[Hammarlund] Join Sunday Halli 20 Meter Net!

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

Please join us on Sunday July 26th for the HHI 20 meter Net. I realize it is
very frustrating to many of you who listen and hear only static, WX noises,
splatter chatter, somebody calling "CQ QSO Party" and assorted QRM instead
of NCS and vintage glow in the dark traffic. Believe me, it is equally
frustrating in a different way for the NCS to be trying to copy an entire
call sign with that annoying rapid QSB going on and the band changing from
vertical to horizontal polarity and the X marks the spot spots constantly
pacing back and forth from short to so long one can work himself on long
path and then somewhere in the middle!

What I really appreciate and respect, and the other Hallicrafters devotees,
as well as all vintage radio lovers who join us regardless of the
manufacturer, do too, is the fact that you show up faithfully every Saturday
and Sunday and try to phone home! I know that there are ten times more who
can not check into the Nets out there then do check in, as I get a lot of
landlines, e-mail and on the air inquiries as to whether the Nets are still
operating, if they have changed frequency and if they have the HHI Net times
wrong. It is just the propagation drought from a lack of solar belches, sun
spots or some other space weather condition! Three weeks ago the forty meter
band mysteriously went back in time - like it used to be in 1999-2004 on
forty meters. That was the first time we have had enjoyable propagation
conditions like that in over two years! I "hope" that was not a fluke, but
an indication that the propagation just might finally be coming up from the
depths of the pit and that the Ham bands may once again go forth and
multiply!

I still do 'not' have the Ameritron AL-82a operational, can not find anyone
locally who is able, or willing, to tune her up. Since nobody ever found the
cause of the HF arc that appeared on Thanksgiving Eve last year, I have
decided to just run her and what happens, happens. It may be easier to find
the cause of a problem after a tube melts down internally, electrolytics
explode or something shorts and parts and sparks fly out, but I would prefer
the source of the arc to be found and fixed instead!

Meanwhile I will continue to operate with 450 watts PEP into one of the
three twenty meter antennas and listen with the external audio filtering
stuff and a dual stage RX amp. Hopefully if I do not hear you calling, one
of the others on frequency will and relay you in.

The Pre-Net commences at 12:45 PM EST/EDT, or 1645 UTC. The Net itself
begins at 1:15 PM EST/EDT, or 1715 UTC. The frequency is 14.293 MHZ usb +/-
for key clicks, mike splatter and hopefully some propagation that covers all
the United States, Canada and other ITU countries. Today during the forty
meter Net we heard what is said to be radio transmissions courtesy of the
planets Jupiter and Saturn! Remember long ago and the "Woodpecker"? I think
he has some great grand kids! Interesting sound at first, but quite annoying
when it obliterates half of what the party talking is saying!

Thanks to all of you for your dedication to the cause and your participation
in the HHI Nets. If you tune in, hear nothing but nothing, it is not that I
am not there, rather that you need to try some Minnesota Fats bank shots off
the moon's crater rims or the rings of Saturn! Hang in there! The "glow"
will win so keep the hammer down and calling!

Here is hoping to hear some of you we have not talked to in too long of a
time tomorrow, as well as those who somehow manage to blast a path!

Duane Fischer, W8DBF - WPE8CXO
E-Mail: dfischer at usol.com
Hallicrafters web site: www.w9wze.net
HHRP web site: hhrp.w9wze.net