KC9BQA

7:50pm Friday

Got a nice email from W3BFC Ray a few days ago.  Ray wants readers here at kc9bqa.com to know that they are looking for Midwest and Great Lakes activity over in FM18.  A net is called on 144.205 nearly every Saturday evening at 9:30pm eastern.  Net control is W3BFC, and Ray has a pair of 12 element K1FO’s up high into a 1000 watt amp.  Remember, W3BFC and WB9LYH did hear bits of each other on Wed., Nov. 18th, which was a night with very average conditions, at best.   You stations east and southeast of WI, especially, stand a shot at making it into FM18.  Let me share Ray’s email:

HI  TODD:

Please alert your mid west operators that every Sat. at 9:30EST [0230 UTC] a group in the Chesapeake area[FM18] meet with checkins from VA to CT.  W3BFC is Net Control.  WM8I and K8TQK sometimes check in.

We would like to hear from other nearby E Ohio, MI, and IND. stations.. Please listen for W3BFC as we are sure we can stretch the string a little further…

TNX

W3BFC, RAY  [FM18tr]

KC9BQA continues…  Please help spread the word to other VHF’ers about this Sat. night 144.205 activity out of FM18, Chesapeake Bay region.
I noticed that W3BFC, like 100’s of other active VHF’ers, uses the ON4KST.com real-time and free ham chat.  Talking specifically about the IARU Region 2 Chat for 144-432 MHz.  I bet if you watched that chat on a Saturday night, you’d be able to get net control’s attention.  Or visit anytime and observe.  Mornings and evenings have plenty of activity to view.
If you haven’t heard of the ON4KST.com ham chat rooms, go here:  http://kc9bqa.com/?p=1072

7:30pm Friday

I will be making another post after this one about activity on Sat. nights at 9:30 EST (0230 UTC) on 144.205 out of FM18.   Net control is W3BFC Ray.   As always, help spread the word.

**No 144.240 Wed. net on Nov. 25th**    Happy Thanksgiving.
Net will be back on Wed., Dec 2 at the usual start time of 8pm central/9pm eastern.

WB9LYH had 10 check-ins to the 144.240 net on Wed. night, plus a near-miss on the DX side.   Pretty good turnout on a night that had high winds in WI and I think the whole surrounding area.  Check-ins were:  WA8IPJ EN74;  KC9KPV EN53;  KB9PSE EN52;  K9CCL EN61;  WB0SWQ and WA9BNZ EN40;  KC9OVD, NG9K, N9RXM and KC9RJI EN41.  The DX was W3BFC out in FM18, Maryland.  Thanks Ray, for giving the net a try.   W3BFC reported hearing a few syllables of SSB and WB9LYH heard a few bits of CW, but not enough for a contact.  Mark said it was fun to try — remember WB9LYH enjoys pushing the propagation limits.
On a personal note, very glad to see KC9KPV checked in.  When I was still on the air and getting this whole push started back in 2008-2009, KC9KPV was a frequent check in and helped us out a few times when we needed cover.

K8TQK calls the 144.252 net every Monday at 8:30pm eastern.  Look toward EM89je, south-central OH.   This Monday, Bob had 19 check-ins:  N8WNA EN82;  WB8AUK EN80;  VE3ZV EN92;  WA3EOQ FM09;  AC3L/M FN00;  W4IMD, W4LES and WA4NJP EM84;  N4TLL EM87;  KC4AAW EM85;  N9RXM EN41;  KB9RDS, WB8LNG and K8EJM EM79;  W9SR EN70;  K9ILU andW9CWG EN61;  N8GDP EM88 and KC8QDQ EM89.

Like I said, stand by for a separate post announcing a net many of you may not be aware of.

5:30pm Sat.

WB9LYH in EN54cl, central WI reported a short net last Wed., due to the weather.  In the half hour that Mark could operate, he heard from WA8IPJ EN74;  K9CCL, K9ILU and N9JBW EN61; WB0YWW EN22 and N9RXM EN41.

WB9LYH expects to be ON next Wed., Nov. 18th, at the usual start time of 8pm central/9pm eastern.   Mark will be *OFF* on Wed., Nov. 25th and we wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving in advance.
With the 144.240 Wed. net, the antenna pattern from EN54cl is NE to start, then E, SE, S, SW, W, NW and N over the next 45-60 minutes or so, depending on activity levels.  All licensed amateurs are welcome.  The net is informal and the goal is to increase activity on 2m SSB.  We also appreciate you helping to spread the word.
Remember that WB9LYH runs a pair of long yagis and 500 watts from a ridgetop location.  This means he gets out a very long way.   Mark always enjoys pushing the propagation limits so help us let DX know that we’re out there on Wed. nights, looking for contacts beyond that 400-500 mile limit.  Of course, we are grateful for all check-ins, regardless of distance or signal level.

K8TQK in EM89je, south-central OH, calls another active net every Monday at 8:30pm eastern.  The antenna pattern is N to start, then NE, E, SE, S, SW, W and NW over the next 45-60 minutes.  You can follow along at the ON4KST.com real-time ham chat.  (Specifically the IARU Region 2 Chat for 144-432 MHz)  That’s how I get Bob’s check-ins, using the chat review feature from the dropdown menu.  You do need to register to join the ON4KST.com ham chats, but it’s free and no BS.  More info about registering for the ON4KST.com ham chats is here:  http://kc9bqa.com/?p=1072

Because K8TQK partnered with us a few years back on Wed. nights, I still include his net reports here at kc9bqa.com.  ( To read about our net history, go here: http://kc9bqa.com/?p=5363)

Last Monday, Bob had 25 check-ins across a multi-state area.  WA4NJP and W4VAS EM84;  W0LD and K4SAN FM05;  N8WNA and N8AIA EN82;  WB8AUK EN80;  K8EJM, NR8O and WB8LNG EM79;  VE3ZV EN92;  AC3L/M FN00;  W2UAD FN13;  KB8GUE EM89;  WA8TGG FM09;  W3IP FM19;  WD4NMV EM84;  N8GCP and KC8PWO EM88;  KA2KQM EM74;  WB4JGG EM75;  N9RXM EN41;  KC9WOI EN40 and K9ILU and N9JBW EN61

12:30pm Thursday

As I mentioned back on Sunday, the unusually warm weather has meant enhanced band conditions for much of the past 4-5 days.  Hope you got on the air and worked some DX.

The 144.240 net is called every Wed. at 8pm central/9pm eastern by WB9LYH in EN54cl, central WI, near WI Rapids.  Antenna pattern is NE to start, then E, SE, S, SW, W, NW and N over the next 45-60 minutes, depending on activity levels.
Last night, Mark reported the weather was too nice, not many hams indoors.  (I suspect many were down the band, closer to 144.200, working or listening for DX).  Mark had 13 check-ins:  N8WNA EN82;  WA8IPJ EN74;  K9ILU, KD9BGY, N9JBW and K9CCL EN61;  KR8T EN72;  N9RXM, KC9OVD and AC0RA (who was 5/3 with only 2 watts out) EN41;  W9BBP and WA9BNZ EN40 and N9DG EN52.

**WB9LYH expects to call the net as usual both Nov. 11 and Nov. 18.  He will be OFF on Wed., Nov. 25th.  Happy Thanksgiving, in advance**

K8TQK calls the 144.252 net every Monday at 8:30pm eastern from EM89je, south-central OH, near Chillicothe.    Bob’s antenna pattern is N to start, then NE, E, SE, S, SW, W and NW over the next hour, give or take.   He had a big ol’ net on Monday — the 31 check-ins were:  N8XA, WB8LNG and NR8O EM79;  N8WNA EN74;  WM8I and WB8AUK EN80;  K9LQA EM68;  AC3L/M FN00;  KD8JQ EN91;  KD8QDQ and KB8GUE EM89;  W2UAD FN13;  W3IP FM19;  KO4YMC FM17;  W0LD FM15;  W4LES, W4IMD and W9BN EM84;  K9GZ EN90;  KI4ROF EM55;  WA4REE EM65;  N9RXM EN41;  K0TPP EM48;  WB0SWQ and N9DT EN40;  K9ILU and KD9BGY EN61;  WB8AHT EN72;  WB9LYH EN54;  and N9EM and KA9VDU EN53.
THAT is a busy evening on VHF.  Music to my ears, even if I’m not on the air anymore.   (See posts dated March 15, 2014 at kc9bqa.com if you want more info about that decision)

7:30am Sunday

Before I get to the net reports, a friendly reminder.  The 144.240 Wed. net called by WB9LYH EN54cl starts at 8pm central/9pm eastern start time year-round.  Several years ago, we switched to an earlier start time in the winter, but most check-ins prefer we stay at the same time 52 weeks a year.  If anyone gets confused because of the time change this morning, please help them out or refer them to this post at kc9bqa.com.   AGAIN, the 144.240 net Wed. net from WI starts at 8pm central/9pm eastern year-round.

Wed. night, WB9LYH reported “the weather was bad, but that did not hurt propagation”.  Mark had strong winds, mid 30’s and a rain/snow mix, from his central WI QTH.  (and now it’s going to be in the 60’s for the first 5 days of November — hooray!)  WB9LYH had 17 check-ins to the 144.240 net:  WA8IPJ EN74;  N8WNA EN82;  K9CCL, K9ILU and N9JBW EN61;  KC9VHD EN62;  AC8GD EN71;  N9RXM, KC9OVD and WK7G EN41;  WA9BNZ, WB0SWQ, W9BBP, KD0TIN and KC9WOI EN40;  KE0MS EN42;  and KD0YIB in EM28 gets the DX award at 450+ miles from Missouri.

If you need more info about the 144.240 net every Wed. at 8pm central, called by WB9LYH in EN54cl, Central WI, near WI Rapids, consult any of the net reports below.   Mark does expect to be around the next few weeks.  This Wed. will be unseasonably warm, perhaps there will be some real enhancement.  Remember that WB9LYH loves pushing the propagation limits and we always ask you to spread the word far beyond the normal 300-500 mile range on 2m SSB.  In fact, I was seeing reports of signal enhancement already this morning (on the ON4KST.com ham chat).  I should make a separate post about that, because I suspect much of this warm week will see good propagation.   Spread the word to your VHF/UHF buddies to get on the air and enjoy the goodies.

Last Monday, K8TQK was back with the 144.252 net called every Monday at 8:30pm eastern from EM89je, south-central OH, near Chillicothe.  Bob had 20 check-ins:  N8AIA EN82;  KC8YJB en91;  N9PU EN60;  WA3EOQ FM09;  AC3L/M FN00;  W0LD and K4SAN FM05;  WD4NMV and KC4AAW EM85;  W4LES, W4IMD and WA4NJP EM84;  KI4ROF EM55;  N9RXM EN41;  KB8GUE and KA8IVJ EM89;  N8XA EM79;  WD8CHR EN90;  VE3ZV EN92 and WM8I EN80.