[Elecraft] Used K2 in NCJ NA Sprint - SSB

[k6iii@juno.com]

Well, if you have never tried a 4-hour SPRINT, you are in for an
eye-opening experience; the pace if F-A-S-T. This past Saturday, I waded
into the SSB battle, with only a couple of Sprints in my kit of
experiences (rather naively with my K2 cranked down to 4.9w so I would
qualify as a QRP entry). I missed the first 2.5 hours of the action and
that was probably just as well at the BIG BOYS were duking it out and
probably not gonna bother with any QRP signals. Found I could
hunt-n-pounce somewhat successfully, but calling CQ only netted about a
20% return. My H&P pattern evolved into calling only the stronger
signals, but you have to be quick on the trigger to net your contact.
This was a 20/40/80 meter band activity. I operated on 20m most of the
time but went to 40m for the last 20 minutes of the Sprint (20m had died
by this time). Anyway, I netted 57 contact in 27 states. The K2 performed
flawlessly and did not exhibit any overload from the strong signals or
crowded band conditions. My antenna set up is a Force12 C4 beam (2-el on
20, 1-el on 40) up at 45ft in the flatlands of Silicon Valley.
All-in-all, a fun activity, a good warm up for the CW Sprint this coming
weekend.

I think I will have even greater success in the CW Sprint (10 Feb
0000z-0400z). I have signed up with Trey (N6TR - tree@kkn.net ) to be
part of the Elecraft K2 team. I invite you to join in the fray.

There is some free contest software to download that supports the NA
SPRINT at www.cqp.org follow the links to software. I like CQPWIN by AE6Y
(also covers about 10 other popular contests).

73/72 de Jerry/k6iii
K2 #500
San Jose, CA