RESULTS: December 2020 ARS Spartan Sprint

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SOAPBOX: December 2020 ARS Spartan Sprint

 NA5N

Bands lousy compared to past few days due to long duration solar flare earlier. Worked 5 on 80; nothing hrd on 40M with old Ten Tec Argo. Worked NØTA, K4BAI, WB5BKL, NØAR and AB9CA/7. Called WB9HFK 812 times no luck. Gotta be better next month.  72 to all. NA5N

NØTA

Couldn't find a soul on 40m - all ten Q's on 80m. K3, doublet, GenLog.

K4BAI

0 signals on 20M.  40M not much better with 2 QSOs.  I counted 9 QSOs on 80M. Actually made 8 more for a total of 17 on 80M, but had left the sprint to cover a CW net and forgot to take the amp out of the line afterward.  Transceiver was running 5W, but with the amp, it was about 150W. So didn't count those 8 QSOs in my totals.  I'll try to do better next month.  73/72, John, K4BAI.

WB9HFK

Rig: Icom 7300 @ 5W. Antennas: 40M OCF dipole; 80M 150 Ft Random Wire. Weight: 30 lbs.

KA5PVB

Pretty much a BUMMER tonight! Tuning across the 40 meter band I heard practically NOTHING in the CW portion of the band! Blasted away with my 650 milli-watt Little Joe (from September 1981 QST magazine. Called CQ SP for 1.5 hours and NO JOY at all here. Note - this xmtr is rock-bound and operated on 7.038 KHz. all evening. KA5PVB, no QSO's, station weight as follows:

Little Joe xmtr - 0.2 lbs.

Straight key - 1 lb

MFJ-971 QRP Tuner 0.5 lbs

FRG-100 receiver - 6.6 lbs

Headphones - 1 lb

Approximate station weight - 9.3 lbs.

Maybe next month will be better for this Sprint! Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 73, Chuck, KA5PVB, Alpine, TX

AB9CA/7

Weight: 30

Station: IC-7200 at 5w to vertical. No activity on 40, all Q's on 80. Maybe the ant needs some attention on 40? Worked only MN TX CO GA NM. John, K4BAI, in GA has magic ears and can hear anything. Being in AZ tended to skew things to the west. Also have a noise issue here which does not help. Thanks for the Q's, maybe things will be better next month. 73 de Dave, AB9CA/7

NØAR

That was sure an interesting sprint. No signals heard on 20 or 40 meters. 80 was it for the duration. Rig Kwd 590sg and 43' vertical. RX loop antennas and muffs. Happy Holidays.

K5MUG

Kx3 at 5w into inverted vee dipole at 40 ft, installed N/S.  Rough event, started out on 40m about 0210 UTC, very few signals,  worst I've heard on 40m in a very long time.  Set up on 7.039.5 and worked K0ZK/Arn in Maine at 0220 UTC, and W5QLF/Joe in nearby Helotes,Texas at 0230 UTC, both 559 and qsb - that was my only action. Intense thanks to each of you!  Thought I heard a few other attempts to reach me but readability was zilch so couldn't be sure.  Went to 7.031 and 7.041 to no avail, weren't even hearing the usual SKCC ops around 7.050 to .060 .  Stayed the limit - turned my radio off at  0402 UTC. Take care and Stay Safe. 72, Cray / K5MUG / San Antonio, TX

N4SO

Thanks to contacts  WB9HFK, K0ZK and W5ESE. Missing a few call signs. Rig this time was the Elecraft K2 and a 40 meter half square. Ken, N4SO

W5ESE

Used the Omni VI and a 300' Horizontal Loop. Nothing heard or worked on 20m, and only one QSO on 40m. 80m was the "money band" for me.

K3JZD

Had to use my not quite so Spartan KX3 to be able to utilize 80m.  Not much was happening on 40m in my neighborhood.  Even 80m was kind of long.  And I got pretty lonely during the second hour - I guess everyone was social distancing.   KX3 with LiIon Battery Pack running 5w with KØMBT 3D Printed Mini-Mini Key and Earbuds to an End Fed Random Wire.   73 & MC - Jody - K3JZD

K9EV

Wanted to make it for the final SS of the year. KX3 with a battery and random wire antenna. 40 was so noisy I gave up and moved to 80. Copied several sprinters there but they weren’t hearing me. Finally managed to work K4BAI so as not to get skunked. See you for the next one in a New Year. Happy Holidays! 73 de KE9V

K4PQC

Unfortunately I was tied up on a project and lost track of time and didn't start the sprint until about 1/3 of the way from the end.  I already had last month's 80 meter band module plugged into the transceiver and immediately heard John - K4BAI so I would stick with 80 meters.  The band was unusually quiet and I was able to work Then Mark - WB9HFK in IL with a strong signal and finally Jody - K3JZD with an extremely strong signal from PA. Between working these stations I also called CQ SP without any results.  Not as good of a performance as in previous months but fun nonetheless.

WB5BKL

K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp. No contacts on 40M - though I did hear K4BAI, briefly and faintly.  5 Qs and 5 states - all on 80m. Best signal: NØTA. Pooped out after an hour. Had fun.

KI5KZM

First time. A little cold here in Arkansas. - Julie

RESULTS: ARS November 2020 Spartan Sprint

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SOAPBOX: ARS November 2020 Spartan Sprint

 W5ACM

It was all 40M or 80M for me, but the QSB was difficult. There were a few new folks in there! I was glad to hear good ops on 40M. Although my ATS-3A can’t do 15M, it is quite effective on 20M, so I hope upper band conditions will improve. I am really getting a bit skeptical about the longevity of my elderly 130 mAh Lipo batteries,  I will watch them closely over the next few months. They are not puffing up, but I could not do the complete two-hour event without serious power drops. I was actually down to less than 2 Wats for the 80M contacts with AB9CA and WB5BKL. 72 de Andy W5ACM, Houston, Texas.

WB5BKL

K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp. Eight QSOs on 40 and four on 80M. K4BAI had the best signals on both. Nine states this time. Pooped out after about an hour and a half. But - had fun.

WA4AAK

Didn't hear many SP stations, but had fun anyway. 72, Evan WA4AAK

KB1M

Windstorm damaged the antenna but still had a fun time. 73, Walt

KE4I

Conditions bad - lousy.

K3JZD

Used 40m only - I do not have a lightweight rig for any other band. I might have to go to something heavier to be able to use 80m during the Winter months as 40m seems to be longer (to somewhere) at 0200 Zulu than it has been for me at 0100 Zulu. Lots of people I normally hear and work could not be heard. I only got one RBN Spot in 90 minutes of calling CQ  . . .  Naked 40m QCX w/500 mAH LiPo Battery Pack running 4w with K0MBT 3D Printed Mini-Mini Key and Earbuds to a 40m dipole. 73 - Jody - K3JZD

K4PQC

Earlier this month hurricane Zeta came roaring through GA heading toward the Carolinas. I didn't notice that some branches that were holding up my loop had broken but the antenna was still up. During the afternoon of the Sprint the antenna fell partway to the ground.  There wasn't enough time or light left to reinstall the loop so I operated anyway with wire wrapped around several branches. The most active station heard was Arn - K0ZK with an exceptionally strong signal from  Maine. 72 de Phil - K4PQC

N4SO

Thanks to SP contacts N0TA, WB9HFK, K3JZD, N0AR, KA2DDI and K0ZD. Propagation after 0200Z has a geographic focus to CO, IL, PA, MN, NJ and ME. Dial frequencies were closely centered between 7040.6-7042.7 KHZ. Rig at this time is a Kenwood TS-530S and 40 meter half square. Ken, N4SO

W5ESE

Used the Omni VI and a 300' Horizontal Loop. Nothing heard or worked on 20m. 40m was in pretty fair shape, though.

N0AR

Conditions were all over the place. Good to work familiar calls. Bands of choice 40 and 80. Rig was KX3 @ 5 watts, 43-foot vertical antenna did the work. 73, Scott

WB9HFK

Only spent one hour this month. Fun time, however.

AB9CA

Another enjoyable sprint! Started on 40 and stayed for 30 min. Seemed to have worked everyone who could hear me. Logged 8 Qs, 5 of which were from TX. Also CO, ME, ID. Then moved to 80 and logged 4 of the pesky Texans again along with GA VA PA IL MN. Thanks to everyone for the fun evening! Hope to hear y'all again next month! 73 de Dave, AB9CA

K3RLL

New to me basic K1 feeding my after dark only stealth 4-BTV. (Darned HOA) 40m seemed to have a fair selection of participants this evening but most weren't hearing my booming signal but then who knows I how many I couldn't hear.  Reverse Beacon was not my friend this evening with low single digit SNR reports. So, I greatly appreciate those seven skilled and patient A.R.S. Ops with the good ears.  72/73 ... Don K3RLL

KI6SN

Conditions on 40 meters were practically non-existent, making chances for a Spartan Sprint contact Slim to None. And Slim just left town. It turned out to be a couple of hours of serious listening. Could barely hear a few stations in Texas, but couldn't catch their callsigns. Just the same, it was a lot of fun listening to band conditions vacillate between "I can barely hear anyone" and "ESP." Look for everyone in December! - 73, Richard

K7TQ

Started on 40 m with a nice SK chat with a BC ham then only two more Qs over the next 45 minutes.  November SPs have always been challenging.

N0TA

Strange evening: 2 contacts in the first hour, 12 in the second hour. All on 40m. QCX Plus, Doublet, and GenLog.

SCOREBOARD: ARS October 2020 Spartan Sprint

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SOAPBOX: October 2020 ARS Spartan Sprint

 K3RLL

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

W5QLF

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

AA2MX

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

NØTA

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

K3JZD

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

K4BAI

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

N2APB

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

K9DRP

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

WJ9B

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

KD5KC

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

W5ESE

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

K4PQC

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

KB1M

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

WB5BKL

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

N4SD

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

W3KC

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

WA4AAK

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

SCOREBOARD: September 2020 ARS Spartan Sprint

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