[NLRS] 2008 Spring VHF & Up Sprints

Wed Apr 2 15:00:18 EST 2008

Hey NLRSers,

"Spring" has sprung and the Spring VHF & Up Sprints are about to be
sprung.

The FIRST one, for 144 MHz, is this NEXT Monday, 4/7, from 7pm to 11pm
LOCAL time, CDT for much of the SMC gang but EDT for the more easterly
members.

Yes, the co-sponsor and I KNOW that is a conflict with the NCAA Men's
Final, but, other than Kansas, the "midwest" seems to be out of it
(though maybe Memphis is "almost" midwest and NO offense intended to
midwestern UCLA or NC fans).

While I will not be eligible for awards due to being a co-sponsor and 
probably not going to find paths between the Twin Cities and Chicago 
this early in the year anyway(but I guess we can hope? and I'm 
certainly willing to TRY a schedule or two if anyone cares to give it 
a shot), I WILL be out roving as K9JK/R. I'm not sure of an exact 
route yet but definitely look for me in the Northwest Suburban area of 
Chicago, visiting a minimum of EN51, EN52, EN61 and EN62. I'll be 
checking the SSB calling frequency, 144.200 MHz regularly, especially 
when I enter a 'new' Grid, and trying to keep 144.180 MHz as a "go to" 
frequency. I'll be running a "brick" amp, about 150 Watts out, to 
either a 9-element yagi or an omni-directional loop for SSB or to a 
"gain" vertical for FM.

Even less likely for Twin Cities contacts, for FM, I will also be 
*trying* to check 146.55 MHz at 15 and 45 after each hour (but maybe 
not past 10pm). A 'secondary' FM frequency will be 146.49 MHz.

Presuming RF compatibility (that is, will short FM-APRS transmissions
at 90 second intervals on 144.39 MHz "work" with narrow-band operating
on the order of 200 kHz away?), I *may* be beaconing APRS as K9JK-9
with the 'puppy' (Rover) symbol so it *may* be possible to track me on
findu.com or aprs.fi (or your own UI-View or similar).

There are no restrictions in the Spring VHF & Up Sprints limiting the
use of APRS (or other tracking methods that don't rely totally on
'amateur means' such as "packet", chat boards, cell phones, etc.) to
multi-operator entrants...just DO complete the exchange TOTALLY by
amateur means with ALL information exchanged AND confirmed over the
amateur radio 'channel'. In fact, while multi-operator entries ARE
accepted, the focus of the Spring VHF & Up Sprints is for SINGLE-OP,
even as Rovers...after all these ARE (for all but the Microwave) ONLY
4 HOUR events.

And, as Ron, KA0RYT, noted in his post last Thursday, there IS a 
"Rookie" category in the Spring VHF & Up Sprints, where a 'newbie' to 
VHF Contesting can go on their own OR be elmered by someone 
experienced, even at the elmer's 'station'. Use appropriate call signs 
as required by FCC rules but multiple QSOs using different calls from 
the same 'station' are NOT within the intent of this provision of the 
rules. Entries intended to be in the "Rookie" category should be 
clearly identified in the log and we'd also appreciate knowing the 
calls of any 'elmer(s)' involved.

More details on the Spring VHF & Up Sprint series is available at
http://www.sysadnet.com

Future (local time) dates are: 222 MHz - evening of 4/15; 432 MHz -
evening of 4/23; Microwave (902 MHz & Up) - morning of 5/3; 50 MHz -
evening of 5/10.

Feel free to address questions directly to me (or this reflector) or
to the address on the web site.

Hope to catch at least a few of you on over the next few weeks. Get on
to check out and see how your equipment for these bands survived the
winter and to know if it is ready for JUNE!

73, JK