SOAPBOX: May 2021 ARS Spartan Sprint

 K3RLL

Not many Sprinters on 40m this evening but at least those of us there could space ourselves out easily. (But that's not usually a good sign; is it?)  40m was really up and down here in FL and very strong into New England tonight Big signal was KB1M - a nice change after months of barely copying each other.  72 and thanks for the contacts ... Don

K4BAI

Thunderstorms in GA tonight and QRN very bad on 40 and 80 Worked only VE3EDX on 20, 12 stations including NK6A in CA on 40, and AB9CA on both 40 and 80.  Hope for better conditions next month. Now that we are into summer like conditions, it will pay to start on 20M. 

73/72, John, K4BAI.

K3JZD

Used 40m only.  Seemed like pretty good conditions.  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

WVØH

I used my usual MTR4B-v2 but decided to exclude my Palm Paddle and larger battery (if you can call my 650mAh LiPo a ‘larger’ battery). I used an 1/8-inch stereo plug for my paddles. I rigged a wooden paddle to it from a hamburger skewer and bent the contacts of the plug to allow for single-lever iambic keying. Very fun to have the rig positioned sideways in front of me.

Here is the run down.

Total Weight: 0.62 pounds (0.112 pounds for Panasonic ear buds, battery and paddle)

Input power: 9v battery (EBL Nickel Metal Hydride)

Output power: 3W at start and 0W at 1 hour into SP; battery died.

Total QSOs: 2 on 40m, KF9NL and VE3EDX

Station fun: 100% - 72, Myron. WVØH

NØTA

Three contacts on 20, the rest on 40m. Used a QCX for both bands, which caused me to miss some weaker callers. Quite a bit of static crashes on 40m making things tough. Tried 80m but no luck. Vertical on 20, doublet on 40.

WB5BKL

K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp.  Operated only 30 min - a serious electrical storm developed almost overhead at about 0130Z. Closest strike < 200 feet away.  1.5" of (much needed) rain in an hour and a half + some hail. Enjoyed 20 and 40M contacts with NØTA (x2), NK6A, VE3DX and K4BAI but pulled the plug and disconnected everything. Still had fun...

N7QR

I haven't done this one in a while.  KX3 dialed down to 5 Watts with a modified QRPGuys paddle into a Buddistik on my sister's 4th floor balcony railing in Park Ridge, IL.  Stayed on 40.  Heard no SpartanSprint contesters but a lot of stations on the air.  No answers to my half dozen CQs. A lot of fun and easier than at home in Portland OR. - Russ

WA9TGT

Using my KX2 with outboard 12V LifePo4 battery. Antenna 100’ cfzepp. I heard very few stations calling CQ SP, all 4 of my contacts were on 40 meters. Band was very noisy due to storm cell passing through.Hope next month will be better. - Donnie Garrett / WA9TGT

W5ACM

Fun times on 20M and 40M this month. I spent the first 25 minutes of the event prepping the ATS3a. It has been a few months since I last used it. With new batteries and somewhat clean key contacts, it did well. The new vertical is also a great help. Looking forward to more 20M ops next time! - 72 de Andy W5ACM, Houston, Texas.

RESULTS: April 2021 ARS Spartan Sprint

 For an enlarged view, please click on the Scoreboard.

SOAPBOX: April 2021 ARS Spartan Sprint

W1PID

Thanks all for the QSOs. Running 3W with MTR and 18650 battery with a step-up to 10V. Best DX: NØTA in Colorado. 73, Jim

NØTA

Worked the first hour on 40m. Band appeared a bit long - worked 11 states. Thanks for the Q's. K3 & doublet.

K3RLL

My house is in the midst of being painted so all antennas, such that they are, are disconnected and dismantled this week.  But knowing how important the Spartan Sprint is, I spent the weekend resetting up an attic doublet with two homebrew loading coils and coax running through the house. It's a terrible antenna but some wise fellow once said "any antenna is better than no antenna".  And much to my surprise and joy, seven patient and skilled ops heard me this evening.  Even RBN was my friend this evening!  Thanks to all on 40m and to the complete staff of A.R.S. for continuing to facilitate this monthly pleasure.  72/73 ... Don

WB9HFK

Celebrating my 50th year as an Amateur Radio (Ham) Operator.

K4BAI

Got a late start due to a Zoom meeting running over time. Thought I heard a caller on 20M, but couldn't ID the caller. 40M was quite good with no skip zone, so I was able to work as close as 100M iniside GA, plus AL, and FL and also out to NM and MN.  Thanks for all QSOs.  QSOs by band:  40M: 13.  80M: 5.   80 had some QRN, but it wasn't bad and signals were good. 73/72, John, K4BAI.

N2GG

RIG, HB-1B = 1.39 LBS. I worked 13 states.

K4PQC

Great weather at 65*F for the Spartan Sprint. Lots of activity for Search and Pounce but only a couple of contacts made calling CQ with only 2W. I did work John - K4BAI on 40 and 80.  Also worked Gil - N2GG in NM for his first Spartan Sprint. A little more weight this time using 2 filters. Thanks to all who participate.  72 - Phil

WVØH

My inaugural run with my new MTR-4B V2. I used a 650mAh Lipo battery, a Palm paddle and CCrane earbuds running 5W into my 40m Delta Loop at home. I started out on 20m calling away and John, K4BAI return my call but quickly faded. I figured if John’s beam wasn’t making it, that was pretty good indication to head down to 40. I stayed on 40 until about 20 minutes left in the Sprint, handed out 8 QSOs there and switched to 80m and worked Nick, WB5BKL again. As always, thanks to ARS for putting this on and collecting our scores. Much appreciated. 72, Myron, WVØH

ABØCD

First event with brand new KX2 + 35ft wire from 2nd story townhouse bedroom window to corner of garage - sloper pointed East with 25ft counterpoise on bedroom floor. 72, Dick ABØCD

K3JZD

80m only, using my just completed purpose-built QCX-Mini transciever.  I was not plagued with a lot of QSB or QRN this month.  It was more very weak signals from the QRP Spartan Sprint players, and not that many participants using 80m.  Maybe 80m will no longer be usable as we get into the warmer months.   I might have to build some more of the single band QCX-Minis.   Naked 80m QCX-Mini w/500 mAH LiPo Battery Pack running at 4w with KØMBT 3D Printed Mini-Mini Key and Earbuds to a bent 107' EFRW up 20'.   73 - Jody - K3JZD

AB9CA

Back on the air now that I have an antenna again! Started on 20 but no activity found. Went to 40 where most of the action was. Logged 11 on 40 and 4 on 80. Good to hear some new calls along with the more familiar ones! Good to see more activity. Rig was IC-7200 @ 5w. Ant was wire. Thanks for the Q's. Hope to be back next month. Dave, AB9CA

WB5BKL

K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp.  Tried 15 and then 20M. RBN heard me on 20 but apparently no one else.  9 QSOs on 40M and 3 on 80M. Best signals: WV0H and K4BAI respectively. Also doubles with Myron and John. Only 7 states this time.  Did not count one 80M QSO as could not complete the exchange. 80M very noisy here. Had fun.

WA4AAK

Enjoyed contacting so many of my favorite Sprint operators! I learn a lot from observing how these skilled operators manage weak signals with grace. A nice surprise was working Ivin, N9IVI (not officially in the event) who was backpacking in Indiana: actually living the Adventure Radio Society ethos!

N4TRB

This was my first Spartan Sprint. I called CQ SP on-and-off for 1.5 hours on 7.023 MHz without a response or hearing another Spartan Sprint station (in the rather wide passband of my little rig).  Still, my call showed up on pskreporter with the station closest to Atlanta being in Wisconsin, so I'm actually pretty happy!

WA9TGT

Bands seemed to be a little better than previous months. All my contacts were on 80 & 40 meters. Equipment used was a IC-705, 100ft CF Zepp Antenna, RF Output power was 5 watts. Enjoyed the Sprint, Thank You! Donnie Garrett / WA9TGT

NØAR

Running the TS-590 at 5 watts, vertical antenna and dipole. Conditions were improved up here. It hit 85 degs in the Twin Cities and a TS blew up all around me. So 40 minutes of fun then the mad dash to disconnect antennas! 72 to all Scott NØAR

RESULTS: ARS March 2021 Scoreboard

 

Soapbox: March 2021 ARS Spartan Sprint

K3RLL

The party must have been moved to 80 meters because there were only Walt, Nick and me heard here on 40m this evening.Someday I need to figure out a way to put up an antenna for 80 on my less-than-postage-stamp-sized lot. Helium balloon? See (hear?) you next month.  72 ... Don

K4PQC

Great weather at 60*F a little rain and overcast.  Before the Spartan Sprint I didn't hear much activity on any of the upper bands and 40 was extremely noisy so I stuck to only the 80 meter band filter.  Even on 80 I didn't hear a lot of activity and only worked 3 stations. A few minutes before the end I called CQ and a ?3X? came back when I I sent a ? my battery died...  either good or bad timing.  Thanks to all who participate.  72

WB5BKL

K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp.  2 contacts on 40 and 5 on 80M (1 QRO contact on 40M removed).  Best signals:  40M - K3RLL, 80M - K5MUG.  Nearly half my contacts were named Don!  Gave up early but had fun.

N0AR

Heard no signals on 20 or 40. 80 was the band of choice. Lots of qrn. At one point I was heard by 20 RBN's across the country. Rig Kwd 590, ant vert. and nvis dipole, rx loop.73 to all - Scott

K3JZD

80m was really thin.  Did not check 40m.   This time I gave up before my batteries did.  KX3 w/500 mAH LiPo Battery Pack running at 5w with K0MBT 3D Printed Mini-Mini Key and Earbuds to a bent 107' EFRW up 20'.   73 - Jody - K3JZD

RESULTS: February 2021 ARS Spartan Sprint

 For an enlarged view please click on the Scoreboard.

SOAPBOX: February 2021 ARS Spartan Sprint

 K3RLL

Well, things were really looking up on 40 meters this evening with the best RBN spots I've had from my antenna-challenged HOA QTH in a while. Not real sure where all the Sprinters were, however.  Someday got to build something for 80 meters. I'm sure my HOA won't mind a nice 80m dipole stretched across four of my neighbor's homes. Anyhow, I'll bet 80m was where the party was tonight.  Many thanks for the five skilled ops with good ears this evening. 72/73 ... Don FL

K4BAI

Conditions on 40 and 80 seemed OK for higher power stations, but only heard NØTA on 40 and he was not as strong as usual. Went to 80M early and had 15 QSOs there. Think I was called by two stations that I couldn't identify.  Sorry about that.  All activity seemed to die out about 0330Z.  Operating time:  1:20.  73/72, John, K4BAI.

W5QLF

I only heard two stations on 40 meters: K3RLL, Michael in FL AND N3FCS, Ron in PA.  Most of the clan had already moved to 80 meters where I met old friends:  K4BAI, John; NØTA, John; WB9HFK, Mark; N4SO Charles; and

my local friend here in San Antonio W5MUG, Cray. Funny how the cross-town contacts are sometimes the hardest to make. Til March, Joe, W5QLF

NØTA

1Hr. 2 on 40, 10 on 80. 5 in TX. TwoFer with John, K4BAI. Thanks for the Qs.

WA4AAK

Could hardly hear any stations in North Alabama! One contact on 40m, 2 on 80m. Thank you NØTA, K4BAI,and N4SO. 72, Evan - WA4AAK

N4SO

Elecraft K2 and dipole inverted V, 4.4 Watts. Thanks to all 80m contacts. This is the most number of contacts in a long time. K4PQC stands out with 2 watts. Ken N4SO

K5MUG

Fairly rough evening - only heard and worked K3RLL/Don on 40m, spent the rest of the time on 80m.  Lot of repeats both ways, most stations at or just above my noise level.  Best station heard: K5BAI/John worked at 559, moments before he rose to 589/599 for quite a bit before Qsb set in again.  40m contact at 7.042, all 80m contacts around 3.560 +/-.  three stations worked were S&P, and three CQ SP.  Expected better response running but apparently not getting out well enough.  Checked on 40m occasionally, all was quiet on the 40m front.  Challenging but fun.  Stayed to the limit again, it's my job. Take care and stay safe,  72, Cray / K5MUG / San Antonio, TX

K4PQC

Very windy and chilly here in Bishop, GA 35 F but feels like 25. Lots of noise on 40 meters maybe from the wind across the antenna. I heard NØTA calling on 40 but couldn't make contact so I plugged in the 80 meter filter where that band was much better and a little quieter. 72' Phil - K4PQC

W5ESE

Conditions weren't great, but 80m seemed best. Used the Omni VI and a 300' Horizontal Loop.

K3JZD

Didn't hear anyone on 40m. Went to 80m and dealt with the heavy QSB and the QRN from the weather in the North-East until I ran out of battery. KX3 w/500 mAH LiPo Battery Pack running at 5w with KØMBT 3D Printed Mini-Mini Key and Earbuds to a bent 107' EFRW up 20'. 73 - Jody - K3JZD

AB9CA/7

Slow night. Nothing on 20. Only one, Mike in El Paso, on 40. No antenna for 80 so can't go there. Noise level was high, as always at this RV park. Maybe next month? Dave, AB9CA/7

KB1M

Worked only station, heard K3RLL very loud QRN here. I expect that everyone must have been preparing for the next day - Groundhog Day Celebrations! 72/72 Walt

WB5BKL

K3/10 @ 5W to a 40M extended double Zepp.  1 contact on 40 and 5 on 80M. Best signals: 40M - K3RLL, 80M - K4BAI. 5 states this month. Pooped out after an hour. Had fun.