Elecraft CW Net Report for October 7th & 8th, 2007

[Kevin Rock]

Good Evening,
    Challenging was one comment I received concerning tonight's twenty  
meter net.  Some folks were cut off almost in mid dit the propagation  
changed so rapidly.  However, good ears across the continent helped a  
great deal.  Most especially those of KT5E, Jay, in Colorado.  He dragged  
out an ESP (to me) Kent, K9ZTV, in Hawaii running his KX1.  Thanks Jay!
    Another challenge was toward the end of the first net.  Tom was trying  
to pass the net back to me but I simply could not hear him.  It had  
started raining so hard I thought I had moved under a waterfall!  The roar  
 from my roof was incredible.  That lasted for a couple of minutes but  
during that time my antenna and tuner system decided to retune a few  
times.  I guess a pure water environment will do that sort of thing :)  
So, if you could not hear me at the end of the net that may explain it.
    Weather reports were all over the place too.  I received 90 degrees and  
sun to 28 degrees and sun to 45 degrees and rain.  The latter was much  
like what I am experiencing though the sudden burst of water is not normal  
for the Pacific Northwest.  I heard one Washingtonian describe it as  
permadrizzle.  That describes it nicely :)  But there is a continuum up  
the West Coast.  From very little rain in Southern California to a little  
more in Northern California to more in Oregon to more in Washington to  
much more in British Columbia and Alaska.  There is a reason why the trees  
grow like weeds here!  Since I am in wood cutting season I compare ring  
widths.  Alder can accumulate over 1/2 inch in radius per year while the  
fir, if given proper conditions, can add 3/8 of an inch.

    On to the lists =>

On 14050 kHz at 2300z:
N0SS - Tom - MO - K3 - 008
NO8V - John - MI
AK2B - Tom - NY - K2 - 4482
K4JPN - Steve - GA - K2 - 1422
W0RSR - Mike - CO - K2 - 5767
K4DGW - Dave - VA - K2 - 5982
W0CZ - Ken - ND - K2 - 1031       QNI #195!!!!
N0AR - Scott - MN - K2 - 4866
KS7D - Mike - FL - K2 - 4443
N7KRT - Jeff - NV - K2 - 5471
KT5E - Jay - CO - K2 - 5037
AB9V - Mike - IN - K2 - 3993
K9ZTV - Kent - HI - KX1 - 1354

On 7045.5 kHz at 0200z:
N0SS - Tom - MO - K3 - 008
K6DBG - Chris - CA - K2 - 3641    QNI #5!
W0RSR - Mike - CO - K2 - 5767
KL7CW - Rick - AK - KX1 - 798
N0AR - Scott - MN - K2 - 4866     QNI #85!!!!
K4JPN - Steve - GA - K2 - 1422
VE3XL - Ric - ON                  QNI #160!!!!
AB9V - Mike - IN - K2 - 3993      QNI #125!!!!
KA8ONW - Mark - TN - FT-817
W0JFR - John - CO - K2 - 4507     QNI #5!
N2BE - John - NJ
N2YC - John - NY - K2 - 5949      QNI #30!!
KT5E - Jay - CO - K2 - 5037       QNI #65!!!
CO2VQ - Victor - Cuba

Thank you very much for making our nets so much fun.  It is very nice to  
have the participation and the assistance of you all.  Oh, by the way,  
next week we should pass the 4000 check in mark.  This is from over 530  
separate operators.  As you can see from the above lists some of you have  
checked in more than once :)  But even once is enough to learn a little  
more about people and propagation.
    Until next week stay well,
       73,
          Kevin.  KD5ONS  (Net Control Operator 5th Class)


P.S.  They may just give me a certification for NCS with the local ARES  
group.  Somehow or another I have learned something ;)
    KJR
 
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[Ed Muns, W0YK]

I ran QSK all weekend in the CQP with the K3 driving an Alpha 87A and a Pro3
driving another 87A.  I like to reduce the monitor level as low as possible
and on the K3/87A combo, it was extremely quiet and smooth.  But the Pro3
could not subdued by comparison.  First of all, even with the sidetone
reduced to zero, there was still leakage that was much louder than what the
K3 could be adjusted to.  In addition, the Pro3 had popping and "slapping"
on the TX/RX transitions between code elements that was very tiring.  The
Pro3 in one ear made it impossible to copy weak signals on the K3 in the
other ear.  I was constantly having to manually switch the headphones to the
K3 only when working a station on that radio.  The other way was fine ... K3
transmitting in one ear while copying a weak signal on the Pro3 in the other
ear.

At least six K3's were on in the CQP: AB7R, N0SS, W6GV (K2VCO), N6XI, K7RAT
(N6TR) and K6YT (W0YK).

73,
Ed - W0YK

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