My Homepage

Categories (CAT)                 * = Special SKCC member.                 1 = 1 watt or less.                 2 = Greater than 1 watt, up to 5 watts.                 3 = Greater than 5 watts, up to 100 watts.                 4 = Greater than 100 watts.

Date: December 14, 2008
Theme: A tribute to Bill - NT9K
Club call: NT9K
Special SKCC member: Bill
This sprint is dedicated to Bill in recognition of his
dedicated service to SKCC as sprint manager, now retired.
Number of participants: 96

Results by Final Score

Rank	CAT	Call	Name	SKCC	QTH	QSO's	Mult	Bonus	Score
-	*3	NT9K	Bill	1926T	FL	47	20	305	1245
1	3	KØLUW	Russ	1702T	NE	124	43	585	5917
2	3	AD5WI	Mark	866T	AR	113	38	565	4859
3	3	K8IJ	Chas	4781C	KY	80	37	285	3245
4	3	K3MQ	Bob	3151T	DE	70	33	565	2875
5	3	WA1AR	Alan	4079T	MA	75	32	360	2760
6	3	WØCI	Jerry	2096C	IA	68	30	390	2430
7	4	KL8DX	Phil	3800C	AK	67	32	270	2414
8	3	K9DTH	Ron	3698T	IL	61	33	270	2283
9	3	K8EE	Gene	4080	OH	63	31	235	2188
10	3	N9FC	John	3893T	IN	57	27	390	1929
11	3	KE5PWL	Eric	4229T	LA	36	33	175	1363
12	3	KI6BHB	Dave	4186C	CA	39	28	255	1347
13	3	KKØI	Jack	2370T	WI	44	24	270	1326
14	3	K5EWJ	Cookie	4077T	TX	40	23	265	1185
15	3	N2UM	Gary	3041C	NY	38	24	245	1157
16	3	W1DV	Dave	1433T	NY	41	21	275	1136
17	3	K4ZGB	Tom	796T	AL	38	25	180	1130
18	3	W6UT	Dennis	2417T	CA	38	22	225	1061
19	3	KE5WIQ	Neil	4730C	TX	37	20	295	1035
20	3	WA6L	John	4210C	CA	34	24	180	996
21	3	K4CNW	Jack	2961T	SC	36	22	175	967
22	3	W4UCZ	Mark	3609-T	GA	31	25	190	965
23	3	G4ELZ	Jeff	4910	Uk	36	18	255	903
24	3	N1AFV	Gordon	3367T	ME	37	20	160	900
25	3	N5PU	Leon	427T	MS	32	20	180	820
26	3	W7GVE	Ed	729T	AZ	31	20	175	795
27	3	KC9KHG	Randy	3687C	IL	26	21	235	781
28	3	K8MEG	Rich	4637	MI	28	21	170	758
29	3	AF2Z	Drew	2082T	NJ	30	19	170	740
30	3	K2RFP	Dick	2099T	NY	26	20	175	695
31	2	KB4QQJ	Randy	3508T	NC	23	14	315	637
32	3	K9ZMD	Gary	891	CA	30	15	140	590
33	3	NO5W	Chuck	4958	TX	24	17	155	563
34	3	W1EJ	Ed	1594	CA	28	15	140	560
35	3	WA1LWS	Hans	1933T	MD	26	15	120	510
36	3	K8JD	John	1395T	MI	22	17	125	499
37	3	W4BGH	Bernard	2889	FL	22	15	120	450
38	3	K8BBM	Dave	2882T	SD	22	16	90	442
39	3	WL7WH	Bob	2940C	AK	21	13	130	403
40	3	WA1GCT	Roger	1797	TX	19	15	100	385
41	3	KJ4WD	Carl	4084	NC	18	15	110	380
42	3	N1LU	Don	2252T	NH	19	14	110	376
43	2	KW4JS	John	4800	TN	18	12	100	316
44	3	KB9MLE	Dave	4685	IN	19	13	65	312
45	3	K2MEN	Sheldon	2926	NJ	15	14	100	310
46	3	WA5VQM	Mark	58	TX	16	12	105	297
47	3	W3RT	Red	3237T	PA	16	12	95	287
48	4	K4BAI	John	3280	GA	15	13	80	275
49	3	N9QU	Leo	3464T	WI	13	12	115	271
50	3	AA9KH	Jay	0219C	IL	13	13	85	254
51	3	KK6AW	Kelsey	2806T	CA	17	11	60	247
52	3	WA1VIL	Greg	443	MA	14	12	75	243
53	3	KAØCSW	Jim	3741C	MN	16	12	45	237
54	3	N5KIP	Dick	3755C	LA	13	12	80	236
55	3	VE3HNE	Walt	4893	On	12	11	75	207
56	3	N8RVE	John	4811	OH	11	9	85	184
57	3	K6FFY	Nick	1221C	WA	16	6	75	171
58	3	WB8WTU	Dennis	217	OH	11	9	70	169
59	3	KØMDS	Mike	1524C	KS	10	10	45	145
60	3	KC4FLT	Carl	3625	AL	11	9	45	144
61	3	W4KRN	Karen	4495T	VA	8	7	85	141
62	3	K4UFT	Ted	4289	SC	10	8	50	130
63	3	KJ7BS	Mark	2240	AZ	8	8	60	124
64	3	K2ZC	Dave	1945	NJ	8	7	55	111
65	2	NT7S	Jason	361	OR	11	5	55	110
66	3	N5LUL	Brad	3779	TX	8	8	45	109
67	3	KB7GL	Vic	3636	WA	9	6	50	104
68	4	AE6GC	Jack	4461	CA	7	6	55	97
69	3	KD5MMM	Phil	4209	TX	8	7	40	96
70	3	G4LMW	Rob	4454	England	10	6	35	95
71	3	LW3EX	Walt	3804T	Lu	6	6	50	86
72	3	K9JP	Jeff	3008T	MI	5	5	45	70
73	3	K6JF	Jim	4261T	CA	6	6	30	66
74	3	GØRDO	John	2133C	England	9	5	20	65
75	2	N9GGE	John	2886	IL	5	4	30	50
76	3	KL7GLL	Gene	1098T	VA	6	5	15	45
77	3	VK4TJ	John	4474C	Vk	7	4	15	43
78	3	AD5VC	Dana	1555T	LA	4	4	25	41
78	3	KG4WNA	John	NONE	KY	4	4	25	41
80	3	KC2EGL	Michael	553T	PA	3	3	30	39
80	3	KC6ZZT	Joe	3647	CA	2	2	35	39
82	3	AB1BW	George	2468T	CT	4	4	20	36
83	3	WB9CAC	Bill	3830	AZ	3	3	25	34
84	3	AC2C	Ron	2748T	MD	3	3	20	29
85	3	NNØJL	Jim	2079T	IA	3	2	20	26
86	3	K2PAY	Jerry	4304	NY	3	3	15	24
86	3	N6EV	Paul	3358T	CA	2	2	20	24
88	4	IØQM	Bob	4954	It	3	3	10	19
89	2	VA2NB	Michael	120	Qc	2	2	10	14
89	3	KCØVNK	Scott	3522	MN	3	3	5	14
91	3	KB1OSI	Devin	4484	NH	3	3	0	9
91	3	KB3RLI	Jonathan	4589	PA	3	3	0	9
93	3	KD5JHE	Jerry	1976	MS	1	1	5	6
94	3	OH6DC	Jari	3991	Finland	1	1	0	1
94	3	VA3TSK	Greg	4521	On	1	1	0	1

Results by Category and Final Score

Rank	CAT	Call	Name	SKCC	QTH	QSO's	Mult	Bonus	Score
1	*3	NT9K	Bill	1926T	FL	47	20	305	1245
1	2	KB4QQJ	Randy	3508T	NC	23	14	315	637
2	2	KW4JS	John	4800	TN	18	12	100	316
3	2	NT7S	Jason	361	OR	11	5	55	110
4	2	N9GGE	John	2886	IL	5	4	30	50
5	2	VA2NB	Michael	120	Qc	2	2	10	14
1	3	KØLUW	Russ	1702T	NE	124	43	585	5917
2	3	AD5WI	Mark	866T	AR	113	38	565	4859
3	3	K8IJ	Chas	4781C	KY	80	37	285	3245
4	3	K3MQ	Bob	3151T	DE	70	33	565	2875
5	3	WA1AR	Alan	4079T	MA	75	32	360	2760
6	3	WØCI	Jerry	2096C	IA	68	30	390	2430
7	3	K9DTH	Ron	3698T	IL	61	33	270	2283
8	3	K8EE	Gene	4080	OH	63	31	235	2188
9	3	N9FC	John	3893T	IN	57	27	390	1929
10	3	KE5PWL	Eric	4229T	LA	36	33	175	1363
11	3	KI6BHB	Dave	4186C	CA	39	28	255	1347
12	3	KKØI	Jack	2370T	WI	44	24	270	1326
13	3	K5EWJ	Cookie	4077T	TX	40	23	265	1185
14	3	N2UM	Gary	3041C	NY	38	24	245	1157
15	3	W1DV	Dave	1433T	NY	41	21	275	1136
16	3	K4ZGB	Tom	796T	AL	38	25	180	1130
17	3	W6UT	Dennis	2417T	CA	38	22	225	1061
18	3	KE5WIQ	Neil	4730C	TX	37	20	295	1035
19	3	WA6L	John	4210C	CA	34	24	180	996
20	3	K4CNW	Jack	2961T	SC	36	22	175	967
21	3	W4UCZ	Mark	3609-T	GA	31	25	190	965
22	3	G4ELZ	Jeff	4910	Uk	36	18	255	903
23	3	N1AFV	Gordon	3367T	ME	37	20	160	900
24	3	N5PU	Leon	427T	MS	32	20	180	820
25	3	W7GVE	Ed	729T	AZ	31	20	175	795
26	3	KC9KHG	Randy	3687C	IL	26	21	235	781
27	3	K8MEG	Rich	4637	MI	28	21	170	758
28	3	AF2Z	Drew	2082T	NJ	30	19	170	740
29	3	K2RFP	Dick	2099T	NY	26	20	175	695
30	3	K9ZMD	Gary	891	CA	30	15	140	590
31	3	NO5W	Chuck	4958	TX	24	17	155	563
32	3	W1EJ	Ed	1594	CA	28	15	140	560
33	3	WA1LWS	Hans	1933T	MD	26	15	120	510
34	3	K8JD	John	1395T	MI	22	17	125	499
35	3	W4BGH	Bernard	2889	FL	22	15	120	450
36	3	K8BBM	Dave	2882T	SD	22	16	90	442
37	3	WL7WH	Bob	2940C	AK	21	13	130	403
38	3	WA1GCT	Roger	1797	TX	19	15	100	385
39	3	KJ4WD	Carl	4084	NC	18	15	110	380
40	3	N1LU	Don	2252T	NH	19	14	110	376
41	3	KB9MLE	Dave	4685	IN	19	13	65	312
42	3	K2MEN	Sheldon	2926	NJ	15	14	100	310
43	3	WA5VQM	Mark	58	TX	16	12	105	297
44	3	W3RT	Red	3237T	PA	16	12	95	287
45	3	N9QU	Leo	3464T	WI	13	12	115	271
46	3	AA9KH	Jay	0219C	IL	13	13	85	254
47	3	KK6AW	Kelsey	2806T	CA	17	11	60	247
48	3	WA1VIL	Greg	443	MA	14	12	75	243
49	3	KAØCSW	Jim	3741C	MN	16	12	45	237
50	3	N5KIP	Dick	3755C	LA	13	12	80	236
51	3	VE3HNE	Walt	4893	On	12	11	75	207
52	3	N8RVE	John	4811	OH	11	9	85	184
53	3	K6FFY	Nick	1221C	WA	16	6	75	171
54	3	WB8WTU	Dennis	217	OH	11	9	70	169
55	3	KØMDS	Mike	1524C	KS	10	10	45	145
56	3	KC4FLT	Carl	3625	AL	11	9	45	144
57	3	W4KRN	Karen	4495T	VA	8	7	85	141
58	3	K4UFT	Ted	4289	SC	10	8	50	130
59	3	KJ7BS	Mark	2240	AZ	8	8	60	124
60	3	K2ZC	Dave	1945	NJ	8	7	55	111
61	3	N5LUL	Brad	3779	TX	8	8	45	109
62	3	KB7GL	Vic	3636	WA	9	6	50	104
63	3	KD5MMM	Phil	4209	TX	8	7	40	96
64	3	G4LMW	Rob	4454	England	10	6	35	95
65	3	LW3EX	Walt	3804T	Lu	6	6	50	86
66	3	K9JP	Jeff	3008T	MI	5	5	45	70
67	3	K6JF	Jim	4261T	CA	6	6	30	66
68	3	GØRDO	John	2133C	England	9	5	20	65
69	3	KL7GLL	Gene	1098T	VA	6	5	15	45
70	3	VK4TJ	John	4474C	Vk	7	4	15	43
71	3	AD5VC	Dana	1555T	LA	4	4	25	41
71	3	KG4WNA	John	NONE	KY	4	4	25	41
72	3	KC2EGL	Michael	553T	PA	3	3	30	39
72	3	KC6ZZT	Joe	3647	CA	2	2	35	39
73	3	AB1BW	George	2468T	CT	4	4	20	36
74	3	WB9CAC	Bill	3830	AZ	3	3	25	34
75	3	AC2C	Ron	2748T	MD	3	3	20	29
76	3	NNØJL	Jim	2079T	IA	3	2	20	26
77	3	K2PAY	Jerry	4304	NY	3	3	15	24
77	3	N6EV	Paul	3358T	CA	2	2	20	24
78	3	KCØVNK	Scott	3522	MN	3	3	5	14
79	3	KB1OSI	Devin	4484	NH	3	3	0	9
79	3	KB3RLI	Jonathan	4589	PA	3	3	0	9
80	3	KD5JHE	Jerry	1976	MS	1	1	5	6
81	3	OH6DC	Jari	3991	Finland	1	1	0	1
81	3	VA3TSK	Greg	4521	On	1	1	0	1
1	4	KL8DX	Phil	3800C	AK	67	32	270	2414
2	4	K4BAI	John	3280	GA	15	13	80	275
3	4	AE6GC	Jack	4461	CA	7	6	55	97
4	4	IØQM	Bob	4954	It	3	3	10	19

Sprint Stats

Number of participants by state..

AK 2	AL 2	AR 1	AZ 3	CA 10	CO 0	CT 1	DE 1	FL 2	GA 2
HI 0	IA 2	ID 0	IL 4	IN 2	KS 1	KY 2	LA 3	MA 2	MD 2
ME 1	MI 3	MN 2	MO 0	MS 2	MT 0	NC 2	ND 0	NE 1	NH 2
NJ 3	NM 0	NV 0	NY 4	OH 3	OK 0	OR 1	PA 3	RI 0	SC 2
SD 1	TX 7	TN 1	UT 0	VA 2	VT 0	WA 2	WI 2	WV 0	WY 0

Total USA participants: 86
Total non-USA participants: 10

Number of QSOs by state..

AK 88	AL 49	AR 113	AZ 42	CA 203	CO 0	CT 4	DE 70	FL 69	GA 46
HI 0	IA 71	ID 0	IL 105	IN 76	KS 10	KY 84	LA 53	MA 89	MD 29
ME 37	MI 55	MN 19	MO 0	MS 33	MT 0	NC 41	ND 0	NE 124	NH 22
NJ 53	NM 0	NV 0	NY 108	OH 85	OK 0	OR 11	PA 22	RI 0	SC 46
SD 22	TX 152	TN 18	UT 0	VA 14	VT 0	WA 25	WI 57	WV 0	WY 0

Total QSOs with one or more USA operators: 2145
Total QSOs with one or more non-USA operators: 87

Soapbox

---

KK6AW Operated by: Kelsey


Coffee before CW

---

W4BGH Operated by: Bernard


Bernie Huth, W4BGH - Riverview,FL

---

WA5VQM Operated by: Mark

Between lousy band conditions and the pre-holiday errands didn't do as well as I had hoped this time out. Still, made some first-time contacts which is always a good thing. I hope conditions are better next month! 73, Mark

---

KB3RLI Operated by: Jonathan

This was my first contest. It was fun but a little too fast for me. I had only 3 contacts but one was my first dx and was to England! I will send out qsl cards I drew. This is my second week doing cw and I am 12.

---

K4BAI Operated by: John

FT1000MP, Alpha 78, 1 KW, 80M inverted vee dipole. Spent most of Sunday in the ARRL 10M Contest, but that band died and I got to operate in the SKS for the last 34 minutes. Thanks for the QSOs. Happy holidays to all. 73, John, K4BAI.

---

KL7GLL Operated by: Gene

Just caught the tail end of WES when we arrived home from a weekend in NYC to celebrate my big 6-5!! Propagation seemed mediocre but sounded like plenty of activity on 40 and 80. Hope everyone had a fun time. Sorry to miss you Bill!!

---

WA1AR Operated by: Alan

Band hopped a bit used 160,80,40,20 and 15. Bands were just OK, not a lot of strong stations but lack of QRM made it possible for easy copy. Higher bands were quiet with little QRN. Tried a 3 band vertical on 20 and 15. G5RV worked better and my 160 dipole had better reception on 15 than the vertical. Used a 1948 Original bug all the way except for a few real slow QSOs. Ended 3 hours early to watch the Pats football game. They won. Worked a few AWA stations. Thoses old radios make some funny sounds and buzzes. I may try the January AWA contest as I have plenty of old tube stuff to work with. Had a great time this weekend, as usual.

73
Alan WA1AR

---

K5EWJ Operated by: Cookie

I split my time between the WES and the ARRL 10 meter Contest. I am sure that it hurt my score with both, but 10 meters was mostly dead while I worked the WES. I did get a couple of double duty QSOs when KB4QQJ and I tried ten meters at 0348Z and were able to complete a SKCC QSO. Randy was running QRP. Also, I recognized N8CPA as a fellow SKCC member and we completed a contest QSO then switched to straight keys for an SKCC QSO. I probably worked some other SKCC members in the ARRL contest, but did not recognize them in the heat of the battle.

Ten meters was fair, eighty and forty were good, one-sixty was open a bit, twenty was pretty dead, but I managed a couple of Qs there including KL8DX.

Antique MESCO Brass Key used in WES, nice and smooth.

---

KB7GL Operated by: Vic

Just my 2nd Sprint. Lots of fun, even with the spotty bands (I couldn't get a multiplier from my own state!). We had fresh snow in the Seattle area Sunday, so I had a great excuse to remain inside for the Sprint. Great fun making the new contacts & meeting you all. See you down the log.

73, Vic

---

KKØI Operated by: Jack

Well, had to cut it short today...shopping errands to do and dinner at the son's place. Still felt pretty good with the outcome, even with the band conditions the way they were. My Navy Flameproof got a good workout on this WES. Everyone have a great holiday season and the best in 2009!

We'll be looking for you down the log.

---

AF2Z Operated by: Drew

Tried for an hour on Sat evening but only got four contacts. The final hours on Sunday were also very sparse here. Only worked 20/40/80. Not much action on 20m but Phil KL8DX and John WA6L were fairly strong here in NJ for a couple of hours in the afternoon; also got Dennis W6UT, but that's about it from the West Coast. Great to hear some of our new members, Wayne KA1OX #4943 and Larry N9AUG #4971! My rig: Elecraft K3 @ 12 watts. Ant: 100' wire up 30'. Junker straight key.

---

KØLUW Operated by: Russ

Tough band conditions this sprint - favored stations in the center of the country. Very tough on the QRP guys. Still lots of fun and kept me inside out of the snow and very cold weather in our area. Spent 15 hrs on the air and must have CQ'ed several thousand times.

---

KB4QQJ Operated by: Randy

Most Gracious Thanks to Bill, NT9K for 6 bands!!! That was just about more points than the rest of the sprint! Great to hear your collections of keys/cooties/bugs on different bands Bill. You are an inspiration Sir!
Made up my mind, want a Corian Cootie!! Big signals everywhere tonight. Great new UK contact, Thanks Jeff, G4ELZ. Bands were strange, 160 was strong signals and 20 was noisy, backwards from normal. Great time, and lots of new signals as well as retreads coming out again. Strongest signal was KK0I Jack in WI 40 over. And a special thanks to NU7T for sticking it out with me QRP and pulling me out of the mud. Merry Christmas All and Hope to see you in K3Y!!!

Randy _ KB4QQJ

---

N5LUL Operated by: Brad

Had a GREAT time! Split my operating times with this one and the ARRL 10M event. Got several new SKCC #s .... thanks guys! Will be back next month.

Brad- N5LUL

---

WA1VIL Operated by: Greg

Not in it for the score this time especially with dinners with friends, Christmas trees to put up and holiday shopping to do but....Thanks to the Ops who were on past midnight eastern so I could work a few before bed. Also special thanks to W0CI, K1ULF, K9FMX, WB2ELD, KL8DX, KB9MLE, K8IJ and WB8WTU who put me over the top for my "C" pending W2LJ's eagle eyed review.

Happy Holidays to all es 73,
Greg

---

WB8WTU Operated by: Dennis

I finally found some time to work a Sprint. My compliments to all the SKCC ops I heard - great fists one and all. The bar is indeed set high. What a plesaure to hear so many straight keys, and others, operated so well. I had a lot of fun and will be back next month for sure.

73,
dennis
wb8wtu

---

KC2EGL Operated by: Michael

I need to rearrange my Sunday schedule's. Each time the WES arrives I wind up being so busy with other things I have very little time to operate. Even though I only recorded three QSO's I enjoyed each moment of it. Ron K9DTH in IL sounded as if he was right outside my window. Many thanks to Mark AD5WI for giving me Arkansas. I only need five states for WAS with QRP. I will work towards that during K3Y. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year to all. See you next month on the radio. 73 Michael

---

WL7WH Operated by: Bob

Was very enjoyable, however band was only open to me for 2 1/2 hours today! Had a great time again...Bob

---

W1EJ Operated by: Ed

Alaska (WL7WH and KL8DX)and K0LUW, were booming in to Northern CA but I had to dig hard for most others!

---

K9JP Operated by: Jeff

Thanks for some more WES fun. 40 meter band was very interesting Saturday evening. I could
hear many stations at S-7 to S-9, it seemed they could not hear me. Russ, K0LUW was at times
20 dB over here in Michigan, still I called and called him, no joy! Oh well next month will be better.
Thanks Dick for another fun event. 73 and Happy Holidays to All, Jeff - K9JP

---

KE5WIQ Operated by: Neil

Enjoyed meeting a bunch of new folks, and would like to make longer qso's with many. Stop by K3UK sked page. It is a lot of fun making blind contacts, but the comeraderie on the page is hard to beat. Many thanks to Bill!

KE5WIQ "Nerve Center"

---

KL8DX Operated by: Phil

Another fun WES weekend! Not much daylight in Alaska these days and 20 meters does not seem to be open very long. With that in mind, I am very happy with the number of stations my very modest setup here was able to work. I did not start hearing stations until just before 1800z on 20 meters. I began with a great start thanks to Bob, K3MQ. It appeared that many were like myself and needed Bob for their SKCC WAS (many thanks Bob!!). I am now down to one state needed to complete this award and that is RI. CQ RI? It was also great to work Bob, WL7WH. The advantage of living in such a big state is being able to use Grayline to work your neighbors ;)

Propagation never stops amazing me. It is frustratingly challenging here. When it works, it's fun. Cookie, K5EWJ, was the last big signal I worked on 20 meters before the band dropped, and that it does quickly. The only thing that would have made this contest better for me was to be able to work Bill, NT9K. Sounds like Bill had a nice pile-up going. Congratulations and the best of luck Bill in your SKCC retirement.

Thanks for all those that called in and sorry to those I missed. We had 30 mph wind gusts so my noise was stronger than normal. Happy holidays to everyone and here's to wishing you the best of DX in 2009. A special thanks to all those that make this and every SKS possible.



My current key line up. Proud owner of 2 Flameproof's (one for each rig).

---

WA1GCT Operated by: Roger

Enjoyed the sprint. Just wish I had more time to work it. See ya`ll next month.

73, Roger

---

AB1BW Operated by: George

It was nice to be back into the action after a four month absence. I only had time to make four contacts but it was fun never the less. Many thanks to K8EE, K8IJ, W0CI and K0LUW who had lots of patients listening to my shaky fist. See you on the air. Best 73, George

---

G4ELZ Operated by: Jeff

Only 36 Q's, quite a struggle but enjoyed every minute.
I was pleased to wk Bill on 2 bands for 50 Bonus points.
Many thanks to all. 73 A Merry Xmas and Happy New Year,
Jeff G4ELZ

---

VA2NB Operated by: Michael

I didn't have a lot of time for the Sprint but I managed
to squeeze in a couple of quick contacts on 40M. Hope to work some of you on SKN - Michael VA2NB/VE3WMB

---

NO5W Operated by: Chuck

Just got my SKCC number Thursday and decided to jump into the fray -- well I hesitate to call it that since all QSOs were on friendly casual basis. It was good to get out the J-38 and exercise the old sending arm. Initially I assumed that Tribune contacts would be the most rare of the three types but actually it turned out that 14 of my 24 contacts were with Tribunes. But I guess that's the way they got to be Tribunes -- by being active. Looking forward to the next Sprintathon and hope to see you in the SKN.

Happy Holidays,

73/Chuck/NO5W

---

NT9K Operated by: Bill

I did pretty good the first 3 hours, but didn't feel good the rest of the sprint and didn't get to put in as many hours as I wanted to. I wish I could have made more qso's. I learned something in this sprint. It seems that when you have a bullseye on your back, people seem to hear you better. I also noted that I could recognize some of your fists in the pileup, quicker than I could pick your call out of all the others calling me.

I got to work some new members and lots of old friends too. Still, I missed a lot of you. I had some fun with my keys. I was switching keys mid qso on some of you and switching keys nearly every qso. I tried to divide my time going at different speeds and switching keys helped me to remember to do that. There were a few contacts that I really got to let it rip. That was fun too!

One of the highlights was getting to work W4KRN Karen, using her new key she won in last months WES. She was doing great with her new key. My farthest contacts were to the UK and AK. California was very strong with several stations busting the pileup.

I am grateful to Dick K2RFP for taking over the sprints. I will still be serving as Webmaster and helping out where ever I can. I would just like to say thanks and I couldn't have pulled off the WES without lots of help from many of you. When I look at the nice award that I was given, I will think of all of you that helped make it possible.

73, Bill NT9K..

The SKCC Service Award that I received

---

K4UFT Operated by: Ted

Icom 706 @50 Watts, ChiCom Army K5 key, homebrew vertical.

Poor band condx here in Upstate SC plus marginal antenna.

Randy, KE5IWQ, in his soapbox comments mentioned "British Style" keying (no elbow rest). From that I can say I was using "British/Chinese" keying. I talked to the guys at Morsexpress about the Chinese Army key and it's rather stiff spring. They told me about "Chinese Adjustment" ..... screw the spacing adjustment down until the contacts meet and then back off a gnat's hair ..... the spring is adjusted rather stiff. That way there is minimum knob travel, but the spring stiff enough to prevent accidental keying. I tried it and it works okay for me. The knob is out over the edge of the table so I don't use any hand/elbow rest. Therefore "British/Chinese" ......

---

AA9KH Operated by: Jay

Great to work some "new" folks this time around. Hope to be on a LOT more often come January. CUL. Merry Christmas and best wishes for '09 to all. 73, J

---

K2PAY Operated by: Jerry

Phil, KL8DX made my day by being my first Alaska CW contact on 20 meters. Thanks Phil! Waited for over an hour until we got through. You had a great signal here on Long Island. 73, Jerry K2PAY

---

W3RT Operated by: Red

Lots of good signals, lots of new numbers, equals a pretty good WES for me.
Heard many more that I was unable to work. The 10m contest took up a bit of time, also. Majority of contacts were on 80m, some on 40 & 20.

Great Sprint. Thanks to those I was able to work, and special thanks to the Sprint-Masters!

73, Red, W3RT, SKCC #3237T in PA

---

K2RFP Operated by: Dick

Thank you Bill for hosting this sprint. I hope you had fun working through the pileups!
73, Dick.

---

W4KRN Operated by: Karen

Between Christmas preparation and recovering from a sinus infection didn't have a lot of time for this one. Was happy to work Bill NT9K with my prize key! Hope to make a lot more contacts next WES. Thanks to all I worked. Happy Holidays!

---

K2MEN Operated by: Sheldon

My glass arm is starting to get in shape!

---

VA3TSK Operated by: Greg

I forgot it was WES but was setting up a new antenna feedline, so I had the radio on and heard 'CQ SKS DE KU9RK' and called. Wasn't going to bother filing the result, but then I looked in my log and figured out that it was my 50th CW contact!

---

K8JD Operated by: John

Only had time to operate from 02:30 to 03:55 and one more QSO at 15:00 and finally from 21:10 to 21:15....was mostly on 80M with a brief run on 160 and finished on 40 M. Maybe next time I will find the time for an extended operation time.
Had fun anyway.

---

K8IJ Operated by: Chas

Great fun! Many thanks and Happy Holidays to all. Vy 73, Chas, K8IJ

---

K4CNW Operated by: Jack

Not much time for this months Sprint. Concentrated on 80 & 160. Lots of good signals. Was very pleased to work several new members with 4900+ numbers including G4ELZ and W4TF.

---

G4LMW Operated by: Rob

Shame about the poor conditions. The first hour or so were the best with 80m open to the East Coast. Delighted to work Jonathan (KB3RLI) and to be the first DX QSO in his log. His QSL received today.... what a super hand-made QSL card and a very clever way to record the QSO details !!

---

Programmed by K2RFP.
Updated: June 27, 2009 1920 UTC
Sprint Manager: Dick - K2RFP