[WARC] 2 meter SSB nets you can reach de KC9BQA EN63

[Todd Sprinkmann]

   Hello to WARC,

   At K0NY's urging, I'd like to say hello and introduce 
myself.  I am Todd  KC9BQA and I live over in Eastern 
WI, Sheboygan county, EN63.

   I am an avid VHF/UHF enthusiast.  Primarily on the SSB 
side of things.  Love hearing distant signals and also love 
contesting on VHF/UHF.  Are you guys/gals aware of the 
ARRL Jan VHF Sweepstakes starting next Sat. the 17th 
at 1pm?  Runs until 10pm on Sunday the 18th.  Rules link:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/jan-vhf-ss.html
   As always I'm putting on a big push to promote activity 
across southern WI for this contest, so I hope we can 
work each other on various bands.  

   This summer, I took it upon myself to start up some nets 
designed to stir up regional activity on 144 SSB.  They are 
going very well and some on this list may be interested.  
The only bad net is a quiet one, so I'm always looking for 
more check-ins.  

   Every Wed., I am on 144.240 USB at 7:15pm.  This is 
horizontal polarization, and I run about 90 watts up to a 
pair of 12 el beams up 105/115'.  I dig up stations from 
St. Louis to KC, Mo, thru Iowa, to La Crosse, Eau Claire, 
and the Twin Cities up to Duluth.  The 144.240 net does 
not look toward Milwaukee or Chicago because I want 
to concentrate on areas to my SW thru my N.  

    The time where I point my beams toward La Crosse 
and Winona is from 7:15-7:30pm.  And later about 7:45-
8:00pm.  I frequently announce where I am looking so if 
you're patient, and call when I'm getting louder, I'll be 
happy to check you in.  If too many people call at once, 
it can lead to confusion.  My beams come up toward your 
area from the south, so if you hear me working say 
Dubuque or Madison, you know your time is getting near.  
As with hearing La Crosse.  

   Last Wed. K0NY came in during flat winter band 
conditions with an S3 signal.  Clare indicated his QTH is 
in a valley, so that's pretty impressive.  W9RPM is also 
in a swale, so it just goes to show that you can do some 
pretty cool things on SSB, on VHF/UHF.   

   That's the short story.  If you'd enjoy some more 
perspective, please read on.  
 

  The reason why this net may be of additional interest to 
WARC members is that in the past few months, we've 
gotten a *bunch* of new guys on 144 SSB from the La 
Crosse area.  W9RPM John has been a great help in 
spreading word of this net to LSE area hams, and they've 
responded.  What that activity means to your members is 
that there's already a growing interest in 144 SSB ops right 
in your backyard.  Not all areas have this.  In fact, with 
continued growth, you may find it makes more sense to 
have your own local net at some point.  Just keep that in 
the back of your mind.  

   The purpose of the nets is to stir up activity on less used  
portions of 2 meters.  It's not really a ragchew net because 
I need to keep moving beams and trying to find check-ins 
from all directions.  But I am always glad to say hello for a 
minute or so, and I love hearing the "wow, I didn't know I 
could talk this far" factor when someone tries out their beam 
and makes a 150-200 mile path.  

   For those who might find this sort of net to be too "busy", 
keep in mind that at 8:25-8:30, when I QSY to run another 
net on 144.250, there will be hams leftover on 144.240.  
So there's a chance to spin your beams, and work whoever 
sticks around.  In fact, if it's a bit too crowded, spread 
down the band a bit to 144.220-230, and give everyone 
some elbow room.  

   The whole idea of the net from my perspective is to get 
things going.  I can't stand it when I hear folks say there's 
nobody on 144 SSB.  It may be true because I've only 
been on the air since 2003 and I don't know about the 
good old days.  What I do know is that right now, I'm 
doing something to make things better, and lots of good 
hams are helping out by getting on the air.  

    So now you know about the 144.240 SSB net every 
Wed. at 7:30pm -- that looks toward Winona about 7:15-
7:30 and again at 7:45-8:00pm.  Please listen along or 
say hello when it's convenient for you.  

    If you have any questions, it's best to just email me.  
sprinkies at excel.net   I don't always keep up with all 
the various reflectors that I send messages to.  

    73,
    Todd  KC9BQA   EN63    40 N of Milwaukee
    50 thru 2304  (bands I have)