Dan,
You know it's bad when you can win your own "state" by just making ONE
contact, grin! The sprints have never been super hot beds of activity, but wow
activity has clearly been in decline around here for the last couple years.
Looking through this, so far I think I'm the only KY station (4-lander calls at
least):
http://groups.google.com/group/springsprints/web/144-mhz-logs-received
Here's who I worked:
W9JDT EM79
KA1ZE/3 FN01
WZ8D EM89
K9ZF EM78
K9EA EN71
W9GA EN53
KB8DDZ EM79
K4QI FM06
KF8PO EM79
W8ZN FM19
K9LQZ EM68
W8ULC EM79
K9LQZ struck me as a new one. KF8PO said he was new to the scene, good deal
there. So I guess there's hope to the north. Seems to be more activity from the
west up to NW. Chicago and Southern Wisconsin area seems to be a lot more
active than it used to be...which is great! Ohio used to be a ton of activity,
but was pretty thin Monday night. Didn't even work old faithful K8TQK.
I don't know what's happened to K4TO, he used to be super active. N4QWZ and
N4GN are some of the other "MIA" ones that I was talking about. N4GN used to be
on a lot from down in l-ville. Used to be a good half dozen or more Southern KY
and TN guys on. N8UM, KG4BMH, K1LH, just off the top of my head. I know there's
a 6-meter net on 50.175 (Tuesday nights?) down on the south side of Louisville,
haven't checked it lately to see if there's still much activity there. N4JOH
(think that's the call) is another semi-local that I haven't heard for ages.
Haven't hear a soul up on Roan Mtn (NC) in ages. Used to hear 2-3 rovers down
in the NC/east TN area.
I bet some of those guys have tower/antenna damage. The Sept 2008 wind storm
and the big ice storm back in February probably did a number on many stations
down there. I gather the ice was really bad down in Western Kentucky and parts
of TN. My beams were drooping pretty bad from the ice storm, but held up fine.
I know Rod WG9F took some bad ice damage, his main mast was bent over 90
degrees. We didn't get the ice storm nearly as bad as the folks on further
south. May explain some of it, but I think I noticed the decline last year.
When is the 2m net and freq? I'll have to try and check in, didn't know you
were doing it. I'll put it on our local mailing list too.
I've got a local that just moved and may get active again (AB4WS) once he gets
a tower up. Loaned a 6m rig to a new ham local (KI4WEF) and trying to get him
to jump in on the 6m contests/openings. I'm kinda trying to get the "locals"
together informally on our little mailing list and motivate activity/interest
as I can versus only fussing about it. Thus I can appreciate your efforts on
the net. Little effort here, little there, talking things up, and thanking the
rovers are good starts. I think the KYHAM list is back up and running, I might
sign up and make sure to mention upcoming contests from time to time.
Was the first of the spring/summer contests, maybe things will pick up as
everyone gets back in the contest grove around here. Time will tell!
73
Jeff
WA4ZKO
Support Ham Radio in Kentucky, get involved, get on the air!
http://twitter.com/wa4zko (ham activity notes & etc)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kyaprs/ KY APRS - (KY only)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kypacket/ KY Packet Group.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hspacket/ High Speed Packet Group.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/425echo/ 444.425+ EchoLink Group.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nkdxe/ NKDXE KY area VHF/UHF DX'ers.
--- On Fri, 4/10/09, Dan Evans <x> wrote:
> From: Dan Evans <>
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] WA4ZKO - 144 Mhz Spring Sprint wrap up/soapbox
> To:
> Cc: vhfcontesting@contesting.com
> Date: Friday, April 10, 2009, 7:41 PM
> Hi Jeff,
>
> Well, my friend, you doubled my score! Which is fitting
> since you likely have at least twice the station as I have,
> hi hi.
>
> Yes, activity is pretty low in our area. Whatever happened
> to N4GN around Louisville? Haven't heard him in a few
> years.
> Also didn't hear K4TO, or N4QWZ. Usually work both of
> them in every contest.
>
> Anyway, this was the motivation for kicking off the IN/KY
> 2m SSB net, which is going very well. Hopefully this well
> get some new folks motivated to stay with weak signal
> operating.
>
> 73
> Dan
> -- Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Clark County Indiana.
> EM78el
> K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 Check out the Rover
> Resource Page at:
> <http://www.qsl.net/n9rla> List Administrator for:
> InHam+grid-loc+ham-books
> Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list!
>
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