[Hallicrafters] Is Saturday HCI Net Dead?

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

The past several weeks the check in count for the Saturday HCI 40 meter Net has
been significantly down. This may be due to poor propagation, in some, but not
all cases. It may be due to nicer outside weather and people are simply out
there enjoying it. There were six check ins last Saturday. A record low.	

	Now if the interest is not there, or people would rather suspend the Net for
the Summer, a decision needs to be made. I do not wish to waste my time showing
up needlessly either. I too can make other plans to do something else. Keep this
in mind. If we give up the frequency for several months, we are going to lose it
almost certainly. Finding another one will not be easy due to crowded band
conditions.	
	
If we close down the Saturday 40 meter Net, many participants of HCI will be
left netless. They are too close to my QTH for the 20 meter Nets. While they do
not mind sometimes using a relay station, it is not the same as talking direct
to the NCS. No, not because of my dynamic, magnetic and charismatic personality
and superior, if not a little warped, sense of humor, not to mention my humble
and mild mannered easy going style, but because it is simply more enjoyable to
talk one on one. I do not want to leave these participants in a position of not
being able to participate in the HCI Nets, but the participation has got to be
there on Saturday for me to justify devoting my afternoon to doing said Net.    

	
I do not wish to get into a debate or lengthy thread on this topic. If you want
the Saturday Net to continue, and are willing to participate in it, simply
respond with a 'yes' to the list. If you are a participant and no longer are
interested in participating, simply respond with a 'no'. If you do not
participate to begin with, please do not respond.	
	
I am willing to do the Saturday Net, but I need to make a time commitment that
is worthy of my attention. The Hallicrafters group on the whole is one of the
finest collection of radio hobbyists out there, bar none. Some terrific people
in the technical areas, very helpful people in sharing parts with a fellow Halli
devotee in need, great words of wisdom gained from decades of experience freely
shared to those who need help and so forth. Simply a terrific collection of
people with a common cause.	
	
If any of the participants have suggestions, please e-mail me direct. If any of
you have criticisms, kindly send them to my ex-wife! (grin) 	
	
I will be on the air on Saturday June 8th at 12:30 Pm EDT, (1630 UTC). There
will be thirty seconds of silence in memory of the hundreds who lost their lives
in the horrific tornado that swept through Michigan on June 8, 1953 from just
west of Flint all the way to Port Huron sixty miles east of me. This will be at
12:59 PM EDT, (1659 UTC) The HCI Saturday 40 meter Net will commence at 1:00 PM
EDT, (1700 UTC).       	
	
The frequency will be 7.280 Mhz lsb +/- for key clicks, mike splatter and the
sound of whaling air raid sirens throughout Genesee county. No, Frogzilla has
not commandeered a restored WW2 Corsair and doing strafing runs on Red Lobster
to disrupt the all you can eat frog leg special! It is the first Saturday of the
month and ARES tests the Civil Defense sirens for the Sky Warn program. However,
knowing Frogzilla, it might not hurt to load those anti aircraft guns with some
super sticky honey just in case he does do a bly by. The honey will attract
several tens of thousands of angry honey bees and with them in hot pursuit, I
don't think Frogzilla will be doing any touch and go landings in this county!	

	I hope to hear some of you tomorrow. have a terrific weekend. 	
	
Duane Fischer, W8DBF		
NCS: Hallicrafters Collectors International   	
netcontrol at w9wze.org