KC9BQA

    4:30pm Thursday

    Remember that Tuesday has been the national activity night on 222 MHz for decades.   If you want more info about the where/what/when/who/why, click here:  http://kc9bqa.com/?p=6935  Helpful hints and tips are there. 

     K8TQK EM89 and K5SW EM25 were good enough to post their 222 activity to the ON4KST.com chat.  I’m sure there’s 222 activity in other parts of the country, but I can only report what I can see.  
     Two nights ago, K5SW worked W0RT EM27, WB5AFY EM04 and K5KDX EM25. 
     K8TQK worked K8GDT EN91;  K8JA, N8WNA and N8AIA EN82;  W9ZIH EN51 and K9MRI EN70. 

    I’m told the best times to be on are about 0000-0200 UTC.  Please remember these are not directed nets.  Instead, start your own activity.  Turn on your 222 gear, pick up your mic, call CQ, turn your antennas, call CQ some more.   Spread the word.

    8:15am Thur. 

    Want to know your Thursday options?  Click here:  http://kc9bqa.com/?p=6641  There is 6m, 2m SSB and FM Simplex activity every Thursday.   The nets I list would welcome you as a check in. 

    As described in the post below, last night had the 432 MHz sprint + the 144.240 nets.   The ON4KST.com chat was very lively, and 3 years after the creation of the IARU Region 2 Chat for 144-432 MHz, it’s a good feeling to see the chat continue to grow and facilitate more on-air contacts.    
   
    I was surprised to see my 432 rig has a problem, so I wasn’t able to play in the sprint.   
   
    I was disappointed to see reliable sources report persistent ragchewing on 432.100 from northern ILL during the sprint.  What made it worse is the stations involved have very big antennas and QRO, plus many decades of experience.   There’s a lesson to be learned here —   If you’re newer to weak-signal V/UHF, just know that you don’t monopolize the call frequencies, and ESPECIALLY during an activity where others would like to use it.  They/you/me/anyone should take long-winded QSO’s off the calling frequency.   Thank you. 

   Switching gears…
    WB9LYH had 17 check-ins last night with the 144.240 net.  His list included N9OLT EN64;  N8WNA EN82;  K8GDT EN91;  N9YK EN71;  WA9ACI, N9NMS, W9EWZ and KC9CLM EN52;  N9JBW EN61;  KC9BQA and W9APE EN63;  KC9GMF EN53;  W0WFH EM48;  WA9BNZ EN40;  KG0SJ EN22;  W0ANH EN47 and K0SIX EN35. 
   Would like to welcome WA9ACI to the net.  Glad you are on 2m SSB.  
   W0ANH and W9EWZ contacted each other as the net was closing.  Glad they could connect.   
   EDIT — Got email from KC9GMF.  It was Tom, and not KC9GMS, who checked in last night.  Thanks Tom for the clarification; want to be accurate here.   KC9GMF was also pleased to report working W0ANH on about a 300 mile path.  As Tom has 8 elements at a fairly low height (want to say about 30-40′) and 170 watts, working EN47 was a big deal for him.   Again, Tom, thanks for the email.   
   VE3YCU in FN02 used the chat to get our attention and he and WB9LYH came very close to completing.  On a night with decent propagation, they’ll have no problem. 

    W0WFH EM48ck and K9LQZ EM68ul were both on 144.240 from roughly 0120-0140, or 8:20-8:40pm central/9:20-9:40pm eastern.  They look to their E, SE, S and SW/W to find activity that we are can’t normally reach from WI.   If you can help us spread the word to these areas, we would appreciate it very much:  W PA, W VA, western portions of VA, NC and SC.  All of KY and TN, plus downstate OH, IN and IL.  Also much of GA, AL, MS.  And all of MO, AR, OK, KS and portions of eastern NE. 
    A big goal of mine when I started this in June of 2008 was to always expand the activity farther and farther.  That’s why WB9LYH became net control; because his signal gets out farther.  That’s why we worked with stations like K8TQK and KA0KYZ — to expand the activity farther.  
    So as of spring 2013, we now have K9LQZ and W0WFH on board, and we hope that as weather heats up and propagation improves, we will have nights with over 20 states (and VE provinces, too) checking in.   Again, let VHF’ers in those areas know we are looking their way on 144.240 on Wed. nights, right about 0115-0145Z.

   10am Tuesday

    1)  432 MHz Spring Sprint is tomorrow night, Wed., April 24th, from 7-11pm in your local time zone.   Go here http://kc9bqa.com/?p=6885 for full info on the Spring VHF/UHF Sprints. 

    2)  WB9LYH (and probably W0WFH EM48 and K9LQZ EM68) will be *ON* with the long-range Wed. nets on 144.240.  Get on tomorrow night and enjoy the 432 activity and get on and say hello to our net controls on 144.240.   If you need more info about what we’re trying to accomplish with a trio of net controls, read the bottom half of this post http://kc9bqa.com/?p=6931    We are reaching out to VHF’ers in a 200-500 mile semicircle surrounding EM68 and EM48.  Talking W PA, W VA, western parts of VA, NC and SC, all of KY, TN, much of GA, AL, MS, all of AR, OK, MO, KS and eastern NE, too. 

    3)  I want readers to remember that 222 Tuesday is still alive in certain areas.  If you have 222, remember that Tuesday is the national activity night.  For more hints and tips about 222 Tuesday, visit this post http://kc9bqa.com/?p=6935

   4)   Here is the net report for K8TQK’s 144.252 net, which is on every Monday evening at 8:30pm eastern from EM89je, south-central OH.   K8TQK had 19 check-ins last night.   W8SOL EN71;  N8AIA and K8JA EN82;  K8GDT, KD8FHY and NF8O EN91;  AC3L/M FN00;  WD8CHR EN90;  VE3YCU FN02;  K8RYU EM99;  KB3TNZ FN10;  KG4KWW FM17;  AA4DD and WB4IXU EM86;  KA2KQM EM74;  WA4REE EM65;  KI4ROF EM55;  KB9RDS EM79 and WB9LYH EN54.

   12:15pm Thur.

   WB9LYH had 13 check-ins last night.  Mark felt that the thunderstorms off to his south and southeast created better propagation at times.   It was interesting.  
  
    Please remember that we’ve now switched to our summer hours.  All 144.240 nets will start one hour later now.  WB9LYH runs from about 0100-0200Z, or an 8pm central/9pm eastern start. 

    WB9LYH’s check-ins were:  N9OLT EN64;  N8WNA EN82;  KC8YJB and K8GDT EN91;  K8TQK EM89;  W9APE and KC9BQA EN63;  N8DJB EN81;  W8SOL EN71;  WA9BNZ EN40;  KG0SJ EN22;  W0ANH EN47 and K0SIX EN35.  
    Considering there were thunderstorms in every direction except west and north, this was a great turnout.  We really appreciate your effort, and thanks for being out there. 

    W0WFH in EM48ck did get on about 8:20pm.  He had bad noise with thunderstorms a county north of him.  With that region really being under the gun, it was a slow night.  W0WFH did work KF0M in EM17. 

    We will be back next Wed. with the 144.240 nets.   Expect WB9LYH EN54, K9LQZ EM68 and W0WFH EM48.  What we’re trying to accomplish is spelled out in the post below. 

    What we need is your help in spreading the word across the southern/central Plains, the Ohio Valley, the northern parts of Dixie and the Appalachains.

5:15pm Wed.

WB9LYH will be on with the 144.240 activity net from EN54cl, central WI, at the new start time of **8pm central **  
W0WFH EM48ck will also get on, if thunderstorms stay away.

Watching a Midwest radar as I type, and see that many of you will have storms around tonight.  If you’re safely able to get on, we’d appreciate your check-in tonight.  Those of you in the warm sector of this big low pressure system, I hope you find band enhancement tonight.   It’s 37F here.  Brrrrr.

WB9LYH starts out looking NE, then E, SE, S, SW, W, NW and N over the next hour or so.  He loves DX and we appreciate you helping to spread the word, especially as we get into warmer weather and better band conditions.    If you’re within 400-500 miles of the middle of WI, give a listen.

If thunderstorms leave W0WFH alone, Bill will get on 144.240 from about 8:20-8:40 tonight.  W0WFH is in EM48ck, 20 miles SE of Jefferson City, MO.  Bill is looking for stations we can’t normally reach from WI.   He will look to his SE, S, SW and W.  Talking downstate IL/IN/OH.  All of KY, TN, MO, AR, OK, KS.  Parts of NE, LA, MS and AL are definitely in range, too.   Please help us spread the word to those areas.

K9LQZ will not be on from southern IN tonight.  He is unavailable on the 3rd Wed. of the month.  Look for K9LQZ on Wed., April 24th, about 9:15-9:30 eastern.  Lowell is looking for stations we can’t normally reach from WI.  Talking downstate IL/IN/OH.  W VA, western parts of VA, NC, SC.  All of KY and TN.  Parts of GA, AL, MS, AR and MO.    Please help spread the word to those areas, if you can.  We’re looking for those states from about 9:15-9:30pm eastern or 8:15-8:30pm central, every Wed. on 144.240.

    Noon Tuesday

    Looks like K8TQK had 17 check-ins to his 144.252 net last night.  (8:30pm eastern start, look toward EM89je, south-central OH)  They were:  WT8E EM89;  N8WNA, N8AIA and K8JA EN82;  W8SOL EN71;  VE3YCU and VE3CKO FN02;  K8GDT EN91;  WD8CHR EN90;  W2UAD FN13;  AC3L/M FN00;  KO4YC FM17;  AA4DD and WB4IXU EM86;  WA4REE EM65;  KI4ROF EM55 and WB9LYH EN54.  

    Again, tonight is the 222 MHz Spring Sprint.  Runs from 7-11pm in your local time zone.   Scroll down to an April 13th post if you need more info about the Spring VHF/UHF Sprints.  

    Weather will be a factor again for the Wed. nets.   Regardless of weather, remember that the Wed. 144.240 long-range nets ARE NOW SWITCHING TO SUMMER HOURS.  Effective April 17, everything starts one hour later.  This will continue until at least October. 

    WB9LYH should be *ON* tomorrow night, but starting at 8pm central/9pm eastern.  Mark has stacked 17B2’s and 500 watts from a ridgetop location in EN54cl, central WI.  Gets out a very long ways and enjoys DX.  He starts the net looking NE into the U.P. of MI and then goes clockwise a full 360 over the next hour or so.  Talking E, SE, S, SW, W, NW and N by about 9pm central/10pm eastern.  
    The net is informal and the purpose is to create more activity on the SSB/CW portion of 2m.   All licensed hams are welcome to listen along or say hello.   As always, please help us spread the word.   We are “on” the ON4KST.com chat (use the IARU Region 2 Chat for 144-432 MHz). 

    K9LQZ will be *OFF* tomorrow night.  Lowell has a conflict every 3rd Wed. of the month. 
 
    EDIT — 2:15pm Tues. 
    W0WFH has repaired his power supply and will be on 144.240 from EM48ck, (central MO) if weather allows.  Bill’s start time would be about 8:20-8:30 pm central, and he will look to his SE, S, SW and W, in an effort to reach stations we can’t normally raise from WI.   

    Check back in the late afternoon tomorrow for the updated lineup.

  10am Saturday

   This was originally part of a March 1st post, detailing scheduled on-air activity on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights.   The direct link to that March 1st post is here:  http://kc9bqa.com/?p=6815 

   Since it’s the weekend, I’ll limit the paragraph below to Sunday night activity.  Make sure to get the MN boys fired up by asking them how much snow they still have on the ground.   🙂 

   On Sunday evenings, you have multiple options on 2m and 6m, from MI and MN.  Details are in this post:  http://kc9bqa.com/?p=6538  My understanding is that currently, KA0KYZ is calling the EN33 Sunday net on 144.260, and not KA0PQW.  If ‘KYZ is net control, know that his signal travels a long way.  So does the 6m net control, K0SIX, in EN35.  They’re also good guys, who enjoy new check-ins and increasing overall activity on VHF. 
   EDIT — EDIT — 3:30pm Monday, April 15th. 
   KA0KYZ emailed to give us the straight scoop with the NLRS Sunday night 144.260 net (9pm central).   Terry says that KA0PQW is generally running the Sunday night .260 net (KA0PQW is also in EN33) and that if Matt is unavailable, then K0SIX usually takes it, with KA0KYZ being an occasional 3rd string backup.

   7am Saturday

  Want to remind everyone that the 222 MHz Spring Sprint is ON this Tuesday, April 16th, from 7-11pm.  Visit this post http://kc9bqa.com/?p=6885 for the full scoop on all the Spring VHF/UHF Sprints.  432 MHz sprint will be Wed., April 24th. 

   If you have SSB/CW gear for 222, you already know the call freq. is 222.100, and most activity in the sprint (or in an all-band VHF/UHF contest — next one is in early June) will be from about 222.070-222.130.  Another thing to keep in mind with any 222 activity is that often times, the FM’ers will get on.  I’d look for FM activity on/near 223.500, and maybe 222.500. 

   Remember that every Tuesday is 222 Tuesday.  It’s the national 222 activity night.  Look back to an April 9th post for more info about 222 Tuesday.  Then get on the air and help make it more active.

    6:30am Saturday —

    N4PZ will be changing the frequency on his strong 432 MHz beacon.  Effective April 15th, the new frequency will be 432.320 MHz, and not 432.280.  The move to 432.320 is to get away from radar interference in ONT, OH and MI.  Seeing as N4PZ is located in EN52gb, a half hour SW of Rockford, IL, this tells you how far this beacon gets out. 
    The N4PZ beacon on 432.320 is approximately 50 watts to a pair of Big Wheels at 70′.  It runs from dawn to mid morning and again from 6pm to midnight on 100% wind/solar power.  Steve would appreciate reception reports to n4pz (at) live.com.  
   If you look at N4PZ’s writeup at www.qrz.com, it also says he has a “beacon on 1296.274 10 watts split between two loop yagis. one pointed at MN other at MO at 40 feet.”  I’m not 100% sure this is still QRV, but it’s worth mentioning. 

   ** Remember that N4PZ also hosts the 432.100 activity net every Monday at 8pm central.**  He has 4 long yagis and 1500 watts, and regularly makes 300-400+ mile contacts when the other station is pointed right at him.  This has been on for several years now and it is the only 432 MHz net I know of within several hundred miles of WI and IL.    Plus, you’ll look long and hard to find a station with better range on 432.  N4PZ *loves* DX check-ins so guys in a multi-state area, make sure to put this on your Monday night UHF calendar.  I would monitor the ON4KST.com chat page to know where N4PZ is pointing and who he’s working, and I would aim my 432 yagi right at EN52gb and wait for his signal to magically peak up as he goes around the compass.    

    W9WZJ has also emailed to say his 144.289 beacon is back on the air from EM69tr, which is the far west side of Indianapolis.  Darin’s running 4 watts to a pair of M2 loops at 27′.   I’m sure he wouldn’t mind reception reports, either.  His email address can be found at his writeup at qrz.com. 

    I know we often get new visitors to kc9bqa.com.  There may be other beacons on other bands that you can hear.  A lot of weak-signal V/UHF’ers monitor beacons a few times a day to get a feel for the day-to-day variations in band conditions.   Two good listings of beacons are here:   http://www.newsvhf.com/beacons2.html  covers 144 MHz and higher   and…
   http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/por/50.htm  covers exclusively 50 MHz  (6 meters) 
   Save those to your VHF/UHF favorites folder.   Don’t rely on kc9bqa.com for your only source of beacon info. 

    I made a different post about beacons back on Dec. 28, 2012.  The link to it is here:  http://kc9bqa.com/?p=6528  Visit that post and you’ll find out about other beacons in WI and nearby states.

    8:30am Thur. 

   34F. and sheets of wind-driven drizzle this morning.  It’s April 11th.  Poor MN, they’re getting a snowstorm.  Was taking a look at some data out of Marquette, MI and get this — at the National Weather Service station there, they still have 33 inches of snow on the ground, with plenty more expected today and tomorrow.   Worst part is this pattern shows no real signs of changing.  Cold rain is due back in Sunday, and one computer model brings in another strong storm, with possible snow somewhere in MN/WI/U.P. of MI, about next Thursday.   

   OK, on to the net report. 
   As mentioned here at 4pm yesterday and in email sent to 150-200 VHF’ers in a multi-state area, WB9LYH was able to call last night’s net, after all.  Glad he had a good turnout.  Nice job everyone, with getting on and keeping the bands alive. 
   WB9LYH reported that thunderstorms to the SE limited contacts a bit in that direction.   Mark also said he informed everyone that we switch to our summer hours starting next Wed., April 17th, and he said that message was well received.  
   *AGAIN, ALL 144.240 NETS START ONE HOUR LATER, effective April 17th, into at least October.*  

    WB9LYH’s 17 check-ins were:  N9OLT EN64;  WD8LDL EN72;  N8WNA and N8AIA EN82;  W8SOL EN71;  N9JBW and KC9AZ EN61;  NT9E and KC9CLM EN52;  WA9BNZ EN40;  KG0SJ EN22;  N0WF EN21;  N8DJB EN81;  W9APE EN63;  K9UHF EN53;  K0SIX EN35 and W0ANH EN47. 

    Can’t remember if N0WF and W9APE have ever checked in before, but it’s good to hear them say hello.  Welcome to Warren and Kevin. 

    K9LQZ got on 144.240 somewhere around 8-8:10pm.  He heard from K8JA EN82 and W8SOL EN71.  I know already that K9LQZ will *NOT* be on next week.  Lowell has a conflict on the 3rd Wednesday of every month.