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.

SOAPBOX: July 2020 ARS Spartan Sprint

K3RLL
Back in what was supposed to be ‘cooler’ rural Pennsylvania for the summer, but pretty hot in the northeast right now. But that’s okay, as the heat may get to the ham bands. It’s nice to be up here in the country at 1150 ASL with an actual outdoor antenna. QRP is a lot more fun here than in flat FL with HOA antenna restrictions. Happy for the few contacts made in my half hour this evening as everyone had good signals and I even got a couple good signal reports. Amazing!  See you next month and thanks to A.R.S. … 72, Don

K4BAI
3 QSOs on 20; 14 QSOs on 40.  CQed on 80, but heard not SP activity there.  Until next month, 73/72, John, K4BAI.

NØTA
20m appeared open, just no activity. 40m a bit noisy due to static crashes. Quit after 45 minutes to save ears!

K3JZD
40m QCX w/500 mAH LiPo Battery Pack running 5w with K0MBT 3D Printed Mini-Mini Key and Earbuds to a 40m dipole.   Seemed like a low turnout this month.   But maybe it was just conditions.  Jody - K3JZD

WJ9B
Two contacts: one on 20m and one on 40m (WB5BKL and NØTA). Elecraft kx1 internal batteries and tuner, 1 watt measured output. I haven't participated in some time now.  I used an 80m inverted V, apex at 80 feet and fed with twinlead. I heard 3 or 4 others who could not copy my 1-watt signal.  I used the same rig during Field Day.  73, Will,  WJ9B

N4SO
Thanks to all and see you next time. Ken, N4SO

KE9V
Four contacts (K3RLL, K3JZD, K4BAI, WB9HFK). Another backyard activation for me using the KX3. It was also a 40 meter only operation. When 9pm (local) rolled around I moved up in the 7040-7045 space and started the chase. I managed to coax a few signals out of the aether fairly quickly then hung around until almost 10:30pm but never copied another station in the event. You can’t work ‘em if you can’t hear ‘em. Better luck (and results) next time. Thanks for the Qs and the fun!

WA4AAK
Impressive QRN! 40m contacts: NØTA, WB9HFK, K3JZD. 80m contact: AB9CA. It seems the 40m Sprint segment is getting squeezed between digital activity on 7.040 and a net on 7.045 or 7.046. Thanks to all! 72, Evan - Huntsville, AL

WB5BKL
K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp.  One QRO contact removed. Seven states this time.  Best signals:  20m - K9DRP, 40M - N4SO.  No contacts on 80M.  Nowhere near as good as last month, but ... Had fun.

NØAR
I started out with good intentions but the advancing TS activity was just too much. So Mark WB9HFK goes in the log as my one single contact on 40 meters. See you all next month! 73 Scott

W5ESE
A lot of atmospheric noise tonight, and 20m was in poor condition.

AB9CA
Ran the IC-7200 at 5w to the wires. Started on 20 and made only 1 QSO. Heard a couple who could not hear me. Moved to 40 and activity seemed sparse there as well. I concluded that prop was not cooperating. Went to 80 and made 1 Q there. Did work 1 QRO stn on 80 but not counting that one. Seemed that condx were rather punk. Hopefully condx will be better next month.  73 de dave ab9ca

K9DRP
Lots of signals on the bands tonight, but I didn't hear many SPers. 20 seemed to die early, but Texas scored me 2 contacts. Was trying to keep the weight down but the cootie was a lot of work for few contacts, so I had to add a couple of lbs switching over to the bug (I should learn to use a keyer). Sorry to the VA3 station I couldn't pull out. I'll work as long as there's any hope to log the contact.  I listened to John, K4BAI work an awful long time to get the power level of one station.

W1PID
3 QSOs on 40 and 1 QSO on 20. Thanks for the fun guys. 73, Jim W1PID

RESULTS: June 2020 ARS Spartan Sprint

For an enlarged view, please click on the Scoreboard.

SOAPBOX: June 2020 ARS Spartan Sprint

K3RLL

Just wasn't getting any answers or getting much attention from RBN for first half-hour and then all of the sudden, someone turned up the signals on 40 meters tonight! RBN started hearing me and great ops started calling. I actually had a mini-pileup once. Amazing! It was great!  It was like having a real, actual, working good antenna or something! (GRIN)  Thanks for the contacts, the good ears and patient ops.  72/73 ... Don

AB9BZ

Fun sprint, ran 1W for 4 of the contacts, good to hear stations active. Thanks for the QSOs 72 de ab9bz

KI4KZS

I caught this sprint on the air and looked it up to find it was QRP! I love operating QRP, so I jumped in to make as many contacts as I could. This was my first time. It was a lot of fun and I hope to catch it again. 73, Brent / KI4KZS

K3JZD

Something different this month: 40m Pixie II w/380mAH LiPo Battery Pack Running 0.250w - K0MBT 3D Printed Mini-Mini Key - 40m dipole.   But, being crystal controlled and sitting on 7.045, I seem to have worked more SKCC folks than Spartan Sprint participants.   Jody - K3JZD

KW4JS

It has been several years since my last Spartan Sprint.  The hiatus was due to the work schedule.  I use to be competitive in the top 10 of the skinny division but alas, I am out of practice,  Worked only S&P with my weak signal and crummy antenna.  Thanks to everyone who pulled me out of the static and QRM.  I had great fun.

K9WIS

Antenna was 40M dipole up 8 feet strung between 2 bean poles in the back yard. Weather on the patio was warm . . . no mosquitos yet. Won't be so lucky next month. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been in Spartan Sprint. A fun casual contest. Found my original ARS member certificate No.80 back when I was AE9K. Brian, K9WIS

KI6SN

What an exciting evening from out here on the Left Coast. Lots of signals on 40-meters. It was fun hearing the band get longer and longer from SoCal as the Sun went down. Many thanks to K7PD, K7TQ, NK6A and WB5BKL for pulling my signal from the QRN. Heard but not worked were WB9HFK, K4BAI and W5ACM. It was so nice to finally work Nick, WB5BKL, after so many years. Our first SP contact! Hope to see everyone next month – Monday evening, July 6. 73, 72, Richard, KI6SN, Riverside, CA

NØAR

Ran the TS590 at 5 watts tonight. Vertical antennas and RX loop. All contacts on 20 and 40 meters. TS action so some QRN but 91 degs is a good trade off to snow! Had a VE call me with QRO, he had never run QRP and wasn't sure his rig would do it. So I told him what I was running and he came back and cranked it down to 5 watts. I was his first QRP contact ever! So the bug has bitten him and he's been directed to the web site and invited back to join in. Good fun all around!

AB9CA

K3 at 5w to Inv Vee. Started on 20 and was surprised to work 6 stns there - 4 TX plus CA and ID. Moved to 40 and picked up 11 from IL KY GA FL VA AL NH TN. Went to 80 and heard someone trying but could not get enough to copy. Sorry for that. Heard no one else there. I don't think there were any 2 banders tonight. Thanks for the Qs! Hope to hear everyone plus more next month. Dave ab9ca

W1PID

It was so great to see so much activity and so many old friends. 20 meters was tops. NK6A in CA. K7TQ in ID. WVØH in CO. Thanks, guys, for all the QSOs. Jim W1PID

NK6A

Band conditions were much improved this month.  I started calling CQ on 20M and received a call from ZL2IFB.He was QRO but I mention this because I worked him off the back of the beam at 5W. Worked into NH twice and the usual bunch of Texans.  40M was quiet here and grabbed a few more stations.  Don Minkoff, NK6A

KB1M

Had completely forgot about Spartan Sprint until 9:15 PM , and then could not really get into it. 73, Walt, KB1M

WB5BKL

K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp.  Propagation at last! Made 27 contacts, but three did not count.  Biggest thrill: having a ZL2 answer my CQ on 20 (he was QRO, so not counted). Also worked Richard, KI6SN! Best signals:  20M - K7TQ, 40M - KJ5XF, 80M - W5ESE (also had a three-bander with Scott).  Some regulars missing - hope all is OK. Let's do it again next month. Had fun.

K7TQ

I operated the Sprint using my mobile rig sitting at the top of the Lewiston Grade in Nez Perce county Idaho.  There is a 2,500 foot drop to the east and south which makes for great terrain enhancement.  Two farthest QSOs were with W1PID in NH and XE1ZYZ in Mexico.  Twenty meters was productive for about half an hour then 40 was the band to be on.  Hope to catch many of you again next month.

W5ESE

I was late getting to the shack this month, so just fired up the big rig. Good participation this month and fair conditions. Was great to work neighbor WB5BKL on 3 wavelengths. Pleased to meet some new entrants; Welcome!

K9QV

Finally dusted off the rig and got on the air again!  I was surprised how much activity I heard on 20m.  About 70% contacts on 20m, 30% on 40m and only one on 80m.  Battery was dead 10 minutes from the end. Time to replace it. The Sprint was a great time, just like I remember. Thanks to everyone.  de Drew.

W5ACM

It was fun to make some 20M contacts this month, but the QSB was difficult. All of my contacts were on 20M or 40M. There were the usual suspects, but a few new folks in there! I was glad to hear good ops on 20M. It looks like things will be improving for the summer months! Although my ATS-3A can’t do 15M, it is quite effective on 20M. I am getting a bit skeptical on the longevity of my elderly 130 mAh Lipo batteries.  I will watch them closely over the next few months. Sorry about the somewhat difficult CW on my end, but I tend to forget to burnish the copper contacts on the homebrew keyer paddles. 72, de Andy W5ACM, Houston, Texas.

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