HF Net tonite 6:30 pacific @ 7190

[gary in ohio]

Bands are pretty poor right now. I know were having a heck of issue on our 75m traffic net. Band is going long earlier and working people in the state is very difficult. I can barley hear a ham less than 20miles away, but can working into Georgia without any issues. 40m been pretty crappy during the day, 20m is pretty much a daytime band right now, 15 and 10 are very hit miss. This is why you need options. A single net across the US is going to be hard. A regional net is possible but you need to be flexible with what antennas you support..

Regarding 80m in your truck, I run 80m all the time mobile. A ham stick, screwdriver or with a long whip/tuner will support 80m.

 

[xtatik]

Bands are pretty poor right now. I know were having a heck of issue on our 75m traffic net. Band is going long earlier and working people in the state is very difficult. I can barley hear a ham less than 20miles away, but can working into Georgia without any issues. 40m been pretty crappy during the day, 20m is pretty much a daytime band right now, 15 and 10 are very hit miss. This is why you need options. A single net across the US is going to be hard. A regional net is possible but you need to be flexible with what antennas you support..

Regarding 80m in your truck, I run 80m all the time mobile. A ham stick, screwdriver or with a long whip/tuner will support 80m.

Hey Gary, thanks for chiming in. Yep, seems 20 has been performing best in its peak hours. Regarding the Hamsticks, I've used them down to 40 and they seemed to perform ok. But, I've heard that the 80 is much less funtional due to low Q. I think I read here that you use a Hustler which has a much larger coil. If so, how does it work?
It seems right now that the successful (well heard) stations on bands below 40 are pushing a great deal more power as well.
Your point regarding a national net is spot on. The one I'm trying to get off the ground is intended more for the western states and into Mex........of course we'd certainly allow selected Ohio operators to join in, hihi.

 

[AKRover]

I'm on 20 meters now and there are a few Japan contesters on there. I made contact with one on 14.324. I can also hear some on the stations calling them from zone 3 so there might be a chance that I can check into the net.

I have the buddipole set up as a vertical with a single counterpoise. I have been playing with the tuning a little bit and I can't seem to get it perfect. I'm going to keep playing with it, hopefully I'll get it.

 

[xtatik]

QSY to 337, band is a mess with the JA contest.

 

[AKRover]

Got it tuned to 1.5:1 and calling CQ on 337.

 

[xtatik]

Talk about frustrating! Well I'm bailing on the idea. Too much traffic up on this end of the band. JA contesters have the ragchewers pushed up here and they won't take a breath long enough for me to redirect traffic. Oh well, if you can't beat em'.....join em'. I'll listen for ya' on 337 for awhile Noah.

 

[AKRover]

Yeah, I'm starting to hear ragchewers on 336 and 337 now that are fading in and out.

I'm having no trouble getting through to Japan though. lol

 

[xtatik]

Yeah, I'm starting to hear ragchewers on 336 and 337 now that are fading in and out.

I'm having no trouble getting through to Japan though. lol

Noah, I've QSY'd to 342...give a yell. I'll put you in the log at least.
Yeah, the guys on 337 are loud down here. As for the JA's.....rack em' up! Are you keeping a log?

 

[AKRover]

Calling CQ on 342.

I'm logging on a scrape piece of paper just so I don't call the same station twice. I still managed to get one guy twice and he made it a point to let me know. I suppose I should start a real log eh?

 

[AKRover]

So I learned something very interesting just now. Apparently transmitting on 14.342 causes one of the smoke alarms in the house to go off. LOL

My wife came out to the garage to tell me the smoke alarm was going off and I just figured she burned something but there was no smoke or anything. After I shut it off I told her to listen for me talking on the radio and see if the alarm goes off at the same time. As soon as I let off the PTT the alarm went off. Weird.

 

[xtatik]

So I learned something very interesting just now. Apparently transmitting on 14.342 causes one of the smoke alarms in the house to go off. LOL

My wife came out to the garage to tell me the smoke alarm was going off and I just figured she burned something but there was no smoke or anything. After I shut it off I told her to listen for me talking on the radio and see if the alarm goes off at the same time. As soon as I let off the PTT the alarm went off. Weird.

That's awesome. The JA's are like fish in a barrel. Check out dxwatch.com.

 

[AKRover]

Well you thinking about trying again? If I'm not busy I'll give it a shot.

 

[xtatik]

Well you thinking about trying again? If I'm not busy I'll give it a shot.

Might be able to give it a shot, but it's the phone sweepstakes weekend and the band will very busy.

 

[wheelerdh]

Revival!

Try a 20m night time net to see if you can grab some of east coasters? Prolly not a weekend night though since the contesters are in force...