144.240 Wed. Net Reports from 8/31, 9/7, 9/14 and 9/21
Wednesday, September 28th, 20168am
HOORAY! Finally going to get caught up this morning. I think the net reports are important, and I want to stay current. Spread the word that I’ve gotten caught up now. Lots of check-ins I want to gratefully acknowledge. First a few announcements for those who may not be familiar with our net.
**WB9LYH should be on as usual tonight — 8pm central/9pm eastern.** Antenna pattern is always to look into the eastern time zone first. Talking MI, VE-3, OH. Then SE, S, SW, W, NW and N over the next 45 minutes or so. Be flexible; we’re never sure which direction might be busier on a given night. All licensed amateurs are welcome, the net is informal and the purpose is to get more signals on 2 meter SSB.
The 144.240 net is called every Wed. at 8pm central/9pm eastern by WB9LYH Mark, who is in EN54cl, central WI, an hour and a half west of Green Bay. Mark has a big signal and can easily reach out 300-400+ miles under normal band conditions. Plus Mark enjoys pushing the propagation limits so weak signals and DX are *always* welcome.
We’ve been doing the Wed. 144.240 net from WI since June 2008 and our story is here: http://kc9bqa.com/?p=5363 We always ask everyone to help us spread the word and to get more signals on 2m SSB. Not just for a few minutes during a net, but whenever you have some time to operate. Get in the habit of calling CQ, swinging the antenna around, looking for activity. So many of us fall into the habit of “just listening” Well if 20 guys are all “just listening” how many signals get heard??? Yep… zero.
Resolve to call CQ more often.
A truly healthy band has lots of hams in different areas calling CQ, swinging the yagi around, looking in all directions.
Here’s the last 4 net reports.
On Aug. 31st, WB9LYH had 15 check-ins to the Wed. 144.240 net. Mark reported good conditions to the east and south. Check-ins were: VE3ZV EN92; W8SOL and KC8ZJL EN71; N9NDP EN62; WB8LNG EM79; N9RXM and KC9OVD EN41; W9HQ EN43; W1JWS EN50; WA9BNZ and W9BBP EN40; AB9QH EN62; N9IYV, WA9HIR and N9JBW EN61.
On Sept. 7th, WB9LYH reported that weather to the south was a limitation. Still, Mark had a healthy 13 check-ins: KC9RAP EN63; KC9RIO, K9CCL and N9JBW EN61; WA9JML EN51; KC9VHD EN62; N9YK EN71; N9RXM and KD0WTE EN41; W1JWS EN50; KA0EIV EN30 and WA9BNZ EN40.
I (KC9BQA) want to note how much activity we’ve had over time from west-central IL and eastern IA. It’s been really gratifying to see so many different stations on 2 meter SSB from EN40, 41, 50 and the surrounding area. Want to welcome KD0WTE as a new all-time check-in to the Wed. 144.240 net from WI. Glad you’re on 2 meter SSB.
As a former contester and grid hunter, my heart skips a beat every time I see a call from EN30. Glad KA0EIV is checking in occasionally. If you read these net reports, please help spread the word in S IA and N MO. I know net control WB9LYH can easily get into those areas, even from EN54, central WI. Heck, we used to have a regular check-in from the Omaha area, and I don’t think he had more than 9 or 13 elements.
On Sept. 14th, WB9LYH said “good net tonight”. The 15 check-ins were: WA9JML EN51; KC9RIO, K9CCL, N9IYV and N9JBW EN61; W8SOL EN71; W9RXM and KC9OVD EN41; KB9MIV EM59; N8WAC EN81; KB8ZJL EN71; W1JWS EN50; WA9BNZ and W9BBP EN40 and K0DPL EN42.
Very pleased to see a check-in from EM59. Thanks for being a new check-in, Tony. Just like I said above, about getting out to the Omaha area, 144.240 net control WB9LYH can work well down into IL and MO. We welcome more signals from St. Louis metro and all of MO. Someone has to help spread the word. WB9LYH looks south (WB9LYH is EN54cl, central WI) about 8:10-8:25pm central time on 144.240 — Wed. nights.
Last Wed., Sept. 21st, there was a lot of heavy weather affecting our territory. WB9LYH had lightning around him at 8pm and Mark came up with a clever workaround. N9XKH in EN52il (WI/ILL state line, south of Madison, WI) occasionally fills in as net control, and Dennis got things started at the usual time of 8pm central. Dennis found N9RXM EN41; KC9WOI and WA9BNZ EN40; KC9RIO, N9JBW, W9SUS and K9CCL EN61; WB9TFH and WB9PSH EN53; WB8AHT EN72 and then WB9LYH EN54.
WB9LYH reports that at 8:40pm central time, the weather over him had cleared and he made a few calls, finding W1JWS EN50, WA9BNZ and KA0EIV EN30. For a night plagued with storms in a multi-state area, 14 check-ins is very strong. As WB9LYH said, “tnx to all who communicated through all this”