[NLRS] 144.240 and 144.250 SSB net reports

[Todd Sprinkmann]

   Decent night for the nets...

   On 144.240 from 8-8:30, looking only west thru north, 
we had 4 check-ins.  They were:
   WB9LYH - Mark  EN54 Rudolph, WI                5x9
   W0ZQ - Jon  EN34  Twin Cities  (with 600W)     5x5
   N9ISN - Al  EN44  Eau Claire                             5x9
   K0MHC - Jim  EN26  Alexandria, MN                5x0

    There was considerable QSB tonight, the signal reports 
are peak readings.

    On 144.250, starting at 8:30, we had 8 check-ins:
    N9WU - Rick  EN53  Germantown, WI               5x1
    K9IJ - John EN52  Lake Zurich, IL                       5x3
    N9TF - Gene EN52  Mundelein, IL                       5x9
    N9UM - Mark EN52  Wauconda, IL                    5x5
    AK9F - Howard EN61  Kankakee, IL                  5x1
    N9XRO - Jack EN53  Menomonee Falls, WI       5x9+
    N9NDP - Harvey EN62  Kenosha                        5x9
    N9UX - Joe EN52 Milwaukee (late check-in)       5x5

    Plenty of contest plans for this weekend were discussed.  
N9UX sounds good and loud on 144 with some recent 
improvements.  He was also kind enough to talk up the 
contest to his FM buddies at the MRC meeting tonight.  
(146.91 machine).  There's still time for others to talk up 
this contest and the 2 meter sprint on Mon., Sept. 22nd from 
7-11pm.  

     Made some contacts on 146 FM later on - vertical 
polarization.  Thanks to N9TF for advising me that there was 
some N ILL activity on 146.49.  I don't want to step on anyone.  
We ended up on 146.475 and worked a few different stations.

      For now, the Thursday night FM simplex net will stay 
on 146.49, starting at 8:30pm.  So far, we haven't QRM'ed 
anyone on 146.49 on Thursdays.  However, I do have some new 
noise on that freq. and I may need to slide down to 146.475 for 
future FM nets.  If I do that, I'll advise via these reflectors.  

      Also for the SE WI and N ILL types, we're trying to 
create an FM activity period from 4-6pm this Saturday, 
during the contest.  Keep off of 146.52, per ARRL contest 
rules, but definitely listen for activity from 146.46 to 146.58.  
This is something I'm going to try and spearhead for the 
next few contests, including the 2 meter sprint on Monday, 
Sept. 22nd, from 7-11pm.  Give this a shot, call CQ and 
perhaps meet a few new contesting friends.  Lord knows 
we can always use more activity.  

      I've spent very little time listening to any FM simplex 
activity but I did listen for a good hour tonight, after the net 
was done.  I was quite surprised to hear activity on at 
least 4 different channels, from time to time.  Interesting.  

      73, good luck in the contests, and post your plans 
to your reflectors.

      Todd  KC9BQA  EN63ao     40 N of Milwaukee
      50 thru 2304