Soapbox
| K4VD |
Rough night folks! While struggling for a few contacts I found time
to purchase a sling shot and new antenna. Boy, these sprints can get
expensive! I heard plenty of strong signals on 80 meters even with
the noise but had a tough time making it through to them. |
| KU4GW |
This was my first Sprint. I worked also K0MDS Mike in KS but never
could copy his SKCC number through the QRN. I had a good time. I got
accustomed to this past weekends ARRL Sweepstakes and was looking
for a fast exchange, but not in this Sprint. I worked the ARRL SS
for only 6 hours and made 53 QSOs and 35 sections for a score of 4060.
It was fun also. My CW speed around 13-18 WPM. Setup here was Knwd
TS-570, antenna 260' center fed Zepp up 50' and old homebrew amp at
500 watts. N6WK Gordon was my first Centurion # 3C.
73 all de KU4GW Cliff SKCC# 652 |
| K8JD |
I seemed to have a pipeline into KS and VA with 4 each worked. I
had my TS 520 on 80 M with my dipole doing most of theQSOs this month..
On 40 M, used the TS440s and switched between a full wave flat delta
and a Butternut vertical. Since the band was stretched out to the
west coast, the vertical got most of the QSOs on 40M. Thanks to all
who answered my calls & c.u.l. |
| AD5VC |
Only worked the latter half of the Sprint. Heard several more stations
on 40m but could not get them to hear me. |
| N1VWD |
First time I have tried the SKS and I had a good time . I am looking
forward to the next sprint. |
| KB4T |
Very strong power line noise here but it became intermittent in
the middle of the SKS and the noise blanker worked well on the IC756ProIII
so it didn't really bother me. West Coast and some Midwest sigs were
weak here in FL. Other Midwest and all East Coast sigs were strong
here. 80M was the workhorse this time around. 40M had some action
and 20M was dead here.
I searched and pounced this time because of the high noise level at
my QTH. I found myself getting impatient waiting for many folks to
stop calling CQ. Their lengthy calls made me tune away to work others
because I got tired of waiting for them to stop calling CQ! Short
calls are best. For example: SKS de KB4T is much better than CQ SKS
CQ SKS CQ SKS de KB4T KB4T KB4T. The object is to make short calls
so folks can work you and move on. It's a SPRINT not a ragchew!
I finally got to work N6WK. That was a treat. I heard what seemed
like a great deal of activity, yet I was only able to log 22 QSOs.
I was disappointed. <sigh> The line noise was not as big a handicap
as I thought it would be, I think. I worked everyone I heard. I just
didn't hear that many unique calls. I did manage to work several folks
on both 80 and 40. December should be even better as the line noise
will be gone and conditions will be even better. |
| W0TUP |
Hope I did the points right. First Sprint, sure wish the band would
have been in better shape. Operated 80 meters only. |
| VE3HUR |
Used a 1965 Vibroplex Champion with 5/8 - 11 nut as "tamer".
The result was pretty sad. Next time I'll go back to a straight key
- they're a lot easier. N6WK was my first contact ever while using
a bug! |
| AF2Z |
Heard a number of signals that I didn't work; probably could have
done better but was feeling a little dull. It was mostly eastcoast
from here, from KB4T in FL all the way up to VE1DS in NS. But also
managed VE3HUR, K8JD, K0MDS & AC0BQ in the mid parts. Stayed on
80 mostly. Heard N6WK well on 40m but 20 watts from here couldn't
stretch that far. Also got K4VD again on his indoor attenuator...
err, antenna, I mean (sorry Kev). To KA2KGP, sorry about the dupes;
not sure what was going on there. Like I said, was feeling a bit bleary.
Anyhow, lots of fun! |
| KI4JKU |
I listened up on 20 and it was dead. I then went to 80 and worked
a couple SKCC members. I then got tired of calling on 80 and moved
up to 40. It wasn't much better - I heard and worked the majority
of Q's on 40 but it was a struggle because of heavy QSB - seemed like
the band would just drop out from under you. Oh well there is always
next month. Still had fun and thats what counts I think!
73's KI4JKU |
| N7EF |
Started on 20m, band seemed totally dead to east, no QSOs. Went
to 40m, good action
for hour or so to East_Coast/Midwest/Calif/Canada until no more "new
ones" heard (12 good QSOs). Went to 80m and struggled for last
hour (5 good QSOs), only east coast Q's were in FL, heard SC pouncing
Q5 but couldn't catch, further northern east coast sounded very active
but the many stations partially heard Q2/3 were too weak/QRN to copy/work…Don,
N7EF |
| N1LT |
Operated QRP using FT-817 at 5 watts. Antenna was off-center fed
dipole. Band conditions were really bad. Could hear folks only around
3720Khz. Not many of those either. Operated for about half an hour
towards end of the contest. |
| WU7R |
I started out using 5 watts, and after several failed contacts,
shifted to 100 watts. 20 meters was dead, and 40 meters was very noisy.
I was finally able to make two contacts on 80 meters. I hope conditions
will be better next month. |
| AI4RE |
I had a blast for two reasons. First, I had 13 QSO's - quite an
improvement over 5 last month, so something went right. Second, I
ran the sprint with my new Vibroplex bug, and no one told me, "You
have no business being on the road with that thing, kid." 20m
was dead from the start, although I worked Bill NT9K 10 miles away
and HE was even weak. I called CQ a couple more times and QSYed to
40m and worked there a little over an hour until I couldn't find anyone
new. Then I went to 80m and worked there until the end. 40m and 80m
were unusually noise-free for me. KU4MY was strong, but never came
back to any of my replies. On 40m, I was able to piece together Dana
AD5VC's call but couldn't work him, but he called me later on 80m.
He was still very weak, but we did finish the exchange just at the
closing bell. |
| KA2KGP |
80 m. was the best band for me here in WNY. Got 10 QSO's & hooked
3 Centurians. Had a blast using my trusty old straight key. Rig: TenTec
Argosy @ 5w. into all-band vert. |
| AD5QB |
Got home and to the rig in time for the last 30 minutes or so of
the sprint. Didn't hear much, only a couple faint signals around 3720
kHz, but guess they couldn't hear me. No score this month, but figured
I'd submit an entry just to show participation. Don't usually make
too many contacts, but this is the first time I've been shutout completely.
Oh well, there's always next month. |
| N1AS |
Was unavail the first hour. I operated only on 40 meters. Didn't
really hear that much activity. Severals sigs were weak. N5BO was
very weak but it was fun digging out the info. Finally got to work
Milt, K4OSO! Rig Kenwood TS-830s, 100 watts to a 32' tall ground mounted
vert over 16 radials. Keys used were the Kent straight key, Junker
straight key and Vibroplex Lightning bug (just a little). - Keith
N1AS - |
| N6WK |
Had fun but the Bands were VERY noisey here this time. I tried to
work Kent (N7EF) twice ( hi hi) and I heard WS9C calling me, but he
was gone when I answered him. I also heard N5BO but didn't get Justin
in the Log. I had too many interruptions here that interferred with
my operating time. Still, I enjoyed the short time I did operate. |
| K0MDS |
This was my first SKS, and it was much more fun than the CW SS.
Over twice the contacts in 1/12th the time...hi hi. SKCC has great
(and patient) oprs. Thanks to all who QRSd. My first attempted QSO
was with K4VD (I think?), but his signal quickly faded as we began
the exchange. My apologies to Cliff as well for not getting the message
through. I started on 80M, switched to 40M (all over the place with
QSB), and returned to 80M for the last part of the sprint. I heard
other stations (N6WK included) but couldn't work them. Glad I didn't
try QRP this time but look forward to the challenge down the road.
73, Mike |
| N5BO |
It was a toss up between The Unit, 2M EME on moonrise, and the sprint....the
sprint won! I had a great time and activity seemed to pick up
after the first hour. 20M was closed from the start so all of
my time was spent on 80 and 40. I ended with 11 QSO's on each
of the two bands I worked and picked up a few more skcc numbers.
Activity seemed to pick up after the first hour and 80M was doing
great at the end. Thank you to all who called me, conditions
were tough at times and I'm sorry to the few that I could not complete
with. 73 all and I look forward to upcoming sprints! |
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