[NLRS] Leonids and More

[Bill K0AWU]

Hello Guys

   The push to get ready for Leonids was a "MAD" push here. I was trying to 
get basicly a new station on for the shower. My fairly new ICOM746Pro and 
a 8877 amp. The Pro I had been using on my trips to MO and CA and on the 
low bands. I know/knew that THIS WAS A BAD IDEA, but I figured it was the 
best chance I had for the working the remaining states on 2m, all over 
1300miles.

  The Amp was up and running just a couple of hours before the first 400Z 
"peak". (I ran the amp at about 700-900 watts ouput for the shower.) Running 
with VE2SMG (986miles) at his request on SSB and never heard a thing in 
the 20min. I have no idea if he showed up or not.

  I worked N1RWY in Maine on WSKT, completing at 0602. Jay had a couple 
of HUGE burns, but mostly very short good strength stuff. John K0PW was 
hearing totally different burns than I.  This was my second attempt at Maine 
and state #43.

   Random calls on SSB prior to shower peak produced a number of return 
calls, but things were SO short QSO's were few and far between. Beamed 
EAST I worked NE9U EN54 on tropo, K0GU DN70 , W7SAO DM59, 
VE3DDS FN03 (On about the best SSB burn I heard), and W3ZZ. Looking 
west W6OAL DDM79 was worked again, K0MQS on scatter mixed with 
tropo.

   Returning to WSJT I worked Gearld WA7ADK DN31 Utah again in 9 min 
with HUGE signals at 1115Z. The signals were strong and dense. At around 
1050 mile ADK and I should be able to work about any time, but  that has 
not proven to be the case. He has mountains pretty close in the path.

  Given the signals form Gearld I then ran with K7MDL (1350miles) WA for 20 
min. not a ping at either end. The same result with AA7A in AZ at 1350 
miles. 20min of listening for K7ICW NV yielded nothing as well.

  6 meters was hot much of the night, but the 2 meter state count was the 
objective. I did work K3SIH FN21 and KG4ESR EM65 right before going to 
bed at 7am.

  It sure was not a storm here, but I think I was ready if the storm had arrived.

Bill K0AWU  EN37ed .. back to white noise on 50, 144, 222, 432, 1296
                                                   (Except for WSJT EME)

  The shower was met with great hope and resulted in not much, other than 
making the best effort I could.