KC9BQA

11am Sunday

144.240 net control WB9LYH had this to say in his emailed net report:  “This was an adventure.  Storms, lots of static, high and low propagation, apparent lightning enhancement.  Lots of fun.”
Check-ins were:  KS8B EN64;  N9EM EN53;  W8SOL EN71;  K9ILU and N9IYV EN61;  WB8LNG EM79;  W8PU EM89;  WA9BNZ and W9BBP EN40;  N9RXM EN41;  KG0SJ EN22;  W0VB EN34 and AB9QH EN62.
Mark also noted that W8PU got through with CW, then SSB, despite really bad QSB and noise.
Would like to say welcome to the Wed. 144.240 net to W8PU.  I think this is his first time checking in.

WB9LYH expects to be on for the next several Wednesdays.  The 144.240 net is called every Wed. night at 8pm central/9pm eastern.  Net control WB9LYH is located in EN54cl, which is Central WI, near WI Rapids or about 1.5 hours west of Green Bay, WI.  Mark has a big signal and enjoys pushing the propagation limits.  Please let VHF’ers in a very wide radius know that we’re on the air on Wed. nights.

From central WI, WB9LYH starts out looking NE, E and SE.  Eastern time zone is always targeted first with the 144.240 Wed. net.  From there, Mark starts edging S, then SW, W, NW and N to finish.  All licensed amateurs are welcome; the net is informal and the purpose is to increase activity on 2 meter SSB.  We always appreciate you helping to spread the word and doing  your part to make the SSB/CW portions of the VHF/UHF bands more active.

12:45pm Thursday

144.240 net control WB9LYH reported that propagation was good last night.  Check-ins were:  K9ILU and N9JBW EN61;  KC9VHD and AB9QH EN62;  N9IYV and KB9PSE EN52;  N9YK EN71;  NG9K and N9RXM EN41;  KA9DVX EN51; and WB0SWQ and WA9BNZ EN40.

We finally have high pressure overhead that isn’t moving much.  Extended periods of stable weather often mean improved band conditions.  VHF/UHF’ers need to get on the air during this stretch and call CQ, and start some activity; see who’s out there.  Mornings and evenings (esp. toward and after dark) would tend to have the best conditions.  Spin the beams, call around, keep the airwaves alive.

WB9LYH expects to be on for the next several Wednesdays.  The 144.240 net is called every Wed. night at 8pm central/9pm eastern.  Net control WB9LYH is located in EN54cl, which is Central WI, near WI Rapids or about 1.5 hours west of Green Bay, WI.  Mark has a big signal and enjoys pushing the propagation limits.  Please let VHF’ers in a very wide radius know that we’re on the air on Wed. nights.

From central WI, WB9LYH starts out looking NE, E and SE.  Eastern time zone is always targeted first with the 144.240 Wed. net.  From there, Mark starts edging S, then SW, W, NW and N to finish.  All licensed amateurs are welcome; the net is informal and the purpose is to increase activity on 2 meter SSB.  We always appreciate you helping to spread the word and doing  your part to make the SSB/CW portions of the VHF/UHF bands more active.

3:45pm Saturday

Very sorry to report that WB0YWW became a silent key early this month.  Bob had been battling cancer for several years.

When I was actively running the 144.240 net (years back), I always smiled when I heard from Bob.  He just had a way about him and while I was never able to eyeball with him, I sure enjoyed his personality on the radio.   I saw in an obituary that he enjoyed going out and watching storms.  I wish we had talked about that;  I love doing that too.     Bob was one of our earliest, most frequent and loyal check-ins.  Time on the radio was more fun with him around.
My sympathies to his wife, family and loved ones.

3pm Saturday

The last net report I posted was back on 4/7.  In this post, there will be net reports for 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/4 and 5/11.

Back on April 13th, there were 10 check-ins to the 144.240 net:  K9ILU, KD9BGY, KC9RIO, N9JBW, K9CCL and N9IYV EN61;  N9YK EN71;  WA9BNZ and WB0SWQ EN40 and KB9PSE EN52.

On April 20th, there were 9 check-ins:  K9ILU, N9IYV and KD9BGY EN61;  WB8LNG EM79;  AB9QH EN62;  KB9PSE EN52;  W9BBP EN40;  N9XJE EN53 and N9XRM EN41.   Want to welcome N9XJE to the net; always grateful for new signals on 2m SSB.

On April 27th, there were 11 check-ins:  KG9B EN54;  K9ILU, KC9RIO and KD9BGY EN61;  WB8LNG EM79;  KY9E EN52;  NG9K and N9RXM EN41;  WB0SWQ and W9BBP EN40;  and KG0SJ EN22.   Also want to welcome KG9B to the net.  Nice to hear you on 2 meter SSB.  That’s 2 new ones from central WI in 2 weeks.

On May 4th, there were 12 check-ins:  N9JBW, K9ILU, KA8BTW, KD9BGY and KC9RIO EN61;  AB9QH EN62;  WB8LNG EM79;  N9RXM EN41;  W9BBP, WA9BNZ and WB0SWQ EN40;  and KG0SJ EN22.

Last Wed., May 11th, there were 13 check-ins to the 144.240 net.  Net control WB9LYH reported good propagation to the east.  Check-ins were:  AC8GD and KC8ZJL EN71;  WB8LNG EM79;  K9ILU, KC9RIO and KD9BGH EN61;  KB9PSE EN52;  N9RXM EN41;  WB0SWQ, W9BBP and WA9BNZ EN40;  WB9FBO EN52 and KA8FFM EN56 in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Net control WB9LYH also noted that a WB4 called briefly, but Mark could not copy the rest.  Mark said there was the best propagation to the southeast that he has heard for a while.
Also want to welcome WB9FBO to the net.  That’s 3 new calls in the last 5 weeks.  Those of you who are helping us spread the word — THANK YOU.

OK, ALL CAUGHT UP ON THE NET REPORTS for the last 5 weeks.  Finally.

Friendly reminder:  The 144.240 net is called every Wed. at 8pm central/9pm eastern by WB9LYH in EN54cl.  That’s central WI, near WI Rapids, or about 1.5 hours west of Green Bay, WI.   We have been calling the 144.240 net since June of 2008.  If  you’re into history, our net story is here:  http://kc9bqa.com/?p=5363
Net control WB9LYH has a big signal.  Stacked 17B2 yagis and a ridgetop QTH and 500 watts.  You don’t need all that to talk a few hundred miles on 2 meter SSB, but it surely helps!  Mark can routinely work other well-equipped stations out to 400 miles — under normal band conditions.  With summer out there somewhere (had snowshowers and 39 degrees today on MAY 14th!) we will have nights with enhanced propagation.  Please let VHF’ers in a very wide area know that WB9LYH is there on Wed. nights, and he loves to push the propagation limits.  Just like with the mystery WB4 station who almost made it in on May 11th.

All licensed amateurs are welcome to the 144.240 net.  We appreciate local and DX check-ins, we appreciate regulars and those who just drop by from time to time.  The net is informal and the purpose is to create more activity on 2 meter SSB.  We always encourage you to help spread the word and get more signals on the air.

WB9LYH expects to be on next Wed., May 18th.  He starts the net by looking northeast, east and southeast.  Eastern time zone is always targeted first with this net (again, start time is 8pm central/9pm eastern)  By about 8:10-8:15 central, WB9LYH is edging south, looking into IN, IL and southern WI.  Then he starts looking SW into MO, IA and KS.  Eventually he looks W, NW and N, from (roughly) 8:20-8:45pm.  All times approximate, never know which direction might have more activity.