KC9BQA

11am
144.240 net control WB9LYH wants everyone to know that he won’t be calling the net next Wed., Nov. 22nd.   Both Mark and I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and send our appreciation to the 100’s of you who are helping to keep the “weak-signal” (meaning SSB/CW basically) side of VHF alive and well.

Please check into the 144.240 net on Wed., Nov. 29th at the usual start time of 9pm eastern/8pm central.

If you’d like to read about the 9+ year history of the 144.240 Wednesday net out of WI, along with some of the changes over time, please enjoy this:  http://kc9bqa.com/?p=5363

10:45am
OK, just about all caught up.  Feels good.

On Nov. 8th, 144.240 net control WB9LY in EN54 reported, “Good to be back.  Decent signals, no bad weather.  Checkins were KD9BGY, K9CCL and N9JBW EN61;  KC9RAP EN63;  WA9JML and N9ABR EN51;  WA9BNZ, WB0SWQ and W9BBP EN40;  N8XEW EN71;  and KB9MIV EM59.”
(please note that WB9LYH was off on 10/25 and 11/1 and alternate net control N9XKH in EN52il filled in — thanks Dennis for keeping the net going)

Last night there were 10 check-ins.  WB9LYH commented, “Lots of wind, tough conditions.  Checkins were KD9BGY and N9JBW EN61;  KB9IME EN54;  WA9JML and N9ABR EN51;  K9LQZ EM68;  N8XEW EN71;  WA9BNZ and W9BBP EN40 and AB9QH EN62.”
I want to point out that even on a night with lousy weather and certainly flat or subpar band conditions, K9LQZ was able to make it from EM68, southwest IN.  That’s at least a 420-440 mile path to net control WB9LYH.  That’s a classic demonstration of what can be done on 2 meter SSB between stations with good long yagis up in the clear and decent power levels.

IF YOU’RE NEW TO KC9BQA.COM OR WANT MORE INFO ABOUT THE 144.240 SSB NET, here’s the scoop:
THE 144.240 WEDNESDAY NET is typically called by WB9LYH Mark in EN54cl.  This is central WI, near WI Rapids.  Start time is 9pm eastern/8pm central, year-round.
This net is informal.  All licensed amateurs are welcome and we appreciate you helping to spread the word.  The goal of the net is simple — to increase activity on 2 meter SSB.
From his central WI QTH, Mark starts out the net looking into the eastern time zone.  Within 5-15 minutes, he is edging SE, then S, SW, W, NW and N to finish the net.  A net can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes, depending on activity levels.
WB9LYH has stacked long yagis from a ridgetop QTH.  You do not need this kind of setup to enjoy 2 meter SSB, but it sure helps!  Mark can regularly work 300-400+ miles to well-equipped stations pointed his way, under flat band conditions.  Remember that antennas are typically horizontally polarized on the SSB/CW side of 2 meters.
WB9LYH loves to push the propagation limits, so please help us spread the word that he’s out there on 144.240 on Wed. nights, looking to find DX.   Of course, we appreciate all check-ins, and we really have some loyal ones going back many years.  But sometimes you get that rare night where someone checks in from 500, 600+ miles away and that’s exciting.

THE SSB/CW PORTIONS OF VHF/UHF ALWAYS NEED MORE ACTIVITY.   You can do you part —   Make sure to get on and call some of your own CQ’s, at any old time.  Don’t fall into the rut of just getting on for a half hour once a week.   The best recipe for a healthy VHF/UHF band is multiple stations in a wide area calling CQ, turning the yagis, looking for contacts.
Another habit to avoid is “just listening”.   If there are a few dozen guys in a multi-state area all “just listening” on 2 meters, on 432 MHz, whatever… if everyone is “just listening” how many signals will be heard?    That’s right — zero signals.   Make yourself heard and keep the band lively.

10am
Continuing to get caught up.  Thanks, everyone, for your patience.

On Oct. 4th, the 144.240 net was very active with 17 checkins.  In his emailed comments, net control WB9LYH said, “Interesting net.  Variable prop. to east, very good to SW.  Checkins were KC9ZVZ EN53;  WA9JML and N9NAQ EN51;  K9ILU, K9CCL, N9JBW, K9KKF and KD9BGY EN61;  WB8LNG EM79;  KC9RAP EN63;  N9RXM EN41;  WA9BNZ EN40;  N0JA EM49;  KB9MIV EM59;  KC9WIK EN54;  N8XEW and AA8CH EN71.  Mark also got a thrill out of noting that AA8CH “was operating with a handheld, 5 watts and a handheld beam.  Lots of fun.”  (KC9BQA guesses this would be about a 180-200 mile path, so yes, that’s a lot of fun on 2 meter SSB!)

On Oct. 11th, there was also good propagation and a big list of 19 checkins:  WA9JML EN51;  KC9RAP EN63;  WB8LNG EM79;  K8TQK EM89;  KD9BGY, N9IYV, K9CCL, N9JBW, K9ILU and N9KKF EN61;  KC9VHD and AB9QH EN62;  N8WAC EN81;  KC9ZVZ EN53;  W8SOL and N8XEW EN71;  WA9BNZ EN40;  KB9MIV EM49 and N9RXM EN41.

On Oct. 18th, there was another solid turnout with 16 checkins.  WB9LYH said, “Good propagation again.  Checkins were  AB9QH EN62;  K9CCL, K9ILU, KD9BGY and KC9RIO EN61;  WA9JML EN51;  N8WAC EN81;  WB8LNG EM79;  N9ARB EN52;  N9ABR EN51;  N0JA EM49;  W9BBP and WB0SWQ EN40;  N8XEW EN71;  N9RXM EN41 and WV9E EN43.”    I (Todd-KC9BQA) want to say a special hello to our ol’ friend Dave from Onalaska.  WV9E put several years into promoting 2 meters in the entire EN43 region and is always a welcome signal from the La Crosse area.

I have no 144.240 net reports from Oct. 25th and Nov. 1st.  The nets were on and were called by our backup, N9XKH Dennis in EN52il.  I hope N9XKH had good turnouts; I bet there were because the net’s been doing great.

If you need more info about the Wed. night 144.240 SSB net called by WB9LYH in EN54, central WI, please visit the 2nd half of the Aug. 10th, 2017 net report here at kc9bqa.com.

9am
Back on Sept. 6th, the Wed. night 144.240 SSB net from WI had 12 checkins.
In the email that net control WB9LYH sends to me, Mark said that propagation was good.  Check-ins were:  WA9JML EN51;  K9CCL, K9ILU and N9KKF EN61;  WB8LNG EM79;  KC9RAP EN63;  K9HBO EN53;  W9BBP, WA9BNZ and WB0SWQ EN40;  K0DOK EM48 and N9RXM EN41.
Mark noted that,  “K9HBO was running portable with a vertical antenna from Waukesha.  Surprising how far we can communicate on this band with such equipment”  (KC9BQA estimates that’s probably about a 125 mile path to net control in Central WI)

On Sept. 13th, there were 14 checkins.  Net control WB9LYH remarked, “Some propagation tonite.  Good signals.  Checkins were KC9RAP EN63;  WA9JML, N9NAQ and N9ABR EN51;  N9EM EN53;  WB8AHT EN72;  KC9VHD EN62;  K9ILU and N9KKF EN51;  WB8LNG EM79;  W9BBP and WA9BNZ EN40;  KB9MIV EM59 and KC9WIK EN54.

On Sept. 20th, there were 12 checkins.  WB9LYH said, “Terrible static again, thunderstorms to the south.  Checkins were KC9RAP EN63;  WA9JML and N9NAQ EN51;  KC9VHD EN62;  N9JBW and K9CCL EN61;  WB8LNG EM79;  N0JA EM49;  K0DOK EM48;  WA9BNZ EN40;  AE0MM EN34 and WB9TFH EN53.

On Sept. 27th, there were 15 checkins.  In his emailed net report, WB9LYH was pleased to mention, “No storms tonite.  Good signals, more guys on.  Checkins were WA9JML, N9NAQ and N9ABR EN51;  K9CCL, KD9BGY, N9JBW, K9ILU and N9KKF EN61;  N9EM and WB9TFH EN53;  WB8LNG EM79;  N9RXM EN41;  KB9MIV EM59;  WA9BNZ EN40 and KB9KLD EM58.

I (KC9BQA) really appreciate the variety of EM-land check-ins the 144.240 net has been getting.  Whoever is spreading the word in that direction, thanks!

If you need more info about the Wed. night 144.240 SSB net called by WB9LYH in EN54, central WI, please visit the 2nd half of the Aug. 10th, 2017 net report here at kc9bqa.com.