Archive for September, 2015

This Week’s 144.240 and 144.252 Net Reports

Thursday, September 24th, 2015

6:45am Thursday

Last night with the 144.240 net, WB9LYH reported good propagation.  Mark had a nice long list of 18 check-ins:  K8IHY EN72;  K8TQK and KB8GUE EM89;  K9ILU, K9CCL and N9JBW EN61;  W8SOL and KC8ZJL EN71;  N9NDP and W9GU EN62;  K9KHW EN63;  WM8I and WB8AUK EN82;  N9RXM and KC9OVD EN41;  WA9BNZ EN40 and KD0YIB was in there again from EM28, about an hour southeast of Kansas City.
The 144.240 net is called every Wed. at 8pm central by WB9LYH in EN54cl, central WI, near WI Rapids.  Scroll down to other net posts here at kc9bqa.com if you need more specifics.

** WB9LYH expects to be on at least the next few Wednesdays.  If his schedule ever changes, I post that info and who the alternate net control might be right here at kc9bqa.com **

Back on Monday night, not only was there the 2m Fall Sprint, but K8TQK called his 144.252 net as usual.   Bob’s 16 check-ins were:  N8WNA EN82;  WB8AUK EN80;  W8SOL EN71;  VE3ZV EN92;  W2UAD FN13;  K3GNC FN20;  KJ4YZB FM07;  KA2KQM EM74;  WA4NJP and N4QH EM84;  WD4NMV EM85;  N8GCP EM88;  KI4ROF EM55;  KB8GUE EM89;  N8HMG EN91 and WB8AHT EN72.
The 144.252 net is called every Mon. at 8:30pm eastern by K8TQK in EM89je, south-central OH, near Chillicothe.  Scroll down to other net posts here at kc9bqa.com if you need more specifics.

WB9LYH 144.240 Net Report for 9/16/15

Thursday, September 17th, 2015

6:10pm Thur.

WB9LYH said in his emailed net report that there was some propagation to the east with great signals.  Mark had 16 check-ins and 1 close call from EN51 that got lost in the noise.
The 144.240 net is called every Wed. at 8pm central/9pm eastern.  Net control is WB9LYH Mark.  QTH is EN54cl, central WI, near WI Rapids.  All licensed amateurs are welcome, the net is informal and the goal is to increase activity on 2m SSB.  Like any VHF’er with a strong signal, WB9LYH loves pushing the propagation limits and we ask everyone to spread the word far beyond the typical 300-400 mile range on 2m SSB.
From EN54, WB9LYH starts the net looking NE, then E, SE, S, SW, W, NW and N over the next 45-60 minutes.  Eastern time zone is always looked at first.
*** Loyal check-ins may recall we used to switch start times once we got into fall and winter.  WE NO LONGER DO THIS.  The 144.240 net start time is 8PM CENTRAL/9PM EASTERN YEAR-ROUND. ***
I will repeat this info as we get into October,  so nobody is left out.

WB9LYH’s 16 check-ins last night were:  WA8IPJ EN74;  N8WNA EN82;  KC8ZJL and W8SOL EN71;  N9SU and W9GU EN62;  N9JBW, KC9RIO and K9CCL EN61;  N9RXM EN41;  WA9BNZ, W9BBP and WB0SWQ EN40;  KB9PSE EN52;  KD0YIB EM28 and KA8FFM EN56.
Happily acknowledge 3 new all-time check-ins to this net.  WA8IPJ, W9GU and KD0YIB — welcome aboard.  Nice to see propagation to EM28 (the Central MO/KS border area) last night.  Tell your friends we’re here every Wed.

WB9LYH would also like everyone to know he expects to be around next Wed. and beyond.

**PLEASE REMEMBER THE 2M FALL SPRINT IS MON., SEPT. 21, FROM 7-11PM IN YOUR LOCAL TIME ZONE.**  Scroll down 2 posts for more info and full sprint calendar.

K8TQK 144.252 Net Reports for 9/7 and 9/14/15

Thursday, September 17th, 2015

5:50pm Thursday
K8TQK’s been having a ton of check-ins lately.  Imagine propagation has been pretty favorable, with the generally warm and humid weather.
The 144.252 net is called every Monday at 8:30pm eastern.  Net control is K8TQK.  Bob’s QTH is EM89je, south-central OH, near Chillicothe.  I still type up his net reports because Bob partnered with us on Wed. nights for several years.   Our net story is here, if you’re interested:  http://kc9bqa.com/?p=5363
K8TQK has a strong multi-band VHF/UHF station.  Big antennas and power, plus a hilltop QTH.  You don’t have to have all this to get out several hundred miles on the SSB/CW/Digi portions of V/UHF bands, but it does help.
Bob calls a nice, relaxed net and all licensed amateurs are welcome.  He starts out looking N, then goes NE, E, SE, S, SW, W and NW over the next 45-60 minutes.  Purpose is to get more signals on 2m SSB.   His range is easily 300-400+ miles and he has check-ins from a 20-state and Canadian province area.
Back on Sept. 7th, there were 22 check-ins:  N8WNA EN82;  KE8BVE EN80;  W2UAD FN13;  N4TLL EM87;  N1GC EM95 ;  K4YA EM86;  W4GA and KA2KQM EM74;  WA4NJP and W4LES EM84;  W3IP FM19;  N3RG FM29;  KO4YC FM17;  AC3L/M FN00;  KI4ROF EM55;  WB4WZK EM78;  N7CZ EM69;  N8XA and WB8ART EM79;  KB8GUE EM89;  N9SU and W9GU EN62.

This past Monday, Sept. 14th, K8TQK gathered 30 check-ins:  N8WNA EN82;  VE3YCU FN02;  WB8AUK EN80;  AC3L/M and K3BM FN00;  N4TLL EM87;  N1GC, K4SAN and W0LD FM05;  W4IPX, W4LES and W4IMD EM84;  K4YA EM86;  VE3ZV EN92;  WB4GZK EM78;  KI4ROF EM55;  N9RXM EN41;  KC9WOI EN40;  K9ILU and KD9BGY EN61;  KB8GUE EM89;  W8SOL and KC8ZJL EN71;  N9EM and KA9VDU EN53;  WB8LNG EM79;  WM8I EN80;  WB8AHT EN72 and W3IP FM19.

Fall Sprints Restart on 144 MHz on Mon., Sept. 21

Wednesday, September 16th, 2015

10:50am  Wed.

I made a post here at kc9bqa.com about the Fall VHF and Up Sprints back on Aug. 5 and again on Aug. 27th.  Let me repost that info one last time:

SPRINT                     Dates
50 MHz                    2300Z  Sat. Aug. 8 to 0300Z Sun. Aug. 9th.  (6-10pm Sat. in central time zone)
144 MHz                   7-11pm local time on Mon. Sept. 21st
220 MHz                  7-11pm local time on Tue. Sept. 29th
432 MHz                  7-11pm local time on Wed. Oct. 7th
Microwave
(902 MHz and Up)   7am-2pm local time on Sat. Oct. 10th

This info and rules can be found at:  http://svhfs.org/wp/

Please spread the word about the 2015 Fall VHF Sprints

WB9LYH Calls 144.240 Net As Usual Tonight

Wednesday, September 16th, 2015

10:30am Wed.

Hectic days, sorry this update is late.  Took a direct lightning strike yesterday about 6am, but it could have been a lot worse.  More about that at the bottom.

I’ve heard from WB9LYH and Mark will be back with the 144.240 Wed. net tonight at the usual start time of 8pm central/9pm eastern.  His QTH is EN54cl, central WI, near WI Rapids.  Big signal and loves both local and DX check-ins.  Always help us spread the word that this is a friendly net, informal, and our goal is to get more signals on 2m SSB.
From Central WI, WB9LYH starts out looking NE, then E, SE, S, SW, W, NW and N over the next 45-60 minutes or so.  Eastern time zone is always targeted first.  Again, we appreciate the many loyal check-ins around WI, MI, IL, IA and MN thru the years.  We also want VHF’ers beyond those states to know that WB9LYH loves pushing the propagation limits and he’s always listening carefully for those DX surprises beyond the 400-500 mile normal range.  Please help us spread the word to guys who might not know we’re out there on Wed. nights.

About 6am yesterday morning, we had a little light thunder, a little off and on rain.   No big deal at all.  No thunderstorms were even forecasted (at least as of when we went to bed, you know how they change their forecasts once they look out the window and see lightning, LOL)  My wife was at the kitchen window when she said a shotgun went off near her ear.  She loves a good storm, but this was way too much.  Scared the coffee right out of her (nearly).
She was fine, but turns out that the DirecTV LNB was toast and so was the oldest of our 3 TV’s.  We don’t have a landline telephone anymore, but the plastic cover from that distribution box on the back of the house went flying 15 feet into the bushes.  The circuit breaker for our outside post lights tripped.  Then later yesterday, I discovered the circuitry for one of our garage door openers was fried.   Everything’s fixed this morning and that’s a good feeling.  Also very glad that our newer TV’s are fine (so far, we’ll see if there are residual effects) and glad that the computers are all working fine.  This strike had nothing to do with the ham towers, which are 150′ away.  Weird that they are 50-70′ taller than the house and the charge went to the house anyway, but hey, lightning does what it wants to, no questions asked (or answered).

I guess my real point is this:  I’ve always been a little on the paranoid side about lightning.   I’ve chased storms for years in the Plains (mostly about 2000-2006).  I’d see chasers out in the open, with their eyes up against tripods and it made me really nervous.  Back when I golfed fairly often, guys would tease me for bolting off the course when you could barely hear the thunder.  My wife loves being outside in mild weather.  Not at all unusual for her to be pruning plants, doing whatever needs doing at 5, 6, 7am.  And unless there’s frequent or close-by lightning, she doesn’t get too concerned about coming inside.  This direct hit yesterday morning came pretty much out of the blue.  Wasn’t raining, hadn’t had any close strikes.  Thank God she was inside.
This post may help someone take lightning a little more seriously.  Mission accomplished.

Oh — I should also add that I’ve had the “comments” feature disable here for several years now.  Something changed with this website some years back and spammers started coming in thru the comments tag.  I’m too dense to know how to customize/solve it, so I simply shut the comments off.  Thanks for understanding.  You need to email me,  my everyday email is good at qrz.com.

Post Your ARRL Sept. VHF Contest Plans Here

Tuesday, September 8th, 2015

5:30am Tuesday

As mentioned already in an Aug. 27th post here at kc9bqa.com, the ARRL September VHF Contest is the 2nd weekend of September.  It starts at 1800 UTC time (1pm central) on Sat., Sept. 12th and run 33 hours until 0300 UTC time on Monday (which is 10pm central Sunday night)    All bands from 50 MHz on up into the microwaves are in play.  This will be the last major, multi-band VHF/UHF contest until next January.   Here’s the link to the ARRL rules and info page:   http://www.arrl.org/september-vhf

Talk up the contest and help get more signals on the air.  Refer hams to this blog, if they need more info.

Like he has for years now, W0UC Paul in EN44 has created a Google spreadsheet where those of us in the Midwest/Great Lakes can post our VHF contest plans.  Before I pass the link along (with W0UC’s permission) a few guidelines.  Please read these.
1)  I know nothing about a Google spreadsheet.  I’m just the messenger.
2)  Notice on the lower left that there are tabs for both fixed stations and rovers.
3)  Even if you’re part-time or you don’t know exactly when you can be on, post your general intentions anyway.  This is fun, not a legally binding contract.  🙂
4)  We kindly ask that with this sheet, the emphasis remains on WI and nearby states.  We’re NOT trying to create a nationwide sheet.  If you are more than say 300-400 miles from WI, considering doing something similar for your own area.  It would be a big boost to V/UHF contesting if there were similar listings for other parts of the USA and Canada.
5)  Please spread the word among your V/UHF buddies in WI and nearby states to list your ARRL September VHF Contest plans here:   http://tinyurl.com/SeptVHF2015
6)  Because this is an interactive spreadsheet, remember to check back from time-to-time and view updated plans from both fixed stations and rovers.

N9XKH in EN52il Calls 144.240 Net on Wed, Sept. 9th

Tuesday, September 8th, 2015

5:15am  Tues.

WB9LYH WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO KNOW that N9XKH Dennis will call the 144.240 net next Wed., Sept. 9th.  Dennis has filled in several times now and we appreciate him helping out.   He’s located in EN52il, which happens to be on the WI/ILL border, a little ways southwest of Madison, WI.   Start time is 8pm central/9pm eastern and N9XKH will probably follow the custom of looking into MI/VE-3 first, then OH, IN, IL, etc.  Meaning he’d look NE to start, then E, SE, S, SW, W, NW and N over the next 30-60 minutes, depending on how busy he is.   Please get on next Wed. night, look toward N9XKH in EN52il and say hello.  Dennis is a busy guy with not enough time for radio so when he can get on, he really appreciates signal reports.  |
As of now, I assume WB9LYH will be back on from his EN54cl (central WI) QTH on Wed., Sept. 16th.

Did You Know About the Big Band Opening?

Friday, September 4th, 2015

9am  Friday

At one time, I paid close attention to band conditions.  Now that I’m not on the air, not so much.  So don’t rely on this website for a real-time alert system.  The guys who are proactive and keep their eyes and ears open dig deeper and do their own research.

For several days last weekend into early this week, there was a widespread and strong tropo opening across much of the Great Lakes into the Northern/Central Plains and even into the northeast and Canada, too.  Many stations were working beyond the “normal” 300-500 mile range.  Lots of new grids being worked, lots of excitement.  Hope you got in on the action.
BEST WAY TO KEEP UP TO DATE is to follow the VHF/UHF live chat at www.on4kst.com.   If you haven’t registered (and used) this free and no-BS resource, you’re missing out on a lot of the on-air possibilities.  I lobbied ON4KST back in late 2009/early 2010 to consider creating a USA/Canada-based VHF/UHF chat room and in early March of 2010, Alain (ON4KST) delivered.   The story is here:  http://kc9bqa.com/?p=1072  Visit that link if you need instructions on how to register for the ON4KST.com free ham chat rooms.
ALSO… there is the APRS VHF propagation map which is here:   http://aprs.mountainlake.k12.mn.us/  That website isn’t perfect, it tosses out false positives from time to time and you shouldn’t let yourself fall into the trap of only getting on and calling CQ when the “map looks good”.
Can’t emphasize that enough — the best way to find out how band conditions are is to pick up the mic and call CQ.  Not just once or twice.  Many CQ’s, spinning the rotor and looking in different directions.  There are many times where guys will say, “AB9XYZ’s signal is pretty good.  The APRS map didn’t show any propagation, but his signal was plenty strong.”

This Week’s 144.240 and 144.252 Net Reports

Friday, September 4th, 2015

8:30am Friday

Back on Wed. night, WB9LYH called the 144.240 net at the usual start time of 8pm central/9pm eastern.  Mark reported some propagation to the east.  Check-ins were:  WD9CPY EN54;  K9CCL, N9JBW, KD9BGY and K9ILU EN61;  W8SOL EN71;  K8TQK EM89;  WB8AHT EN72;  W9BBP EN40;  KB9KLD EM58;  W0MTW EN24 and WB0ULX in EN04, Huron SD.   Nice group from a wide area.

WB9LYH WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO KNOW that N9XKH Dennis will call the 144.240 net next Wed., Sept. 9th.  Dennis has filled in several times now and we appreciate him helping out.   He’s located in EN52il, which happens to be on the WI/ILL border, a little ways southwest of Madison, WI.   Start time is 8pm central/9pm eastern and N9XKH will probably follow the custom of looking into MI/VE-3 first, then OH, IN, IL, etc.  Meaning he’d look NE to start, then E, SE, S, SW, W, NW and N over the next 30-60 minutes, depending on how busy he is.   Please get on next Wed. night, look toward N9XKH in EN52il and say hello.  Dennis is a busy guy with not enough time for radio so when he can get on, he really appreciates signal reports.  |
As of now, I assume WB9LYH will be back on from his EN54cl (central WI) QTH on Wed., Sept. 16th.

K8TQK had a BIG net on Monday night.  Talking about the 144.252 net, called Mondays at 8:30pm eastern from EM89je, south-central OH.  I believe there was good tropo on that night, and I know that after a weekend filled with VHF/UHF goodies, a ton of stations were on, looking for action.  K8TQK’s 31 check-ins on 8/31/15 were:  K8JA EN82;  W8SOL EN71;  WB8AHT EN72;  WB8AUK and N8LRG EN80;  K8GDT and N8HMG EN91;  W2UAD FN13;  VE3ZV EN92;  W9KXI FN12;  AB3IS and AC3L/M FN00;  WA3EOQ FM09;  W3IP FM19;  N1GC EM95;  W4LES EM84;  KC4AAW EM85;  KI4ROF EM55;  WB7PMP EM88;  KA2KQM EM74;  WB4GZK EM78;  N7CZ EM69;  N9RXM EN41;  WB8ART and WB8LNG EM79;  KB8GLE and N8XA EM89;  N9SU EN62;  WB9LYH EN54;  KD9BGY EN61 and WB8VLO EN81.