[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Report for May 7th & 8th, 2006

[Kevin Rock]

Hello All,
    QRN started early on 20 meters and got much worse on 40.  My ears have 
a steady ringing sound like I've been sitting in front of the speakers at 
a Dead concert!  Rest in Peace Jerry!  At times I could grab a letter 
between the static crashes.  Other times I knew there was someone there 
but could not catch a character.  W1TF twice got checked in by the skin of 
his teeth.  I caught W1TF as the QSB raised him above the noise just 
enough to copy his call sign.
   Ric was much stronger on 40 than he had been on 20 meters but his first 
check in set another landmark.  We've got three folks in the one hundred 
plus check-in club!  Congratulations Ric!  Sometime early next month we 
will celebrate our third anniversary.  It is nice to know folks are still 
enjoying the run.  The first ECN was on June 7th, 2003; there were three 
check-ins: VE1RGB, W0CZ, and N5IB.  Now to work on keeping my hearing 
after days like today!  Tom mentioned he had storms all around him when we 
started the net at 0228z.  I called him around 20 after the hour but did 
not expect to hear him.  I was right.  Most likely he had to close down 
his station from the sound of things.

On 14050 kHz at 2258z:
VE3XL - Ric - ON - K1 - 968    QNI #100!!!  WooHoo!  Another one in the 
century club!
N0SS - Tom - MO - K2 - 008
AB8KJ - Chuck - MI - K2 - 2596
AB9V - Mike - IN - K2 - 3993
N0BK - Bruce - MN - K2 - 3646   QNI #65!!
N9IV - Russ - IN - K2 - 4650
N6JW - John - CA - K2 - 3290
VE6ITA - John - AB - K2 - 5384
W0CZ - Ken - ND - K2 - 1031   QNI #115!!
W1TF - Ty - GA - K1 - 1423

On 7045 kHz at 0228z:
N0SS - Tom - MO - K2 - 008
W0CZ - Ken - ND - K2 - 1031
VE3XL - Ric - ON - K1 - 968
K2VCO - Vic - CA - K2 - 709
K4JPN - Steve - GA - K2 - 1422
AB8KJ - Chuck - MI - K2 - 2596
W1TF - Ty - GA - K1 - 1423     QNI #35!!
N6JW - John - CA - K2 - 3290   QNI #40!!

ECN has become a regular part of each Sunday afternoon and evening.  Pat 
and I used to celebrate the day with a fine dinner and talk about how you 
all were doing.  She'd ask about Bruce's kids and especially about his 
daughter going to Beloit College.  She wanted to hear what the weather was 
like in North Dakota when I mentioned Ken had checked in.  She would laugh 
at Tom's comments about this or that and ask if Sam had checked in.  Then 
we would set the map out and see where all the folks were located and if 
there were any patterns.  Often she would ask about which antenna I'd used 
to work this or that operator.  Then when a DX station would check in she 
would get excited about going to Wales again or visiting New Zealand for 
the first time.  Those were great times.  ECN will stay a regular part of 
my Sundays so I can stay in touch with my friends and remember a little of 
her as I do so.
If there are any errors in the above lists please do not hesitate to send 
them to me.  I'll correct the database and post the pertinent details.

Have a good week.
    73,
        Kevin. KD5ONS  (Net Control Operator 5th Class)