KC9BQA

   5pm Tuesday —
   Wanted to let everyone know what I know (so far) about tomorrow night’s long-range 2m SSB nets.  
   Please check back to for updates to this post later tonight or tomorrow, as I learn more. 
   EDIT, EDIT —  7:40pm — Just got word that K8GDT in EN91, a half hour SSW of Cleveland, will pitch in as the 144.252 net control tomorrow night.  Look toward EN91bf at 8:30pm eastern time and say hello to Gerry.   Imagine K8GDT will do the same directions as K8TQK.  Start out looking N, then NE, E, SE, S, SW, W and NW over the next 45-60 minutes.  
    Use the ON4KST.com chat (IARU Region 2 Chat for 144-432 MHz) and you’ll be able to follow along. 

   I will also be on tomorrow night, at 8pm central, from EN63ao.  I’m pinch-hitting for WB9LYH, as I do from time to time.  I start out looking north, then steadily move NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW over the next hour or so.   I’m usually past MI/OH by 9:10-20 eastern time.  So if you’re out east, please listen for us at the start.  

   As posted before,  K8TQK will *not* be on with his 144.252 net.  I was wondering about his weather situation in south-central OH, and I’m glad I talked to him. 
   Bob’s having a full-blown blizzard.  Up on his ridge, he has “at least 12-13″ of snow, and it is still coming down.  The antennas are backed into the wind and it is gusting 50-60mph at this time.”  So he’s letting us know ahead of time he won’t be able to go tomorrow night.  K8TQK *does* plan to be on for Nov. 7th at his usual start time of 8:30pm eastern.

    9:15am Thursday — 
    I learned about the new 6m net on Thursday nights by reading the daily VHF/UHF newsletter published by KA1ZE.  Visit ka1ze.com to find the newsletter archives, plus everything you need to know about the 144.205MorningGroup, which is the best thing going on 2m SSB in the USA.  
    
    Every Thursday, there’s a  6m net called from EM38, Missouri.  It’s on 50.135 at 9pm central time.  They usually have a couple of guys looking in different directions for check-ins, so point your 6m yagi toward Central MO and see what you hear.   The net control possibilities are KD0AKF, K0WYN and WA2KBZ. 

    Every Thursday you have the long-running Q5 net out of EN61 Chicago, called by N9JBW at 7pm central, on 144.220.  
    Believe they start out looking east and then go clockwise a full 360 from there.  This is a friendly, active net and thru the years, N9JBW has always let others know they are welcome to stop by and check it out.   The Q5 net now has a website at http://n9abf.com/q5net/   Typing www.q5net.net into my web browser got me there, also.      
   There’s also a net on 144.250 out of SE OH, grid square EM89ud on Thursdays at 8pm eastern.  Your net controls are AB8XG Kenny (primary) and KD8DJE Russell (backup).* 

   If you’re within 100 miles or so of La Crosse, WI, grid square EN43, remember WV9E is in the 3rd year of his 146.460 net, at 8:30pm central time, every Thursday.  This net is on the simplex portion of the FM band.  No offsets or P/L’s.  All are welcome, and I’m sure they’d appreciate a DX-type checkin.  WV9E has been very proactive about getting more V/UHF activity in/near the La Crosse area.  Dave also has a ham website at www.wv9e.net

   8:30am Thursday:

   Here’s last night’s net reports:
   K8TQK’s 22 check-ins to his 144.252 net were:  KC8TRL and N8PYA EN81;  N8AIA and N8WNA EN82;  WB8AUK and WM8I EN80;  AC3L/M FN00;  KD8FHY and K8GDT EN91;  VA3ELE FN03;  W2UAD FN13;  K4YA EM86;  N4TLL EM87;  KY4MRG EM77;  KB8TDA EN70;  KD4NMV EM85;  KB4QNR EM78;  KI4ROF EM55;  K9LQZ EM68;  W9YZU EM69;  WB9LYH EN54 and  KC9CLM EN52.  Another great turnout.  Fall continues to be our best time of the year for catching the largest # of check-ins. 
  
   I had the 144.240 net last night and I will have it again on Oct 31st, as well. 
   Our start time next week with the 144.240 net is 8pm central/9pm eastern. 
   REMEMBER THAT STARTING ON NOV 7TH, THE 144.240 NET FROM WI STARTS ONE HOUR EARLIER, UNTIL NEXT APRIL/MAY. 
   This change only concerns the 144.240 net.  K8TQK stays with his 8:30pm eastern start time year-round.  

    I was expecting better conditions last night, given the warmth and humidity ahead of a cold front in MN/IA.  Conditions were OK, guess I just had my sights set a little too high. 
   Here were my 12 check-ins:  N9OLT EN64;  K8GDT EN91;  W9YZU EM69;  K9CCL EN61;  KC9CLM EN52;  KY9E EN53;  WB9LYH EN54 (in and out);  KG0SJ EN22;  K8TQK EM89;  WM8I EN80;  K0SIX EN35;  KA0KYZ EN33. 
   Want to acknowledge several guys in the ON4KST.com chat room who wanted me to turn east again after my first rotation.  That wasn’t possible last night; I had several things I had to attend to in the house before we shut down for the night.  
   
    Like I said at the top, I hope to get another post up in the next few hours, concerning 6m nets out of MO and GA, plus a 2m net out of GA.

   8:30pm Tuesday
   As mentioned for a few weeks now, I am pinch-hitting for WB9LYH tomorrow night with the 144.240 net from WI.  I start at the same time as Mark, 8pm central/9pm eastern.  I start out looking north, then look NE, E, SE, S, SW, W and NW over the next hour or so. 
   My QTH is 40 miles north of Milwaukee; grid square EN63ao. 
   I will also call the 144.240 net on Wed., Oct 31st.  Same start time of 8pm central/9pm eastern. 
   **EFFECTIVE NOV 7TH, THE 144.240 NET STARTS ONE HOUR EARLIER (7PM Central) UNTIL NEXT APRIL/MAY**  This time change only concerns the 144.240 net. 

   K8TQK also calls his long-range net from EM89je every Wednesday on 144.252.  (Yes, 144.252, Bob needs a little relief from a birdie right on 144.250)   The K8TQK net starts at 8:30pm eastern.  Bob also starts out looking north, then goes clockwise a full 360 over the next hour or so.  

   As always, all licensed amateurs are welcome to listen along and encouraged to say hello.  The nets are informal.  The purpose is to create more activity on the SSB portions of the 2m band and to push the propagation limits. 

   For most visitors, you know my standard spiel by now.  If you are new, welcome and consider reading the following:
   A big part of why we run these nets is to give newcomers (and veterans) guaranteed activity, to ensure they hear signals coming out of their rig.  Plus you are able to compare signal strengths in different directions and over varying distances.  
  All of you are encouraged to expand on this guaranteed activity by calling some CQ’s of your own on Wed. night, or any other time.  20-40 stations listening for a net control for a few minutes per week is a good start.  But think if those 20-40 stations, in different states and grid squares, would spread up and down the band, calling CQ in various directions.   That’s the biggest thing weak-signal VHF needs — more signals on the air.

   Both K8TQK and WB9LYH have big stations.  Long (horizontally-polarized) yagis well above the horizon, with lots of gain, plus plenty of output power and great QTH’s.   You don’t need all that to have fun on “weak-signal” (SSB/CW) VHF, but yes, it does help.       The point is both our net controls enjoy pushing the propagation limits and they appreciate DX check-ins.  Even if you’re 400, 500, 600 miles away, give a listen and see if the band is up.   We encourage everyone to spread the word about activity on 2m SSB, and we thank those who have helped us.

   ITEM #2)   IF YOU HAVE TIME IN THE MORNINGS, CHECK OUT THE 144.205 MORNING GROUP.  This post explains the .205 Morning Group.  http://kc9bqa.com/?p=6073   VHF’ers everywhere need to know about this daily activity.

   4:45pm Thursday

   Going to need help spreading the word with this idea. 
   A few years ago, K8TQK put his big signal to work with us on Wed. nights, trying to expand the circle farther and farther from WI.  That’s always been our goal with these 2m SSB nets.   When WB9LYH and K8TQK call their nets, we truly have coverage to 25-30 states, and VE-3, under normal band conditions. 
   ** WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A NET CONTROL THAT CAN EXPAND COVERAGE TO THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST.**
   Talking someone that lives in a circle around MO/IA, plus adjacent parts of W ILL, E KS, E NE. 

   I email about 6 dozen known VHF’ers in this target area.  I will send this info to them.   If you can share this info with other VHF’ers in your backyard, please do so.   Get the word out and let’s see if we have anyone with interest. 
   
   That’s the short story.  You want more detail?  Read on. 

    The goal with having a 3rd net control would be to pick up more stations in areas like SD/NE/IA/KS/MO, plus perhaps S ILL, KY and TN.   Depends on whether the 3rd net control would be located.  

    We need to remember that there’s an active net with good range called every Wed. from the Ft. Worth, TX area.  It’s at 9pm on 144.250.  We do NOT want to interfere with that net or dilute it.  They were there before we got started up here.  I imagine the EM13 net gets most of its check-ins from TX and OK, plus into AR, S KS and S MO.  We would hope our 3rd net control could increase activity from areas just north of there.   We would also want to know when the EM13 net looks north and NOT look toward TX at that time.   
     
    What does being a net control mean?  Means you get on the air at least 40-45 Weds. a year.  You need a week or two off?  No problem; this is a hobby, not a job.  It means you get on and call CQ in all directions, swinging your yagi about 20-30 degrees at a time.  We coordinate your timing and what directions you look in so that your net and ours in WI are not looking to the same area at the same time.   You keep a list of who you check in and send it to me, and I post the info here at kc9bqa.com. 
     I can provide most of the publicity.  If you can increase publicity on your own, so much the better.  VHF’ers in your region are more likely to listen to you than an outsider like me.  What we’re looking for is someone with a good signal that gets out at least 200-300 miles.  Someone who has an hour to give to the hobby on Wed. nights.   Someone who won’t get discouraged if things are slow for several months, while the word spreads. 
     Even if you’re just curious, get in touch with me and we’ll talk about the possibilities.  My email’s good at qrz.com, or you can leave a comment just below the bottom of this post.

   4:30pm Thursday 
   N0PB sent email last week announcing that he’s no longer able to call his Northern Missouri SWOT net.  He thanked everyone for being there thru the years.    (SWOT refers to SideWindersOnTwo.  See www.swotrc.net for more info.) 
   Phil’s net must have been on for at least 9-10 years.  I always liked the way he did things, plus he had a very big signal that got out a long ways.  I was directly influenced by N0PB’s net.  When I started up on Wed. nights in June 2008 (full history is here:  http://kc9bqa.com/?p=5363) I wanted to be friendly and greet check-ins from a wide area surrounding EN63. 

    I join many others in congratulating N0PB for running a great net for many years.    

   Please let those who got on for N0PB’s N. MO SWOT net know that we look to the south-southwest from WI every Wed. evening.  Usually about 8:30pm in summer, and 7:30pm in winter.  Give or take.    Same thing for those in eastern KS.  WB9LYH can work into that territory with flat bands and he loves DX check-ins.  Weak signals are not a problem; they are a worthwhile challenge.  🙂

   7:45am Thursday
   Know this isn’t a weather blog but very pleased to report .82″ more of rain last night.  That’s 4.3″ overall since Sat/Sun.  

   PLEASE NOTE I will have another post or two today.  Need to do a better job of reaching out to KS and MO.  Been trying to do that for the 4+ years we’ve been calling and promoting these Wed. nets.  We make frequent contacts into IA and NE, and appreciate the loyalty.   Now that N0PB’s 144.250 SWOT net on Monday nights is QRT, we want “his guys” to know we are looking their way on Wed. nights and we want to hear from them when conditions allow.    Also want to find a 3rd net control from that whole KS/MO/NE/IA region.   AGAIN, more about this in a separate post later today. 

   K8TQK’s 20 check-ins to the 144.252 net last night were:  KC8TRL and N8PYA EN81;  KD8FHY, K8GDT and KC8YJB EN91;  N8WNA EN82;  VE3XTM EN93;  W2UAD FN13;  WB8AUK EN80;  KD8DXC EM89;  W4TMW EM84;  N4PPG EM76;  K1KC EM73;  WA4REE EM65;  KI4ROF EM55;  WA9M EM79;  W9WZJ EM69;  KC8TDA EN70;  WB9LYH EN54 and AC3L/M FN00.   
   Think about the territory that covers… central WI and southern ONT to the northwest and north;  Lake Ontario region of NY to the northeast;  northern parts of GA to the south;  far western  TN to the  southwest.  This is on the SSB portion of the 144 MHz ham band, under normal conditions.  A strong station with high gain, horizontal yagis up in the clear can do this at any time, provided the stations are out there to work.   

   WB9LYH’s 15 check-ins to the 144.240 net were:  N9OLT EN64;  N8WNA EN82;  W9FRT EN51;  K9CCL and N9JBW EN61;  W9WZJ EM69;  K8TQK EM89;  KC9CLM EN52;  N9NYA EN43;  WA9BNZ EN40;  KG0SJ and N0DQS EN22;  W0HXL EN21;  K0SIX EN35 and W0ANH EN47.  Strong regional turnout for the .240 net, also.  Good to see IA and NE in there, plus Connie up in EN47, north shore of Lake Superior. 

    NET QST:
   1)  I take the 144.240 net from WI (EN63ao, 40 miles north of Milwaukee) for Oct 24 and 31st.  Probably going to take some nets in Nov. and Dec. as well.   I don’t have quite the reach WB9LYH has, but I can usually get out 300 miles. 
   2)  Remember the 144.240 net changes its start time every winter and spring.  EFFECTIVE NOV 7TH, THE 144.240 NET FROM WI STARTS ONE HOUR EARLIER, @7PM CENTRAL/8PM EASTERN.  This will remain in effect until at least late April or early May.   Please help spread the word.  Still plenty of guys out there without internet or email. 
   3)  Nothing should change with K8TQK’s net.  Expect Bob every Wed. on 144.252, at his usual time of 8:30pm eastern.

   8:30pm Tuesday —

   Both our Wed. long-range 2m SSB nets should be on tomorrow night.
   K8TQK is on 144.252 at 0030Z (8:30pm eastern) from EM89je, far south-central OH.
   WB9LYH is on 144.240 at 0100Z (8pm central) from EN54cl, middle of WI.
   These nets are for all licensed amateurs.  They are informal; listen along or say hello when you’re ready.  The goal is to increase activity on the SSB portions of the 2m band.   We can attract more hams to the weak-signal portions of bands like 50, 144, 222 and 432 MHz  IF.. IF… hams know where and when to actually hear some signals. 

   Both net controls start out looking north, then gradually turn their beams clockwise, calling CQ frequently.  This means they look N first, then NE, E, SE, S, SW, W and NW.   This typically takes an hour or so, depending on how active the nets are.  Both net controls enjoy DX check-ins and they are able to work 300, 400+ miles under standard conditions.   We appreciate you spreading the word in a multi-state area surrounding WI and OH.

*REMEMBER — QST ABOUT THE 144.240 NET*
1)  The 144.240 net (only the .240 net) changes start times every winter and spring.
THE 144.240 NET FROM WI WILL START AT 7PM CENTRAL UNTIL NEXT SPRING — EFFECTIVE WED., NOV 7TH.
Help us spread the word to those who might not have internet, email or know about this website.

2)  WB9LYH will call the 144.240 net next Wed., Oct 17th, as usual.
On Oct. 24th and 31st, I will call the .240 net, from an hour north of Milwaukee, grid square EN63ao.  I may be the 144.240 net control on additional nights in Nov. and Dec. — of course we’ll announce everything here just like we always do.

Oct. 15th, 2012

EDIT — Nov. 10th, 2016
I’m sorry that I’ve had this dormant link up for 4 years now.  I should maintain things better.

Bottom line — there’s no guestbook here at kc9bqa.com.  And I disabled the “comment” feature at least 3 years ago.
When I created this guestbook idea in Oct. 2012, I thought I’d get dozens and dozens of visitors who wanted to sign the guestbook.  I was amazed that only 10 ever said “hello”.  Then something changed with this website of mine in 2013 and I started getting dozens of spam “comments” per day.  I’d be on the computer literally deleting crap every 5-10 minutes.  I didn’t know how to deal with it, so I disabled the “comment” feature at kc9bqa.com and that stopped the avalanche of spam.
End of Nov. 10, 2016 edit.
What follows is the rest of my original post from 10/15/12.  And again, there’s no guestbook, nor does the comment feature at kc9bqa.com work anymore.  My apologies.

Hopefully this thread will keep growing for many weeks to come.
I want visitors to kc9bqa.com to take a minute to say hello, via the “comment” feature at the bottom of this post.   Type in your callsign and grid square, at a minimum.  Other possible content would include the bands you are on, your rigs and antennas, that sort of thing.   I’d like to start some kind of thread/discussion about how we can get more V/U contesters on the air, but honestly, I think I need to make that a separate thread, so let’s wait for me to create that — again in a separate thread.

Since this is the first time I’ve done something like a Guestbook on kc9bqa.com, there’s bound to be a learning curve, but hopefully nothing too serious.

When you submit a comment to kc9bqa.com, an email is automatically sent to me.  I then read that email, which contains your comment.  As long as you aren’t annoying or profane, or a spammer, I will approve your comment when I can, and it will appear at the bottom of this post.  If you have personal comments for me, it’s best to send those directly to my email, and not via the “comment” feature.  My email’s good on www.qrz.com.

I know kc9bqa.com gets a few hundred unique visitors each day, and around 2200-2800 each month.  So yes, I expect this thread will get very long.  That’s fine with me.  I hope it will entertain us all,  and make us feel more connected.   I realize some of you visit from other parts of the USA and/or Canada or overseas countries.  Welcome.  I’m curious how you heard about the website.  If you don’t have a ham license, but have an interest in V/UHF (perhaps a TV/FM/Scanner DX’er or monitor?) that’s fine, too.  Go ahead and say hello.   EDIT, EDIT, Nov. 10th, 2016.  AGAIN, sorry, but the guestbook and comment feature here at kc9bqa.com was disabled in 2013 due to an avalanche of spammers.

   7:15am Monday
   Friday night was a very enjoyable 30th class reunion.  Both my wife and I were class of ’82 at a high school only 35 minutes from our current QTH, so we have a lot of friends and good memories in common.  It was fun to feel 20-something again, catching up and bullshipping, ahem. 

    Saturday was a nice Badger football win and then last night the Packers played (easily) their most inspired game in quite some time.   I have a lot of respect for how the Houston Texans are playing, but wow, it’s like a new Packers team showed up.  Hope we see this version the rest of the season. 

    Also had 3.35″ of very beneficial, soaking rains over Saturday and Sunday.  Rainfall’s been spotty ever since early June, but a wetter period from late July to early September saved us from disaster (40 miles north of Milwaukee).  I know other parts of WI and the Midwest had it far worse.  But since early September, we had gotten very dry again, so this weekend’s soaker was a great way to get all the trees and plants watered in for the winter.  

   The kc9bqa.com Guestbook thread has now been created and is available here:  http://kc9bqa.com/?p=6349