[NLRS] 144.240 SSB net report

[Todd Sprinkmann]

 Short story was that we had 5 check-ins tonight:
   N0IRS  JD             EM29  K.C.            5x1 w QSB
   W9RPM   John      EN43  La Crosse     5x5 also QSB
   K9WKW Oscar    EN43  near La Crosse  5x1
   WB9LYH Mark    EN54  Rudolph, WI   5x7
   WA9FWT Phil      EN63  Sheboygan, WI  5x9

    Once again, John W9RPM stirred up some new guys out 
of the La Crosse area.  Thanks John for introducing the SSB 
side of VHF to some of your buddies.  That La Crosse area 
is going to be more and more interesting.  

  ** Please note that the start time of the net is now 7:30pm.  
I start out at 7:30, looking SSW toward Rockford, east of 
Quad Cities and down into Eastern MO.**

    The longer story is that even tho the numbers were down 
tonight, some interesting things happened.  Things that would 
not have happened if nobody got on the air.  

     We had a cold front come thru here at 2pm.  Winds went 
NNW, got strong and I figured tonight's net might really be 
a dud, propagation-wise.  Then I heard N0IRS calling.  Yes, 
he was light, yes he was in and out, but still, this is a 400-mile 
path in post cold-front weather.  Most impressive.  

     It got more impressive when later, WB9LYH in Central WI 
told me that he had worked 3 different KC guys with 5x7 
signals after the net was done.  

     That's what I mean when I say, "Don't worry if you can't 
actually check in with me (KC9BQA).  Just know that folks 
are on 144.240, and enjoy any activity you can find"  

     I mean, yes, I want to work every one of you.  I will 
always call CQ as I slowly edge my way from SSW thru 
SW, then WSW, and W, NW and N.  I do that from 7:30 
until about 8pm, give or take for how many check-ins I get.  
And it's also true that we don't want a lot of extra QRM while 
I'm trying to round up check-ins.  But after the net is done at 
8:25-8:30pm, keep your ears open and your beams turning.  

     The potential is there to really make Wed. night on and 
around 144.240 a great night for a large area of the Midwest.  

     It just takes check-ins and a little dedication.  

    The 144.250 Badger net also had some nice surprises 
after 8:30pm.  Heard from EN81 (KD8IME), EN42 (K0PLX) 
and KC0TPP down in EM48.  Not big signals, but well worth 
listening for.  That's what headphones are for.  :)  

     Hope you guys will stick with this concept as we head 
into the winter -- sometimes activity seems to create its own 
propagation.  At least it did tonight, in a way.  

     Any questions, comments, please email.

     73,
     Todd  KC9BQA  EN63ao   40 N of Milwaukee