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Dec 2010 Straight Key/Bug mW Sprint We received 63 logs which is a record for our special (mW and 160M) sprints. That's far short of the norm for our regular monthly sprints where we routinely get over 100 logs, but still very impressive considering how rough it was making QSO's that night with mW power. What other club could run a mW sprint under the horrible conditions we had and still get so many logs submitted commenting about how much fun it was. Read N8XMS's comments (2nd in the list of entries) which I think sums up and typifies everyone's impressions of the sprint. I just can't say enough about our wonderful members and their dedication to our wonderful club. I wish I could come out and shake hands with each of you personally. I can't do that, so consider this a cyber handshake. I see several reports from members which seem to my memory to be first timers in any of our sprints. I hope they'll be regulars in all our sprints from now on. I can guarantee every one of you will make a lot more QSO's when we go back to 5 watts and conditions are better. - K3WWP Final Official Results SWA Category - W1 Division Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna KB1PBA 4 3 7 3 21 x2 42 67' dpl@28' KQ1P 3 3 6 3 18 x2 36 invV@40' K1IEE 2 2 4 2 8 x2 16 g5rv@30' @AA1MY 21 19 40 16 640 640 176'dpl@55' SWA Category - W2 Division Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna W2LB 12 11 23 8 184 x2 368 dpl@15' AA2YV 4 4 8 3 24 x2 48 efz@30' KC2MJT 2 2 4 2 8 x2 16 g5rv@25' KA2KGP 1 1 2 1 2 x2 4 g5rv@20' @NQ2W 3 2 5 3 15 15 40 invV@40' SWA Category - W3 Division Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna K3WWP 10 10 20 7 140 x2 280 ~110' attic rnd wire KB3AAG 14 14 28 10 280 280 80 loop@35' SWA Category - W4 Division Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna K4ORD 23 23 46 14 644 x2 1288 40 dpl@40',160 dpl@35' AA4W 13 12 25 9 225 x2 450 40 dpl@??',43' vert KE4R 12 10 22 10 220 x2 440 ext dbl zepp@35' N4SAM 10 10 20 8 160 160 dlta loop@55' K4MF 6 5 11 4 44 x2 88 40dpl@40',80vert AB9CA 9 8 17 5 85 85 80ocfdpl@40',105'wre@55'160invL WB4UHC 8 6 14 6 84 84 80 invV@37' K3RLL 2 2 4 2 8 8 4btv stealth vert WB4MNK 2 2 4 2 8 8 gnd mtd vert W3HZZ 1 1 2 1 2 2 g5rv@50' @AC4RM 9 8 17 7 119 119 gnd mtd vert @K4KRW 2 1 3 2 6 x2 12 wndm@30' SWA Category - W5 Division Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna W5YA 15 14 29 9 261 x2 522 40 loop@??', 80 50' vert K5PSH 7 7 14 6 84 x1.5 126 invV@35' KN5L 8 6 14 7 98 98 dpl@30' K5GQ 9 9 18 5 90 90 dpl@18' N5KIP 3 3 6 2 12 x2 24 vert KE9DR 2 2 4 2 8 x2 16 dlta loop@??' KE5YUM 2 2 4 2 8 x2 16 invV@30' KB5JO 2 1 3 2 6 x2 12 88' dblt@50' W5IQS 1 1 2 1 2 x2 4 80/40 dpl@40' K5OAI 1 0 1 1 1 x2 2 hi-q6/160@20',fan dpl@25' SWA Category - W6 Division Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna N6DIT 6 5 11 4 44 x2 88 dpl@40' SWA Category - W7 Division Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna WU7F 1 0 1 1 1 x2 2 g5rv@20' K7HV 1 1 2 1 2 2 102'g5rv@80' SWA Category - W8 Division Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna WB8ENE 3 3 6 3 18 x2 36 135' dblt@15' N8XMS 3 3 6 3 18 x2 36 r7 vert AC8AP 3 3 6 2 12 x2 24 g5rv@50' WA8SAN 3 3 6 3 18 18 wndm@25' WB8LZG 3 3 6 3 18 18 lw@500' N8IUP 1 1 2 1 2 x2 4 40 dlta loop@35' K8DRT 0 0 0 0 0 x2 0 ocf dpl@28' @KB8FE 5 3 8 4 32 x2 64 399' wndm@40' SWA Category - W9 Division Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna W9HLY 15 15 30 11 330 x2 660 dpl@55' W9CC 10 9 19 6 114 x2 228 80 loop@15' KB9BVN 2 2 4 1 4 x2 8 attic dpl W9ILF 2 2 4 1 4 x2 8 gnd mtd vert NF9D 2 2 4 2 8 8 80 loop@30' AA9L 1 1 2 1 2 x2 4 trp dpl@50' SWA Category - W0 Division Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna KD0V 15 15 30 12 360 x2 720 g5rv@50' K0MDS 9 7 16 7 112 x2 224 wndm@40' N0TA 7 3 10 6 60 x2 120 gnd mtd vert K0HJC 4 4 8 4 32 x2 64 cfz@35' K9OSC 3 3 6 3 18 x2 36 cfz@30' N0EVH 3 1 4 3 12 12 invL@35' NO2D 2 2 4 2 8 8 80 dblt@25' WD0K 0 0 0 0 0 x2 0 dlta loop@36' @W6GMT 4 4 8 4 32 32 40M V@35' SWA Category - Canada Division Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna VE3FUJ 4 3 7 3 21 x2 42 130'sloper@12-35',40 dpl@22' VE3KI 4 4 8 3 24 24 vert @VA3OR 11 10 21 8 168 x2 336 80 dpl@30' SWA Category - DX Division Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna GAIN ANTENNA Category Call QSOs Mbrs Pts Mul Sco Bon Final 80-40-20 Antenna K4BAI 14 13 27 9 243 x2 486 several@55' @ - not mW and not eligible for certificates/prizes W5YA - KT5X op VA3OR - VE3RCN op AWARD WINNERS: 1st SWA W1: KB1PBA 1st SWA W2: W2LB 1st SWA W3: K3WWP & KB3AAG (tie) 1st SWA W4: K4ORD 1st SWA W5: W5YA (op KT5X) 1st SWA W6: N6DIT 1st SWA W7: K7HV & WU7F (tie) 1st SWA W8: N8XMS & WB8ENE (tie) 1st SWA W9: W9HLY 1st SWA W0: KD0V 1st SWA Canada: VE3FUJ 1st SWA DX: n/a 1st Gain: K4BAISOAPBOX: K3WWP - That was a struggle. There - that's the understatement of the day. I just couldn't hear anything because of my S9 local QRN. Somehow I managed 10 QSO's in 7 sections. I must apologize for two things. First if I stepped on anyone with my CQ's. I tried my best to be sure the frequency was clear. Second to anyone who answered my CQ's that I just couldn't hear. It was just horrible here. I hope it was better where you were. I'm off to post some scores now. N8XMS - This was a real "workout"! Conditions here were horrible. I operated for about an hour and only had 3 QSOs. Seab, AA1MY, was the only really good signal that I heard. At times he was up to 579. Everybody else was generally no better than 339 at best. It sometimes felt like I was chasing ghosts - signals would disappear into the band noise like vapors, and sometimes I would even wonder if the character or two of CW that I thought I heard was just my imagination! Easy? - No! Interesting? - Yes! Fun? - Absolutely! N0TA - Tough night in Colorado, although I heard about twice as many stations as I worked. Seemed like some were more concerned with calling CQ than listening. K3, vertical, GenLog. (Oh believe me, we were listening, just couldn't hear any replies in the QRN - K3WWP) KA2KGP - Not very good conditions for QRPp operations. Absorption seemed very high & sigs were low here in WNY. Winter Shack Rig: Ten-Tec Argosy II into a G5RV up 20 feet, Straight key. W9ILF - Rig: Elecraft K2: I didn't stay too long. It is amazing making a QSO with less than a watt. It wasn't near as easy as the 5 watts I normally would run, but it's kind of an extra thrill to find it works! WB8ENE - 80 Meters was noisy here, but it was the only band on which I heard NAQCC stations. I also heard VE3FUJ, but he couldn't pull my 0.9W signal out of the noise. 73, and see you in the next high power (5W) sprint. AB9CA - Tough night for 1000 mW!! Was fun none-the-less! 80 was just a bit too noisy due to the front moving in. 73 de dave ab9ca/4 K5PSH - 40M was pretty long, but quiet. 80M was shorter, but QRN was really bad. Thanks to all the folks who stayed in there with me through the static. 500mW doesn't dance well with heavy electrical noise. 73 Jerry K0HJC - Rotten conditions, thunderstorm moving in, S9 static crashes. Choked the FT 817 down to a half watt, still made contacts! Thanks, Guys! WB4MNK - Used my new KX-1 turned down to 1 watt and for my first time not to bad. Had fun but I sure need some more practice at cw contesting. Next time will do better. K4BAI - 20M was open from GA to CA and W1AW at the beginning. N5KIP was the only QSO, but Dick was very strong on 20M. 40M seemed pretty good with good signals from all over, but many couldn't hear me. Heard, but not worked on 40 were: W6GMT, K7HV, K5GQ, K5OAI, N0TA, WB5QYT, K6CSL. 80M was very noisy with QRN. I called for 45 minutes with no complete QSOs. Heard, but not worked on 80: KB3AAG, W9HLY, W4FOA, VA3OR, N4LZY, KD0V. Thanks for all QSOs and sorry I wasn't stronger with QRPP. Happy New Year to all. 73/72, John K4ORD - Conditions here were pretty good on both 40 & 80,but didn't hear many stations on 40. On 40M made 5 qso's, on 80M made 18. Some stations were strong and others were weak, strongest was W9HLY from IN he was S9+20DB. Ran my K2 @900MW, thanks to all and HNY 72/73 Riley KB8FE - Heavy QRN here on 80m near Akron, Ohio ... just like summer months. Worked far fewer stations than I was hoping to work but glad to hear operators trying hard. K1ZZI in GA was running 999mw and came through well ... good job OM. VA3OR running 100W was handing out contacts from ON ... Big signal!! Let us all say '73' to the year 2010 and enjoy 2011 even more! W9CC - Now that is what I call a super fun contest! VE3FUJ - The bands didn't seem very occupied (40 and 80) there were some very week signals too week to copy. Sorry guys, but thanks to the one Idid contact. Happy New Year to all and all the best in 2011, from VE3FUJ Brion. 72 -30- N4SAM - Pretty heavy QRN on 80 tonight. I used by ATS3 powered by AA batteries. Thanks for the fun, and Happy New Year! 72, Sam KD0V - Good Sprint 559 was a lie in most cases. Heard a few stations calling that I could not copy. The QRN levels were around S3 to S4 most of the Sprint. A good way to end the year. The Lord willing, I will see you all next year. W5YA - Couldn't believe anyone could hear my 900 mW, but at least some could, HI HI. HNY & TNX 72 Fred - KT5X, OP of W5YA VA3OR (op-VE3RCN) - OK. I am still new at this QRP stuff. I used my VA3OR callsign since I could not compete. I have a Kenwood 2000 that will only tune down to 5 watts. So, I figured I would run 100watts and see who I could hear with less than a watt. Ten of you I made qsos with (I assume less than a watt). One was with a 100w station in TN. 72 all. See you in Feb. I am gone with the Navy in January. Kevin VE3RCN (Royal Canadian Navy #4004) N5KIP - Thunder. Could only work a few minutes on a couple of occasions but fun anyway with 900 mw to vertical. 73/72 Dick N5KIP KE9DR - 20 was dead, 80 and 40 both had NA signals but both had lots of QRN. Had several that I just couldn't pull out of the noise. But again it was fun trying. Thanks to all. 73 Bert. K4KRW - Thanks! No joy for me with 1 watt or less. So, last 15 minutes got in a couple of QSOs at 4 watts just so I could submit a log. Still, I had fun trying. VA3OR heard me at < 1 watt but couldn't make out my call sign. I did talk to him later with 4 watts. KE4R - My first sprint with NAQCC and first time using a straight key in about 25 years. Brought back fond memories of my 2 years on the Novice bands using SK only. 72, Barrett (Hope you'll be a regular NAQCC sprinter now and re-live the memories each month - it'll be even more fun with 5W and better conditions - K3WWP) AC4RM - I often heard several stations on same frequency working others. (Yes, that's a problem for which there is no solution when running QRPp in poor conditions. I called CQ far less than normal for fear of doubling on other stations. - K3WWP) Guess they didn't hear each other and I couldn't work either one. Called for 5 min on 20 but no takers. 40 rough here but 80 OK. Heard many stations in the QRN but couldn't pull them out. Thanks to all, had fun. AA2YV I knew I should be on tonight, but other jobs kept me away until 10 p.m. Eastern. 4 QSO's was fun. I heard OH and GA stations but couldn't raise 'em. Charles, W2SH stopped in today at our Rochester Museum and Science Center ham radio exhibit for kids. It was good to eyeball QSO with him and exchange NAQCC QSL cards in person. We've got a photo of the event. I wrote a QRP article for our RARA club's monthly RARA RAG. (Hey, how about an article for our next NAQCC newsletter also - K3WWP) If you want a pdf copy, drop me a line at whopkin4@naz.edu. 72's one and all and HNY! K3RLL - K2 to "stealth" 4-BTV vertical: My first run at a MilliWatt Sprint showed this veteran QRPer tonight just how challenging micropower can be. I could hear a few faint signals down here in FL, but almost nobody could hear me. What a difference from our "Full Gallon" 5 watt Sprints! Many thanks to Seabury & Don for pulling me out of the mud tonight. ... 72, Don WD0K - Greetings All! Well; on the way home from supper a light mist was coming down with a front moving in! Tried 300mw rig and finally about 8:20 heard KN5L,and W4FOA! They couldn't hear my station! Hmnn maybe I shud submit a SWL report I might be better off!! HA!Anyway was fun meeting the challenge! Happy New Year to All and better conditions for 2011!! 72, Rich/wd0k #664 K8DRT - Sorry gentlemen no luck. Had fun, arm will be sore tomorrow though. Will try next time. 73, K8DRT Ray W5IQS - Had several incomplete QSO's on 40 but the signal strength just was not there for my K2 and simple antenna system. I finally snagged K5GQ for a goodie on 80 meters and had several other QSO's that I just couldn't pull all the info out of the noise so didn't log them. Oh well, it was fun. Evan KB1PBA - First mW experience. Using my PFR-3A with a 7dB attenuator and ZM-2 ATU on 40m. Hope to get on 80m next month but got to get my Weber dual bander and 80m antenna finished. AC8AP - I struggled with this one. I just got the SDR that I was using a few hours before the sprint started and had to do all of the installation and setup. I had trouble getting the key and rig to work right (op settings). At least I now had a rig that will work in the mW range and I could play here today. I sure did hear lots of sprinters so the list of logs should be long. (It's getting there - K3WWP) KB5JO - Condx just didn't work for me, bad QRM n QRN here. KB3AAG - Fun....but chalanging tonite as lots of noise! I lost my last as he gave me power of .999mw and that shut down genlog talk about a panic and raising the temp here in the hollar. Sorry to the folks that I could just not dig out...and there were several...makes me feel bad.... But new mexico on two bands makes me feel gud! Frank AA9L - What can I say. I stayed for the full 2 hours. Running my IC703 at 500 mW into a trap dipole up 50 feet AA4W - 900 Mw is a LOT of fun!! There was quite a bit of activity this evening! I worked AA1MY in ME but other than that there was nothing north of South Carolina. I heard John, K7HV, out in WA and I think he heard me but the QSB never allowed a contact. Sorry John. I wanted that QSL card for 900 mw FL to WA! KC5GWU, Jim, hung in there with me and got NM in my log. I called a station in MN but he never heard me. Same with K1NAJ in ME. As usual, this Sprint was a blast! N0EVH - Thanks for the low power event. Happy New Year to all. John W3HZZ - 20 dead, 40 and 80 QRN at S9 level. Miserable conditions KC2MJT - Heard stations as far away as Iowa and Texas, but couldn't seem to get my signal out of the Champlain Valley tonight. First mw sprint, and I thought 5watts was tough, this requires antenna work! KB9BVN - WoW...I worked it for about 40 minutes, noise here was very very bad....heard K5GQ in there and tried to answer him 100 times...but no good to TX tonight. Both my contacts were in FL. I was on the K1 at 750 mW as measured by my WM-2 from Oak Hills. I am super psyched to make two contacts at this power level. Maybe things are looking up! NQ2W - A little bit of QSB and a little bit of QRN make for a challenging sprint. Happy to QSO with the stations that made it into my log. If you tried calling me and I didn't hear you, I apologize, but the noise level in the city comes and goes willy nilly. Thanks to everyone for making this event possible. 72, Will KE5YUM - Band conditons were not too good in my part of the world, but I am thankful for the two contacts that I made--WB8LZG and AA1MY. All the best and Happy New Year to all. W2LB - First Sprint contest I tried. Lot of fun on 80 meters. 40 meters and 20 meters had high noise level so didn't hear any activity there. I definitely need a lower noise antenna to pull out these 1 watt and lower signals. Maybe a low noise loop would help. W6GMT - Check log power 5 watts. Very poor conditions here hope at least one of my contacts was less that one watt. AA1MY - Glad to hear a bunch of MW sigs thru the noise! My first MW sprint, but couldn't get a MW rig going so used an ATS-4 @ ~3.5W. Operated about an hr and had a good time on 40 & 80. Q's = 21, SPC's = 16. Great to log KD0VK in WY on 80m and W5YA in NM on 40m Looking forward to the next one! 73 seab NF9D - Wow! With all the QSB on 80 I thought I'd mis-tuned the rig to 15 meters. I'd hoped for better conditions to test my new SDR, but will have to wait for next time. Tnx to AB9CA and N4BP for their patience. K1IEE - Would have been nice to work all the stations I heard calling CQ NA. Used my Heathkit HW-8 @ 900mW which can be a challenge to operate on a good day. Thanks to K4ORD and KB3AAG for the contacts, and others that called but I just could not pull out. As always had a fun time....73 Dick KQ1P - Happy New Year NAQCC members. Last night was a real fight with QRPp. Running 900 to 1000 mW; I don't think a KW would have been any better! Heard many, contacted few. K3WWP, you were S5 here briefly! AB9CA sorry for the second call I thought I copied WB9CA! My wish for 2011 is a real upswing in sunspots. 73, John WB8LZG - Hello agn to the gang.Turned the K2 down to 900mw es let er rip! Wow What a difference a watt or two makes. Only worked 3 stns AA4W, WB5QYT, es AA1MY. Worked AA1MY wid the 500' longwire es he was a real 559. Had KE5YUM but as as i was getting to his exchange, he faded into ??? Also heard many others calling but they couldnt hear me. Fun es frustrating at the same time. However it does show what can be done wid millywots. W9HLY - I know the log is not correct.... (Well, we don't cross-check logs for these special mW (and 160M) sprints, so... - K3WWP) K7HV - rough QRN and QSB galore, plus local noise. I only heard a few stations. I will keep trying. K5GQ - Houston had rain and static crashes during the entire time. I tuned up and down the band and heard only one station. Worked K4ORD, Riley. Then I called CQ. Stations would call that be below the noise, call would be between static crashes. Unfortunately many were impossible to read but could tell someone was calling. I attached at trap to my 40M dipole and ran the legs 90° to fit the profile of the yard. I was glad the antenna worked well sort of.. all 4 stations were in Texas. N8IUP - tough conditions here in Ohio,heard alot of stations but could not work them with 900mw. look forward to next month..K2-900mw 40meter delta loop. NO2D - Only a short time to work this one. Can't believe I reached Georgia from Colorado with only 0.0 watts and my puny antenna. W4FOA must have great ears! (not to mention a great location and a big antenna, I bet - K3WWP) Pete WB4UHC - My first QRP contest. I enjoyed it, but many frustrations. 40 was noisy, 80 had short and long QSB, and my ladder line was iced into the aluminum gutters for a couple of feet, maybe why 20 was dead too! I started on a SK, but changed to a keyer to respond fast enough. I could not get GenLog to work. Nice to have a rig (K3) that I can now participate in QRP contests. See General Sprint Rules for rules common to every NAQCC sprint. RULES specific to this month's sprint: Date and time: Thursday, December 30, 0130-0330Z Power: 1W or less to be eligible for any awards or prizes. Others welcome to participate and submit check logs. Note: We do not cross-check logs for our special milliwatt sprints. What you submit stands as your final score, so please check yourself for accuracy before submitting. No GOLDEN LOGS nor stats this sprint. We will have our SWA certificates by call area, VE, DX, and a certificate in the GAIN category as well. Entry Deadline: All entries must be RECEIVED before 2400Z on the Sunday following the sprint. So submit as soon as possible, especially regular mail entries. Preferred method of submitting your log and report is our on-line autologger. |