[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Report for August 19th & 20th, 2007

[Kevin Rock]

Good Evening,
    Whew, good thing I have some pipe organ music to listen to because the  
40 meter QRN caused ringing in my ears.  The pedal tones seem to cover it  
up ;)  I have no clue how Tom can hear anything since he is in the middle  
of it mentioning S9 noise.  But, thanks to his help, we have 37 folks  
logged for today's two nets.  I just got done looking up a call.  Seems  
like Leigh has a very new amateur at his house.  Congratulations Yuki!   
Licensed for less than a month and already running CW on ECN.  Way to go!
    When we started the twenty meter net I thought it was going to be a  
slow evening.  Tom mentioned not being able to hear anyone when I passed  
control to him.  However he proceeded to rack up quite a few contacts  
before he was done.  When I signed off to make dinner for Sam and myself I  
logged it as 0000z so the net ran for one hour.  Pretty good for the  
bottom of the sunspot cycle in the middle of summer!  I got a note from  
John, KI6WX, stating I fell off the edge about five minutes into the net.   
When he worked Tom I only heard the Missouri end of the contact.  But  
right off the bat I did get WB3AAL in Pennsylvania running QRP.  I wonder  
if my signal was gradually pushing outward as time progressed because  
AH6RE was the strongest signal I heard.  Never can tell about propagation.

    On to the lists =>

    On 14050 kHz at 2300z:
N0SS - Tom - MO - K3 - 008
WB3AAL - Ron - PA - K2 - 1392
W0CZ - Ken - ND - K2 - 1031
W0RSR - Mike - CO - K2 - 5767
N0BK - Bruce - MN - K2 - 3646
AB9V - Mike - IN - K2 - 3993
VE3XL - Ric - ON - K1 - 968
W1WCG - Van - CT - K2 - 2634
K4JPN - Steve - GA - K2 - 1422   QNI #65!!!!
W3MC - Mike - MD - K2 - 5568
WU7R - Ci - MT - K2 - 4615       QNI #5!
AH6RE - Curt - HI - KX1 - 464
K4GT - Jim - GA - K2 - 2015      QNI #20!!
K4DGW - David - VA - K2 - 5982
VE7OM - Ralph - KX1 - 1151
NK6A - Don - CA - K2 - 1217
KI6WX - John - CA - K3 - 006
NM7N - Karl - OR - K2 - 4227
KJ7BS - Mark - AZ - K2 - 539     QNI #10!
N7KRT - Jeff - NV - K2 - 5471
W7VXS - Don - WA - ?
KT5E - Jay - CO - K2 - 5037

    On 7045.5 kHz at 0200z:
N0SS - Tom - MO - K3 - 008
W1TCJ - Fred - CT - K1 - 2148
W0RSR - Mike - CO - K2 - 5767    QNI #40!!!
KI6LFR - Yuki - CA - K2 - 3121     Welcome to ECN and Amateur Radio!!!
K9ZTV - Kent - MO
KT5E - Jay - CO - K2 - 5037
K6PJV - Dale - CA - K2 - 5345
AA4NN - Joe - SC - K2 - 3751
N0AR - Scott - MN - K2 - 4866
WD4LST - Pete - FL - K2 - 5813
VE3XL - Ric - ON - K1 - 968
K5BGB - Rod - TX - K2 - 1126     QNI #15!!
K1THP - Dave - CT - K2 - 3942
N0BK - Bruce - MN - K2 - 3646
AB9V - Mike - IN - K2 - 3993

    A few years ago I had complaints from the SO about turning the motion  
lights on during the 40 meter net.  I moved the antenna so it was not so  
parallel with the sensors and fixed the problem (for the most part).   
Seems like there is another method of creating one's own QRN.  John  
mentioned running his K3 at 100 watts for the first time tonight.  While  
doing so he was getting strange behavior from his sprinkler system.  It  
turned on and off causing noises which he found disconcerting.  Kind of  
like when I first tried CW on my Icom 706.  The relays clacking on and off  
during full QSK caused me to flub a lot of characters.  I had been spoiled  
by my Aptos rig for so long I did not know any better :(  Hmmm ... I  
wonder if they will sell me a K3?

    Hopefully I made it through the above lists without error but I did  
have to guess on which rig occasionally so please be kind :)  Kent did  
mention his KX1 is out on a trip but did not take him along.  Rigs these  
days!

    Thank you very much for your continued support.  It has been great fun  
over the years.  As I mentioned earlier today I will have free time after  
the end of August.  I will apply some of it to updating the ECN website.   
I would like ot encourage all of you to think about acting as NCS some  
time in the future.  As the sunspot cycle changes we will begin to have  
more and more stations attempting to check in.  With your help we can make  
it much easier to log all who desire it.  Plus you get to chat with them  
while I log :)
    Until next week stay well,
       73,
          Kevin.  KD5ONS  (Net Control Operator 5th Class)