[NLRS] 144.240 SSB net 7:30pm Wed. -- your input requested

[Todd Sprinkmann]

  I'd like to have the 144.240 SSB net tomorrow night but
I don't want to call CQ into a dead band over and over.
Makes me feel sort of needy or desperate, LOL.

   I realize tomorrow's the night before Thanksgiving, but I'm
unsure if that means more of you are available to play radio.

   So if you'd enjoy a net tomorrow night, I'd be happy
to do it.  Not like I have to be anywhere else.

   But please drop me a line if you want to get on.  Doesn't
mean you HAVE to; just gives me a good indication of
early interest.  It also means I can send out an email right
before the net to let folks in different areas know who
might be on -- which helps get others interested.

   BTW, the 144.240 net is going to start at 7:30pm, from
now on.  It gives me more time to make sure everyone
gets heard.  I like the activity, but I don't want to seem too
rushed.


   That's the short story of this email.  If you want to see
the specific schedule I "try" to stick to, here it is:

   So at 7:30, I start out looking to my SSW, or toward
Rockford, Peoria and St. Louis.  I'm calling "CQ Activity
Net" often.  If I don't get any replies, I start nudging the
beams slowly more toward my SW, then W, then NW
and finally N.  Calling "CQ Activity net" often the whole
time.  I literally stop every 10-15 degrees, so nobody
should be missed, if indeed we do have propagation.

   I'm looking at Quad Cities and Missouri about 7:35.
  Toward SW Wis, E and Cent. IA and KC about 7:40.
  Toward La Crosse and the MN/IA state line (which is
due west for me) about 7:40-45.
  Toward the Twin Cities and Eau Claire about 7:50-55.
  Toward Wausau and Duluth/Superior about 8:00.
  Toward my north (Green Bay and beyond) about 8:05-10.

   That schedule is a best guess.  More activity means I
might be a little slower.  Less means I keep moving along,
and perhaps even go back and start over to my SSW at
8:00-8:10.

   I say hello to all the check-ins, but keep moving along, so
 I can catch everyone, everywhere, who's trying to check in.
Once I've got a list, I then try to go back to each station and
let them know who all has checked in so that they know where
to look after the net is done at 8:30pm.  As always, I hope we
get lots of different stations on and you're able to work each
other after the net is done.  Spread out away from 144.240,
if you need to.  Preferably down, because I do run the regular
Badger Contesters net on 144.250 at 8:30pm.

   (All are welcome to also check into the Badger Contesters
net on 144.250 -- definitely.  It's just that with the 144.240
net, I deliberately try to avoid the populated MKE/CHI
corridor, so you guys farther away can be heard better.)

    I want this net to increase activity in all directions - whether
you can actually work me or not.  Only the check-ins can
increase activity -- it takes a group effort.

    I want Wed. night to be known as a great night for radio
fun in the Midwest.

    I want this net to get new folks to VHF to check in.  We
never seem to have enough new ops.  If I had a buck for
every time I've heard someone say, "There's never anyone
on 2 meters SSB..."

    John W9RPM in EN43 has forwarded this info to several
FM or HF clubs in the LaCrosse area.  And some curious
guys have gotten on board.  Wonderful!  Others can do this
as well.  I wish you would.  I need the help.

    Who can you tell about this net?  We've got a good start,
but we're going to need new life as we get into winter.  The
day the SSB side of VHF is too crowded will be a great day!

     Finally, I'm also hoping that this net or activity hour will
help make for better contests, as we head into 2009.

     73, thanks for your ear, as always, any questions or
comments, just email.
     Todd  KC9BQA  EN63ao    40 N of Milwaukee