overlapped with the MI QRP Labor Day Sprint. No problem to participate in both. In fact only one SPer was a dupe for the MI Sprint since 20M remained open only very briefly after the start of the Spartan Sprint and the remainder was spent on 40M.
W5HNS
Finally found a no-conflict 1st Monday. Was operating /5 from Lubbock and used 20 and 40 meters. Maybe should have stayed on 20 a tad longer but contacts were few and far between. For me, most signals were very weak including the usually strong K4BAI. But then I am sure he was beaming up the east coast. Was surprised to hear Texas stations on 40 meters. Especially strong most of the time was WB5BKL and W5ACM.
NQ2W
K1 at 5W to a mini-beam at 25ft for 20m and an inverted vee at 40ft for 40m. Lots of QRN in Albany, NY on both 20m and 40m...I didn't even think about trying 80. Even through the noise, two banders were had with N4BP, K4BAI, and AB9CA. Thanks for the Qs and here's hoping for quieter conditions in October.
NK9G
Operated with Yaesu FT-450. Noisy compared to my K1 on a battery. Had Fun, lot's of activity
AB1AV
Off to a good start on 20m with ATS3, & used it for a 9:30 traffic net too. Then zapped it somehow and killed the receiver, so that was it for this month.
WA8TMI
Great conditions. Wish I had more time. I must have a major lobe off the wire towards TX as they were coming in strong! FT2000@ 5W to the doublet. Got 5 20m and 2 on 40 before I had to go. Thanks all.
Friday, August 23, 2013
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
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
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
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.
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.
Monday, July 1, 2013
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?
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:
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
The Adventure Radio Society
* * * * * * * * * *
FIELD STATIONS:
Apply for a 2013 Flight of the Bumblebees Number
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’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: <
2. OFFER THREE OPTIONS: Check the database < http://bit.ly/15aGgN1 > for eligibility. Then send an email to:
< ARSBumblebees@gmail.com > with:
< 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
Monday, June 17, 2013
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