Weekly Report

Propagation very erratic. K = 3, A = 5, Flux = 77.

0700z - 0800z Europe - Anzo Net on 14,293 Long Path.

0700z - VK4ZD Bill from Gatton 5/5, down to 3/2 by 0725z, back up to 5/7 by 0745z

0700z - ZL1RD Rob from Auckland 3/3

0703z - HB9CQS Klaus from Sachseln 5/7

0709z - EA7GSU Pertti from Genalguacil 5/7

0710z - ZL1BFS Doug from Gisborne 1/1 here but Bill got him

0713z - VK3KCD Peter from Flinders up to 5/6, gave me 4/3

0715z - JM2HBO Teru from Komake 2/1 here, Kl;aus gave 5/4

0720z - EA7GSU Pertti reported hearing John G4HMG/p and Don G0JWE

but no contacts made.

0800z - Net ended. A very lively net despite shaky propagation.

Thanks to Klaus for this report about last week's 17m tests : -

Greetings Bill,

Sorry for being much too late with a report on 18.150 MHz events. Our garden needed some attention after the winter and I gave Karen a hand and also went to the nursery to get some new plants. A couple of hours in the garden is enough to drain me of all energy.

I did in fact switch to 18.150 MHz after our ROAR net had come to a close last Sunday and I worked Bill, VK4ZD, with about 56 both ways. S6 was quite sufficient because the band was very quiet. Peter, VK3KCD, was on the 18 MHz net also, but I had no copy on Peter. Both Bill and I gave a CQ ROAR call, but to no avail.

Pertti later told me that Henk had been active a few kHz higher, mainly working US stations. QSYing I went straight for 18.150 and did not check the band. Hence, I do not know whether Henk was readable here. My guess is that he was.

In closing down, Bill (ZD) and I agreed that we should try 18.150 MHz again this coming Sunday, this time starting 15 minutes before regular sked hours. Since only few stations are equipped to work 18 MHz, I understand that it has been decided to keep fighting on 14.293 and forget all about 18.150 MHz.

My beam antenna is really two antennas mounted on the same 6 metre long boom. I have three elements for 20-15-10 M and two elements for 17 and 12 M. The two beam antennas are fed by separate coax cables. That was the solution before the SteppIR came about. My fairly new Australian EMTRON DX - 1D will deliver 750 watts into these antennas with an acceptable SWR. My license allows me to use 1 kW but due to my pace maker, I let it be at the DX - 1D. Henk uses the DX - 2D and the antenna I would love to have: A three-element SteppIR.

Happy Easter! 73 Klaus, HB9CQS

0800z - 0900z UK 80-metre net on 3,694

G3JJR John in charge from Wolverhampton supported by : -

G0JWE Don, G4WRU Mike, G0MMO Norman, G4HMG/p John,

G4MVV Diana, G0SQH Derek, G2FUU Tommy, M0BDI Ralph,

G8LES Mike, G4MVO Jim, and G4YZE Bill.

1130z - 1230z International net on 14,293.

1115z - W1QUO Jim from Leominster MA 5/8 at first but down to 2/3 in qsb later

1120z - EA7GSU Pertti from Genalguacil 5/5

1128z - G3JJR John from Wolverhampton 1/1, got 5/8 from Pertti

1132z - HB9CQS Klaus from Sachseln 5/6.

1135z - G4HMG/p John from Bicester 1/1, got 5/3 from Pertti

1138z - G4FTA Robert from Bicester 1/1 got 5/5 from Pertti

1149z - G0JWE Don from Derby 2/1, got 5/7 from Klaus, (& 5/9+ 20 from Coco ! )

1150z - YO9BC Vincent (Coco) from Ploiest 5/9+

1205z - Net ended due to very severe fading.

Jim had much warmer wx, up to 20c but some severe flooding.

Pertti had "lovely wx, up to 25c" and he had heard the first cuckoo of the spring.

Klaus was putting in the best signal to Jim but even he was fading out at times.

1700z - 1730z UK evening 80-metre net on 3,691

G3JJR John, supported by : - G4FTA Robert, G4HMG/p John, G4MVV/p Diana

G8LES Mike, M0BDI Ralph, G0SQH Derek, and G4YZE Bill.

I missed the start of this net but it continued until 1815z.

1800z - 1830z North American Transcontinental Net on 14,288.

Many thanks to Jack KF5BD for the following report : -

Gentlemen;

Joe, AF1E , North Carolina was our net control today . Before the net was called Jim, W1QUO checked in to Jack, KF5BD who was warming up the freq. Sorry Jim could not stay with us. Joe, AF1E then opened the net. Ken, W8SOO , Sault St. Marie,UP, Mich. next checked in while relay station KF5BD was asking for more check-ins for the net control. While Pertti, EA7GSU was calling Ken, W8SOO Bob, WB7RQG from Medford, OR. was calling Jack to check in . Ken reported a good signal from Pertti in Spain so after relay station got permission from net control Jack asked Ken to Contact Pertti and relay Pertti's remarks. Bob, WB7RQG had to check out early while the rest of us decided DUKE University was the likely candidate to win the basket ball tournament at Indinapolis Monday night. Jack, KF5BD had to fight NOISE instead of CONTESTERS during the entire net . Joe, AF1E should look for an e mail from Pertti shortly. One of the DUKE star players is the son of a Rotarian who belongs to WB7RQG's Rotary club. I think the name is Clinger or Linger, a tall young man that shoots a lot of 3's .

Messages Received.

From Teru JM2HBO along with some great cherry blossom pic's.

Good day everyone,

Thank you for our QSO on ROAR Net yesterday evening.

I think you have a good Easter holiday over there.

April 5th afternoon, we have fine day , this evening rainy on the forecast.

The temperature is 15 degree C, A very good day.

This morning I went to our City Hall for business, and I took these pics at city parking.

The cherry blossoms are at their best now,

Many people sing a song and drink sake under the tree,

and the Cherry festival was opened yesterday,

I wish you have a good holiday with your family,

88 and 73 DE JM2HBO Teru

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That's all for this week,

73 de Bill g4yze