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December 2020 QRP/CW Sprint (#194)
Andy N2CN is responsible for the contents of this page. Questions should go to him at .
See General Sprint Rules for rules common to every NAQCC sprint.
RULES specific to this month's sprint: None
Date and time:
Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 0130-0330 Z
Entry Deadline:
All entries must have been received before 2400Z on the Sunday following the sprint.
N2CN Comments -
Results are final.
Final Results
SWA - STRAIGHT KEY CATEGORY
Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna
W1 Division
K1MZM 38 38 76 18 1368 x2 2736 160 meter horizontal loop at 55 feet
KN1H 26 26 52 15 780 x2 1560 400' END FED WIRE
WB1GYZ 7 7 14 7 98 x2 196 Sloping Vee
W2 Division
WA2NYY 29 29 58 16 928 x2 1856 80m OCF dipole at 20'
W2SH 24 24 48 17 816 x2 1632 270' cf dpl @ 45'
KA2KGP 18 18 36 11 396 x2 792 G5RV @ 25 ft.
W2JEK 11 10 21 8 168 x2 336 110 ft end fed up 20 ft
K2CWM 10 10 20 8 160 x2 320 Vertical (elevated)
W3 Division
K3EW 36 36 72 18 1296 x2 2592 160 Meter Horiz Loop 65 ft up, 540 ft l
KD3CA 18 18 36 13 468 x2 936 OCF Windom @55 ft
KC3MIO 17 16 33 13 429 x2 858 Doublet 125' @ 40'
K3JZD 17 16 33 10 330 x2 660 EFRW @ 20'
W3TTT 5 4 9 4 36 x2 72 Vertical fed wid ladder line wid tuner
AK3X 4 4 8 4 32 x2 64 102 ft inv vee 300 ohm feed
N3RN 3 3 6 3 18 x2 36 ZS6BKW@ 40 ft
W4 Division
K4JPN 37 36 73 22 1606 x2 3212 80 M CF Zepp
KB4QQJ 37 37 74 19 1406 x2 2812 Doublet@33 feet / LNR Quad at 40 feet
WG8Y 34 34 68 18 1224 x2 2448 80M Full wave loop
KG4UPO 24 24 48 17 816 x2 1632 Windom at 40 feet
KC5F 22 22 44 14 616 x2 1232 80m end fed half wave at 40'
N4OW 10 10 20 10 200 x2 400 HF6V Elevated 7 '
W4NLT 9 9 18 7 126 x2 252 84 ft end fed in V configuration at 30ft
N4FI 7 7 14 6 84 x2 168 115 ft random wire at 30 ft
WX4RM 7 7 14 6 84 x2 168 6BTV gnd mtd vert
WT4U 6 6 12 5 60 x2 120 80m end-fed Inv V @ 35'
W1BLU 5 5 10 4 40 x2 80 Dipole @ 36'
WB8LZG 4 2 6 4 24 x2 48 Homebrew vert 8 radials
KB4TOX 3 3 6 3 18 x2 36 Vertical
K3FA 3 3 6 2 12 x2 24 End fed wire up 65'
NU4M 2 2 4 2 8 x2 16 End Fed @ 50'
NA4O 1 1 2 1 2 x2 4 OCF L@25'
W5 Division
N5GW 6 6 12 5 60 x2 120 Doublet at 25'
KE9DR 4 4 8 4 32 x2 64 420' Random Loop @ 50'
AC5BX 1 1 2 1 2 x2 4 G5RV 20'
KF5WJ 1 1 2 1 2 x2 4 Ground mounted vertical
KE5YUM 0 0 0 0 0 x2 0 80 meter NVIS dipole @ 25 feet
W6 Division
AI6SL 6 5 11 3 33 x2 66 Inverted V at 32'
WU6P 4 3 7 2 14 x2 28 Dip 30feet high
AI6ZV 3 3 6 2 12 x2 24 40M Dipole at 25ft
W7 Division
WB7GR 7 7 14 7 98 x2 196 Gnd mtd vertical & wire dipole
KC7DM 5 5 10 4 40 x2 80 480' horizontal loop @ 60'
K9QEW 1 0 1 1 1 x2 2 Modified Gotham Vertical!
W8 Division
W8CDC 4 4 8 4 32 x2 64 Dipole @70'
N8GZ 1 1 2 1 2 x2 4 Hustler 5 BTV ground mounted
W9 Division
KA9FQG 13 13 26 11 286 x2 572 G5RV @ 37 ft
WB9HFK 10 10 20 8 160 x2 320 150 Ft. Random WIre
W9CC 4 4 8 3 24 x2 48 6BTV GND MTD VERT
N8HWV 2 2 4 2 8 x2 16 EFHW AT 15 FT
W0 Division
N0TA 30 30 60 19 1140 x2 2280 Doublet at 25 ft
N0AR 25 25 50 16 800 x2 1600 43' vertical, lots of radials. Rx loops
NN0SS 18 18 36 14 504 x2 1008 80 meter Inv Vee @40ft
KD0V 8 8 16 7 112 x2 224 Cf Zepp @ 30 feet
AA5LH 9 7 16 7 112 x2 224 Delta Loop @ 25'
W0DCX 1 1 2 1 2 x2 4 72' Random Wire up a tree
Canada Division
VE3KZ 15 15 30 12 360 x2 720 Dipole on 80m
VA3RSA 8 8 16 6 96 x2 192 Inverted vee fan dipole up 25 feet
VE3SIF 2 2 4 2 8 x2 16 End fed
VE9BEL 1 1 2 1 2 x2 4 End-fed dipole @ 25ft
VE3CMM 1 1 2 1 2 x2 4 End-fed Inverted-l @30ft, 95ft long
DX Division
SWA - BUG CATEGORY
Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna
W1 Division
W2 Division
WA2FBN 9 9 18 7 126 x1.5 189 Dipole at 25 ft
WB2LQF 3 3 6 3 18 x1.5 27 63' INVERTED "L" AT 40 FEET
W3 Division
NN3E 5 5 10 5 50 x1.5 75 40-80 Trap Dipole inverted vee @ 50 '
K3WWP 1 1 2 1 2 x1.5 3 ~110' attic random wire
W4 Division
KJ4R 33 33 66 18 1188 x1.5 1782 67' wire vertical
K3RLL 4 3 7 3 21 x1.5 32 31 ft wire up over garage roof
W5 Division
NA5N 3 2 5 3 15 x1.5 23 Terminated folded dipole 133 ft. long
NF5U 2 2 4 2 8 x1.5 12 40m/80m trap dipole at 33ft
W6 Division
W7 Division
N7QR 0 0 0 0 0 x1.5 0 Dipole 30' & Butternut vert
W8 Division
K8NGW 3 3 6 3 18 x1.5 27 43' gnd mtd vert w/ 32 radials
W9 Division
K9DRP 5 5 10 5 50 x1.5 75 EFHW 80 @ 40 ft
W0 Division
Canada Division
DX Division
SWA - KEYER/KEYBOARD CATEGORY
Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna
W1 Division
K1IX 12 12 24 8 192 192 HB EFHW 250'
KB1M 3 3 6 2 12 12 40 M Dipole @ 30ft
W2 Division
WA1GWH 16 15 31 12 372 372 80M 1/4 wave inv L with grnd system
K2OID 12 12 24 11 264 264 80M OCF dipole @ 40'
N2ESE 5 5 10 5 50 50 120ft.dipole@35ft.
W3 Division
W4 Division
K4BAI 41 38 79 21 1659 1659 40M dipole, zepp, 80M inverted vee
WB4OMM 17 17 34 12 408 408 G5RW at 35 feet
AA2MX 15 15 30 12 360 360 DIPOLE
AD4N 12 12 24 12 288 288 Inverted Vee in NVIS configuration
WD4CFN 7 7 14 7 98 98 140' doublet up about 40'
AB4QL 6 6 12 5 60 60 40 & 80 M dipoles @ 40'
N4MJ 5 5 10 5 50 50 40 Windom at 20 feet
K4KRW 3 3 6 3 18 18 Inverted V @ 65'
AG4CC 3 2 5 2 10 10 40m dipole at 19'
K4KBL 2 2 4 2 8 8 HyEndFed @ 50'
W4DUK 1 1 2 1 2 2 Random wire @ 9 ft.
K9EYT 1 1 2 1 2 2 Long wire
KU4A 0 0 0 0 0 0 40m slp dip@40', DX-B @ 40'
W5 Division
WI5H 6 5 11 6 66 66 OCFVee @ 33ft 40M
KG5SSB 4 4 8 3 24 24 EFLW at 20 feet
K5WX 2 2 4 2 8 8 ZS6BKW inverted Vee at 38 feet
W6 Division
KI6M 5 5 10 5 50 50 Dipole @20'
N6HDV 1 1 2 1 2 2 Roof mtd vert
W7 Division
WY7N 0 0 0 0 0 0 80M dipole @ 35'
W8 Division
WI8J 13 13 26 10 260 260 130 Ft EFHW at 20 Ft
WA8SAN 6 6 12 6 72 72 End fed wire @ 25 ft
W9 Division
NN9K 23 22 45 13 585 585 HF2V Vertical
W0 Division
K0EW 3 3 6 3 18 18 OCF dipole @ 25'
Canada Division
VE3DQN 10 10 20 8 160 160 40/80m dipoles @40ft
DX Division
GAIN ANTENNA CATEGORY
Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna
Straight Key
Bug
Keyer/Keyboard
Not eligible for certificate or prize for the following reason(s):
@ Non-member
$ QRO power
! Late log
~ Submitted as check log
CERTIFICATES |
SWA STRAIGHT KEY CATEGORY |
Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
W1 | K1MZM | KN1H | WB1GYZ |
W2 | WA2NYY | W2SH | KA2KGP |
W3 | K3EW | KD3CA | KC3MIO |
W4 | K4JPN | KB4QQJ | WG8Y |
W5 | N5GW | KE9DR | AC5BX |
W6 | AI6SL | WU6P | AI6ZV |
W7 | WB7GR | KC7DM | K9QEW |
W8 | W8CDC | N8GZ | - |
W9 | KA9FQG | WB9HFK | W9CC |
W0 | N0TA | N0AR | NN0SS |
Canada | VE3KZ | VA3RSA | VE3SIF |
DX | - | - | - |
SWA BUG CATEGORY |
Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
W1 | - | - | - |
W2 | WA2FBN | WB2LQF | - |
W3 | NN3E | K3WWP | - |
W4 | KJ4R | K3RLL | - |
W5 | NA5N | NF5U | - |
W6 | - | - | - |
W7 | N7QR | - | - |
W8 | K8NGW | - | - |
W9 | K9DRP | - | - |
W0 | - | - | - |
Canada | - | - | - |
DX | - | - | - |
SWA KEYER/KEYBOARD CATEGORY |
Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
W1 | K1IX | KB1M | - |
W2 | WA1GWH | K2OID | N2ESE |
W3 | - | - | - |
W4 | K4BAI | WB4OMM | AA2MX |
W5 | WI5H | KG5SSB | K5WX |
W6 | KI6M | N6HDV | - |
W7 | WY7N | - | - |
W8 | WI8J | WA8SAN | - |
W9 | NN9K | - | - |
W0 | K0EW | - | - |
Canada | VE3DQN | - | - |
DX | - | - | - |
GAIN ANTENNA CATEGORY |
Key Type | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
SK | - | - | - |
BUG | - | - | - |
K/K | - | - | - |
FIRST TIME ENTRANT HIGH SCORE |
Key Type | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
SK | AI6ZV K3FA (TIE) | KF5WJ N8GZ VE3CMM (TIE) | - |
BUG | - | - | - |
K/K | KG5SSB | - | - |
PRIZE DRAWING WINNER |
Prizes | K3EW |
STATS:
Logs submitted: 99
Total participants found in cross-checking spreadsheet: 137
Total QSOs in master cross-checking spreadsheet: 966
States represented: 33 + NB NS ON
SOAPBOX:
N7QR - 50th Sprint. KX3, 1958 Vibroplex Presentation, W2AU balun 40 meter dipole @ 30' in the trees and a Butternut HF6V ground mounted without radials. Nothing on 20 or 80. Tried both antennas. Alternated calling CQ on 7037.5 and hunting. After a pretty good last month, was only able to raise commemorative station W2W but they couldn't copy the call. CU next time (on 7037.5) Russ - Portland OR
K4KBL - More noise than signals tonight here in GA...
KB4QQJ - Always fun to get home in time to play in the sprint! Bands were down. It was dead on 20 and only barely conscious on 40 but 80 was Alive. Got to work old friends and meet new members. I used my MTR4b for this sprint and a PS213 key. Stay Safe and have a Happy Holiday Season. de Randy_KB4QQJ
KC3MIO - 20 was dead at the start. One contact on 40 and checked back from time to time but couldn't make any more contacts. 80 was the band, pretty good. Got off to a good start but petered out in the last 30 minutes. Signals were there, but couldn't hunt or pounce much. All in all, a lot of fun, as usual and I am looking forward to the milliwatt sprint next week. Thanks to all my contacts and thanks to the NAQCC.
NN3E - Thanks everyone fer the QSO'S Nice signals on 80 Mtrs tonight .. Stay safe everyone and Happy holidays 72 Kevin .
KN1H - The QSB and QRN were forces to be reckoned with tonight, but it was great hearing so many stations on. 72 to all, John, KN1H. IC7300 and Nye Viking Master Key.
KB4TOX - WAS INTERESTING FOR SURE...ONLY 3 CONTACTS...OH WELL...HOPE OTHERS HAD FUN, I DID....
VE3KZ - My 80m antenna was very noisy. Had to switch to a 40m vertical to receive each QSO!
W4NLT - Didn't hear anything on 20 or 40. Noise level was high on 80 making it hard on my one working octogenarian ear. Thanks for the QSOs. 72/73 .
VE9BEL - Noise, Noise, Noise and more Noise! I only heard one call during the sprint. Bette luck next time. All the best for the Holidays! Joyeux No?l! 73 Bernard
K2CWM - Used my old IC-703 with MAXSET at 5 watts fed with 12v. Vertical antenna and old Lionel J-38 straight key. Wishing all a very Happy Holiday Season.
WI8J - Great fun again! Thanks for the contacts! 72
KE5YUM - Conditions were rough last night. I transmitted but made no contacts during my allotted time for the sprint. .
K3EW - all 80 M tonight First hour gangbusters- second hour much slower. Fun conditions on 80 Thank you for all the QSO's Happy Holidays everyone 72 Stay Safe Stay Well
KU4A - Before this Sprint I had operated 123 consecutive monthly Sprints. This was my first shutout. No stations heard on either 80 or 40 in 30 minutes of operating. I haven't decided yet whether or not I will declare the streak over. .
K9QEW - Operating portable from AZ. Limited to 20m operation only. One QSO K9CJM/7. 73s STAY TUNED
K9DRP - Fox hunt also this evening didn't leave me much time for the sprint. Didn't hear much on 40 while hunting, so jumped to 80 to work the sprint. Lot's of fun in the 30 minutes I had. Almost skipped working WG8Y as he sounded like a QRO station! Used my Argo V and the bug. Looking forward to the mW sprint next week.
WT4U - Just one QSO on 40m. I heard WB4OMM briefly, but he faded before I could work him. Sent out a few 40m CQs and saw only one weak hit on RBN! 80m was busy but noise was high. Hope conditions are better for the mW Sprint next week.
K4KRW - I didn't get much time to operate. Thanks everyone for the few contacts I was able to get. I love these sprints. 73 Richard
KE9DR - All contacts made on 80m. 20 and 40 was nothing. Still had fun. Thanks to all. 73, Bert KE9DR
WG8Y - Hi all,Was 50 min. late getting started.I usually use my 40/80m dp & hf2v Vertical but decided to use my 80m full wave loop as it is a little better in with qrn. Wasn't hearing all that much when I first started. Worked K3EW on 80m who was loud but decided to listen again on 40m & caught WB7GR in WY calling CQ but then back to 80M. The band sounded better so started calling.Had a very gud 2nd hour. Sorry to a couple of you guys having to put up with my Ham-Key. It had a screw loose.Literary, Thought I would never get it back adjusted. Would have been easier to change keys. See you next week in the QRPp event. 72 from N.C. Mark WG8Y
N4MJ - Lousy condx here. 40m was a complete wreck. 80m wasn't much better. Noisy bands, extremely fast QSB...parts of calls copied then they would disappear. Gave up in desperation. Short log.
K1IX - APOLOGIZE TO W2SH FOR TRYING TO USE THE PADDLE LOL, NOBODY HOME ON 40M BUT 80M WAS GOOD. TNX FOR Q'S 80M
W1BLU - Fun Sprint. Spinning the VFO got me an Italy QSO & a Pearl Harbor Commemorative QSO, (both at 100W). It pays to move around sometimes. 73 .
N0AR - Fun way to spend an evening. Only one contact on 40, 80 did all the work tonight. Noise and qsb sure makes it a challenge at times! Thanks and Happy Holidays to all.
WB4OMM - 40M lasted about 20 minutes! Nothing on 20M. 80M was VERY noisy. Used Loop antenna and Digital Noise Reduction and still had to work to get Qs. Was hoping for better band conditions, but you get what you get! Noise got worse after 0300Z, so I quit. Hope to see some of you in the QRPp Sprint next week! 72/73, Stay safe! Steve WB4OMM
W2SH - Conditions were very similar to those of November; 20m closed, 40m few signals and a long skip, so 80m soon became the main game, with fairly strong signals both near and far, good for 21 80m QSOs.
WA2FBN - Bands very noisy tonight; rough on these old ears. Thanks to all who pulled my signal out and copied my "buggy" sending. 72 Ken
W3TTT - Nice nite five contacts started late. Heard WB4OMM and a lot of stations who did not come back to me when I answered their CQ. Hmmm. I guess it might be my lack of zero beat ability. Please widen your receive passband when you call CQ - you might get better results. Had one loud station that gave me a member number that ended in a "T". Hmmm. I logged him as a non-member and who knows what power he was running. I will send him a QSL card and introduce him to our NAQCC club. Can't wait for the Milliwatt Sprint next week too.
W2JEK - Thanks for the QSO'S on a band with poor conditions. Hope things get better. Rig Yaesu FT-840 at 5W and SPEEDX straight key. 72 and 73 DON W2JEK
AK3X - Just a few minutes to play. Thanks for the contacts.
KC5F - Had to cut it short tonight. One QSO on 40m (heard calls in Chile and France, but not many NAQCC), and the rest on 80m. Always fun - thanks!
N0TA - 40m started off long, but able to work both coasts. 80m was weak, but mostly good copy. Thanks for the Q's. K3/5w, doublet, Amplidan, Sprint Logger.
VE3CMM - Oh man! I got all set up to do the sprint from start to finish with pens, cheat sheets, rules, etc., but my family and friends decided they needed my full attention for a variety of issues. As a result I only got one complete contact. NEXT TIME I am disconnecting all devices and locking the door to the shack!!! Thanks nevertheless. I look forward to the next time for sure!
WA2NYY - Good to be back on the monthly sprint after a few months off. Started on 20, it was dead, went to 40, dead, then up to 80 which I enjoyed quite a number of great runs with some good pileups. Activity tapered off the last half hour, but it was fun as always. 72
WB2LQF - Forty was totally dead. Tried eighty with my too-short antenna. Made 3 QSOs and then pulled the plug. Very weak signals and deep QSB. Checked the prop and found out that NOAA had issued a solar storm impact for 00:00 UTC. Glad to know it wasn't my antenna which I raised another 10 feet yesterday and added a static drain to. I was worried that I had screwed something up.
WX4RM - Only band I was able to work during the Sprint was 80 meters, 20 and 40 were dead and I thought it was my antenna until I read the comments of participants. Hope all will have a Merry Christmas and a better New Year.
KJ4R - Tried 40M for about 10 mins at start of the sprint, but never heard anyone answer my CQ's. RBN showed band was long with reports in EU but nothing in US. Switched to 80 and found condx good there. Good signals and noise was not bad either. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and thanks for the QSO's. KX3/Vibroplex Bug/Wire Vertical. 73's until next time.
N3RN - Brought out the straight key. Mistake! I'm going to have to polish that skill before trying it again!
WB9HFK - Part time this month. Also, playing in QRP Fox Hunt on 40M. I hope to see everyone next week for the mW event! 72, Mark WB9HFK
KA2KGP - A bad nite for radio waves on 20 & 40 meters. 80m. was the only usable band here in WNY. Rig: IC-7000 at 5w. into G5RV up 25 ft. w/ old WWII German Junkers straight key. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all! 73
N6HDV - A surprising path opened up from San Diego to Wyoming. I doubted my head copy of the call sign and replied with ?. I heard correctly; laughed for doubting myself. We finished the QSO before the path closed down on us. .
K8NGW - The same as last month ... 40M had lots of QRN and QSB. After 30 minutes and 3 QSOs, I went to 80M but my tuner refused to tune. Went back to 40M but everybody was gone. Oh well ... looks like I've got some cold weather antenna work to do!
N5GW - KX3, rake tine straight key, hb tuner to doublet. Only enough time for a cameo appearance tonight. It's just as well, as the bands were in poor shape - I suppose it's the winter doldrums. I wonder if the NAQCC sprints would benefit from inclusion of the 160M band during NA winter?
K3FA - First NAQCC Sprint. Enjoyed it very much. Heard no one 20 or 40. 80 had QSB but it was exciting to work other QRP stations.
N4OW - Fighting extreme line noise . Painful on the ears :) Happy Holidays to all. 72 de AL, 7700
NA5N - Saw lots of sigs on RBN and KIWI, mostly east coast, but heard few of them in New Mexico. Only worked three on 40M and 80 way too noisy. Hopefully better next time. .
NN9K - This was a Q...S...B fest!
W0DCX - Not so good tonight. 1 contact and I gave up. .
KD3CA - Missed first half hour, band's here very QRN , nothing heard on 40 mtrs, worked all on 80 mtrs.Very sorry to those that called and just couldn't get through the QRN. 73 to all Don
WB7GR - Got a few but was very slim pickings tonight.
NA4O - Thank you, Mark, WG8Y, for saving me from a shutout! You were the only signal I heard on 80, 40 or 20. .
K3RLL - Rough night on this end. RBN hits of 1 - 5 SNR are not a promising sign. Very lucky to get just 4 contacts. Perhaps my wet string antenna on the garage roof might not be the best antenna, but have few options here. 72/73 ... Don
K4JPN - Tried 40M, but nothing heard after several CQ's, 80M was hot. A lot of fun and even though I got a 1/2 hour late start, very pleased with all I worked. 72, Steve K4JPN
K2OID - 2nd month with really bad conditions. Only 80 was opened. Special TNX to NN9K for his patience.
AB4QL - No luck on 40 but 80 somewhat better with QSB. .
K5WX - Toughest night I've had. .
AA5LH - The Sprint started out well with five 40M stations logged within the first half hour. I was optimistic that many stations might be recorded into the log. Yet after these, I only worked a few 6 Land stations. Minimal East Coast Signals were heard or worked during the remainder of the event. Many stations attempted to respond by watching the RBN screen. Yet I just didn't hear them. See all next month. Take care & Happy Holiday's
AD4N - Very poor conditions at my QTH. 40m completely dead on my GP antenna. 80m dead until around 0230Z. Then 80m conditions improved a bit, but still much QRN and QSB. Then my keyer started acting up making it almost impossible to send my LONG NR. (Tks to all for their patience!) All QSOs made on an inverted vee in an NVIS configuration. A few near-complete exchanges. All in all, I feel lucky to have made 12 QSOs... Can't wait to get that Frattini bug in and grab that added 0.5 multiplier!
WI5H - Rather poor condx tonight, but always fun. 72 'til next time DIT DIT
K3JZD - Nice participation on 80m. Enough QSB to keep it interesting. KX3 to a 107' EFRW at 20'. Jody - K3JZD .
KB1M - Very little heard on 40 and my ice encrusted, badly drooping dipole killed my enthusiasm so went QRT early. Was able to work 3 of 4 stations heard missing only KI6M. Also got my first Fox tonight. 72, Walt .
WA1GWH - Whoa! Way out to Colorado this time from here near Syracuse, NY (N0TA). Thanks to all for the contacts! 72, Garry
WD4CFN - worked the sprint, then the QRP Fox hunt, and then back to the sprint. Fun QRP night! Thanks for the Q's.
W8CDC - My first sprint. Got in late and was nervous. Tnx to the other ops who worked with me. I will be back. Tony W8CDC .
VA3RSA - I got on 80 m at the start of sprint and heard what sounded like "power house" QRP station KB4QQJ working the pileup and also heard quite a few others up and down the 80 m band. But at 5 W I had a weak signal according to RBN. So I spent about an hour switching between my fan dipole and other long wire antenna and running tests on RBN. By about 9:30 pm the nearby local QRP stations were fading away including KB4QQJ. With a zero score I figured what could I lose by calling CQ? Well I got 8 contacts in the last hour and the QRP signals at my end were very readable with not much difficulty. Seems my "signal squirter" fan dipole got me out out far to IL, IN, SC, VA, etc. but pretty much skipped right over nearby PA, etc.. Moral of the story seems to be to call CQ and wait to see who calls back. Next time I'll start calling CQ right away and hope to get the close in stations like PA, etc.. And I did not see many stations on the my radio spectrum screen during the last hour and the band appeared dead yet people answered my call. I figure 8 stations is better than a zero score. 72, Richard VA3RSA
WB8LZG - Hello fellow sprinters. I'm in Florida fer next couple months operating holiday style. I fired up the FT817 last night at a mighty 5 watts, solar power. Tough going here. 20 dead at start, 40 es 80 lots of noise. I did manage to grab a couple of QSOs with WA2NNY es new member WB7GR,in Wyoming, welcome aboard Greg. Went to 80 and heard several stns there, but they didn't hear me. Back to 40 and grabbed 2 non-member QSOs. KC3NDU, es W2W to finish it out. I heard many regulars who didn't hear my peanut whistle.NC1A,K4BAI,WA4JK,KJ4Q, es a few others. Not quite the condx I was hoping for, but at least I didn't get skunked. Perhaps we will have some better condx fer mw sprint. CU all next time 73 Gregg WB8LZG #1444
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