[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Report for April 20th & 21st, 2008

[Kevin Rock]

Good Evening,
   The twenty meter net went well but the forty meter net was plagued by Flying Pig QRM.  I tried using RIT to move them off the side but they kept moving right on top of me.  Seems like they cannot hear very well.  The Bacon Run is only once a month but it is getting harder and harder to find an unfilled frequency anywhere near 7045 kHz.  I went down to 7043 and then up to 7047.  7046.5 was open until ten minutes into the net.  Then the QRM got very heavy.  That was why I asked for repeats.  The FP folks made it very hard to copy you.
   It seems like I have the coldest spot this week.  Even Rick in Alaska and Ken in North Dakota are warmer than here!  I read about the year without a summer.  I hope this year is not like that one!  Other than the heavy Flying Pig QRM conditions were pretty good.  I had a chance to work into Alaska, Connecticut, and Hawaii on twenty meters.  There was a little Midwestern QRN which is still crashing on the rig.  

   The lists =>
 
On 14050 kHz at 2300z:
NO8V - John - MI
W6ZH - Pete - CA - K3 - 657
W0JFR - John - CO - K2 - 4507
K9DMV - Joe - IL - K2 - 5628
N7KRT - Jeff - TX - K2 - 5471
AB9V - Mike - IN - K3 - 398
AH6RE - Curt - HI - K3 - 469
N0AR - Scott - MN - K2 - 4866
KL7CW - Rick - AK - KX1 - 798
W0CZ - Ken - ND - K3 - 457
N5SM - Scott - TX - K2 - 6417      QNI #15!!

On 7046.5 kHz at 0100z:
W0CZ - Ken - ND - K3 - 457
W6ZH - Pete - CA - K3 - 657
W0JFR - John - CO - K2 - 4507      QNI #30!!!
N5SM - Scott - TX - K2 - 6417
K1THP - Dave - CT - K3 - 686       QNI #35
AB9V - Mike - IN - K3 - 398
N0AR - Scott - MN - K2 - 4866
WA7BOC - Roger - WA - K3 - 75
K9ZTV - Kent - MO - K3 - 21
K6PJV - Dale - CA - K2 - 5345
K7KJ - Greg - OR - KX1 - 452

   Three new K3s checked in today.  Looks like they are shipping in higher numbers.  The first thousand will be on the air soon.  By the end of 2008 there should be as many as three thousand of them running.  Once the reports of their operation get widely disseminated the waiting list will grow even longer.
   I had better check the fire soon so Sam is happy.  It almost went out as I was running the first net.  While cooking dinner I had to rekindle it.  Good thing I took an OTs advice and kept all the bark which comes off the wood as I split it.  I dry it by the stove.  It provides very good kindling material.  In Wisconsin I would use birch bark to start fires when I was camping.  Even when wet it makes a hot flame.  
   Until next week stay well,
      73,
         Kevin.  KD5ONS  (Net Control Operator 5th Class)