[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Report for August 10th & 12th, 2008

[Kevin Rock]

Good Evening,
   It was a wonderful evening.  Our first net had a very welcome vistor: Tom Hammond, N0SS came by and worked a few stations for me.  Thank you Tom and welcome back.  It was nice to hear you again.  I forgot to thank Scott, N0AR, who last week relayed in Ray, K2HYD for us.  Thank you Scott!  I also want to thank you all for the many signal and weather reports.  It is nice to know that some of you are having a regular summer.  Folks just don't believe me when I tell them the temperature here.  But this week it is supposed to break 80 degrees a couple of times.  I will be on my roof putting in patches of plywood.  Given enough dry weather I will have a new roof covering on before too long.  Ice and snow shield and lots of tar.  I expect to go through a couple pairs of jeans and say goodbye to these boots.  But Sam and I will be dry this winter!  
   Propagation was not too bad but not great either.  I had a message from Georgia which says K4JPN has been trying for the last three weeks with nothing heard.  Sorry Steve.  I did work Florida each of the last two weeks but not Georgia.  Propagation is a mystery to me.  QRN was present on 20 meters but quite loud on 40 meters as it has been for the last few months.  QRN was easily S6 the entire net with peaks up to S8.  I was copying down to about S2 but it was not easy.  Luckily we have these Elecraft rigs which somehow can perform magic on RF.  Thanks guys!  
 
   On to the lists =>

On 14050 kHz at 2300z:
WB3AAL - Ron - PA - K2 - 1392     QNI #40!!!
K6PJV - Dale - CA - K3 - 1183
N0SS - Tom - MO - K3 - 008     ** QNI 270 **
AB9V - Mike - IN - K3 - 398     * QNI 180 *
W6ZH - Pete - CA - K2 - 43
W0RSR - Mike - CO - K2 - 5767
K6DGW - Fred - CA - K3 - 642
K2VCO - Vic - CA - K3 - 007       QNI #10!!
W0CZ - Ken - ND - K3 - 457
K1THP - Dave - CT - K3 - 686
AK2B - Tom - NY - K3 - 109        QNI #50!!!
VE3XL - Ric - ON - K1 - 968
N0AR - Scott - MN - K2 - 4866
AL7N - Ed - AK
W0SZ - Steve - CO - K3 - 176      QNI #25!!

On 7045 kHz at 0200z:
W6ZH - Pete - CA - K2 - 5138
K6DGW - Fred - CA - K3 - 642
K6PJV - Dale - CA - K3 - 1183
W0RSR - Mike - CO - K2 - 5767     QNI #75!!!
W0CZ - Ken - ND - K3 - 457
W0JFR - John - CO - K3 - 994      QNI #50!!!
AB9V - Mike - IN - K3 - 398
K1THP - Dave - CT - K3 - 686 
K9ZTV - Kent - MO - K3 - 21       
N0AR - Scott - MN - K2 - 4866
N5SM - Scott - TX - K2 - 6417     QNI #20!!
N7AF - Dave - AZ - K2 - 4795
W0SZ - Steve - CO - K3 - 176

   Now a question to you all, check ins and prospective check ins alike: how fast should we run the net?  A few years ago Tom and I agreed to have me limit my speed to 20 wpm while he varied his speed both up and down.  Lately Tom has been recuperating while I run the nets by myself.  I have been maintaining a steady 20 wpm character rate since about two years ago.  When necessary I add space between each character to slow down.  Since I enjoy meeting new operators all the time I do not wish to scare anyone off by running too fast.  However, when we use 'hail signs' it is difficult to determine a preferred sending speed of the check in operator.  Please feel free to break me and send QRS if you're not copying me very well.  I will add spaces as necessary.  However I can't slow down too much without making a ton of errors.  My fingers get all tangled up and I just plain lose it :(  It appears some discussion is in order.  A little discussion may be on topic for the Elecraft Reflector but if it gets to be too much just send me the comments and I will endure the flames :)  Eric has been known to let a lively discussion last a few days before he asks it to end.  A few days worth may be enough to decide what we are to do for the future.  Thank you for any input you wish to send.  Any errors in the above lists are attributable to me.  Please send me the corrections and I will fix the mess I've made.   Now to get to my other computer and work on it until Sunday evening is done.  Thank you very much for the interest and for your input.  
   Until next week stay well,
      73,
         Kevin.  KD5ONS  (Net Control Operator 5th Class)