[NLRS] Thx K0KFC & N0VZJ for Q's in 432 sprint

[Todd Sprinkmann]

  KC9BQA here -- the friendly and persistent DX'er from EN63,
north of Milwaukee.

  I'm glad I posted to this list with my 432 sprint plans yesterday
because I ended up getting an email from K0KFC proposing skeds
in the sprint.  We ended up connecting a few minutes into our first
one, @ 7:50pm.  432.100 was sort of busy down here with a few
different things going on, so I'm glad Jim heard me well enough to
move up 5.  From there, Jim was further rewarded with a handful
of Q's from other SE Wisconsin guys.  Signals were 5x1 at best, but
were good enough.  I'd rather have 10 Q's that are 5x1 than one that
is S9.  I *know* I can work the S9 guy anytime; the challenge and
reward is in getting the weak/distant ones.

  N0VZJ also got in the mix a bit past 8:30 with some more 5x1, 5x2
signals.  Vince then worked a few more stations down here.  W9GA
was a close miss with Vince and I know Ken sends his regrets.  He
has a nearby hill that blocks out about 20 degrees toward the Twin
Cities.  K0MN was also very loud from EN43.

   Conditions last night were anything but special, but we still
managed to make some EN53/63 contacts up into EN35.  I should
take an hour or two sometime to make up a complete list of all the
NLRS-land stations I've worked in the various contests.  I think it
would surprise a lot of folks.  There are also quite a few rover
contacts I fondly recall as well.

  I still crave the day when there is a concerted activity period of
15-30 minutes, (perhaps even a few of those periods during a longer
contest) where NLRS specifically looks toward BC-land and vice
versa.  I really do believe that unless conditions are absolutely nil, a
lot of Q's could be made, provided we know we're looking at each
other at the same time.   Maybe this is something we can work on
during the Jan. contest, when I suspect a lot of the typical NLRS
rovers won't be out.

  At any rate, thanks K0KFC for the email -- perhaps tell the list
about your modest 432 situation -- I was very impressed at how
well it got out.  Sometimes I wonder (not sure; just saying I wonder)
if the typical modest home station figures their equipment won't go
beyond 150-200 miles so there's no point in even trying.

  Thanks for everyone's time,
  73,
  Todd   KC9BQA  EN63ao

  PS:  I am often available for skeds during non-contest times, as
well.  Just fire off an email if you want to see what the path between
us is like.  I now have 50 thru 2304 and am 40 miles N of Milwaukee