The AM Forum

An every Monday evening net has formed beginning around 8:45 eastern time on or near 14.330 +/- due to existing SSB activity at that time. Check-ins this Monday were:

N1VIV (Joe)
AC0OB (Phil)
KJ4QVJ (Vincent)
W7HDL (George)
and myself of course :)

Joe and I have been trying to establish a AM weekly net on 20 Meters away from 14.286, which seems to have far too much sideband activity that does not respect existing AM QSOs. 20 Meters above 14.320 this time of evening is mostly void of signals whatsoever, making this area perfect for QRM free AM activity.

Please feel free to join us on any Monday, and help promote AM on 20. Obviously the more the merrier!!!

I have programmed it into my memories -- best of luck.

73,

Kevin, WB4AIO.

Sounds like fun.  If I'm home on Monday nights, I'll check in. 

73 de KX5JT John

Excellent choice. Thanks for leading the charge.

That sounds great. I will try to remember to at least check in tonight. I hope 20m is in as good shape as 80m was last night. I didn't do any transmitting, but was listening while I was working on a friend's Lafayette HA-350.

Dan

Listening now, hearing KP4 stations in some sort of net...

Hey, there is someone on there on AM calling "Seeking You"...

Hey, there is life on 20 meters (14.327)...  WA9QIB, AC0OB & WS4S so far...

Band conditions to the West of me were great.  Talked to KD6OS again and a fellow in Round Rock TX.  Both were close to S9.

As the WS4B and the other East Coasters, not even a beat note with the BFO turned on.

I apologize to anyone whose signal was obliterated by my rock crushing Apache.

See y'all next week

"  An every Monday evening net has formed "

I tried to break in, but I had no value.......  The sig levels here into C NY were solid. A few 40/9; most everyone at least an S9.


klc

  Dick,

   That be me from Round Rock, Texas. Since the skip excludes so many from hearing each other, a round table is not possible. As for me, I was on the drifto-matic VFO. I eventually went to 14.320 where my 40m 7160 rock did the deed. Maybe that is an option, to splinter off into groups above and below 14.327 +/- so those who can copy each other can actually do a little rag chewing.

The good part is the SSB QRM was mostly absent. Seems those SSB stations with SDR receivers swarm to 14.286 whenever they see a modulated carrier on that frequency, like flies on stink. If they only knew though that Angel Music does not stink.  ;D

Jim
WD5JKO

I guess I had no value either; I tried to break in several times; I not even sure there was a net control station since I never heard anyone asking for additional checkins.

As Jim points out, a round table with multiple stations on 20 meters really isn't possible especially at night when the skip is long. The net control station should take the lead in making this run smoothly. He takes a list of checkins; then starts at the top of the list with Station A; when Station A finishes transmission he turns it back to net control; net control can relate any highlights to Station A's transmission and then turns to Station B, etc. etc. In the course of the net process, if Station C has a question related to something Station B said, the question should be directed back to net control for relay to Station B. Basically, the net control is the "swinging door" station. And,  given you have multiple stations that may be listening to dead air at times, old buzzard type transmissions should be discouraged.

Pete and others:

I highly respect and agree with your concerns regarding the 20 Meter net. Unlike the lower bands, 20 has the unfortunate characteristic of "skip zones", where people simply cannot hear each other. While I was not net control, from what I could tell I think he did the best he could. Having said that I am in his skip zone, so I could rarely hear him as he is about 125 miles from me and was mostly R-2 and occasionally R-3 copy.

I observed the following check-ins, and I'm sorry if this list misses someone:

KJ4QVJ (Vince - net control)
W2IQK (Carl)
KD6OS (Ralph)
N1VIV (Joe)
WA2ROC (Rich)
W3GL (Ralph)
AC0OB (Phil)
WD5JKO (Jim)
KE1FT (Phil)
W2JBL (Chris)
and myself WS4B


I am recommending to Joe (N1VIV) and to Vincent (KJ4QVJ) that we start at least an hour earlier to allow more time for stations to check in and general participation before the band starts to close for the night. This will be particularly necessary in the upcoming weeks when we “fall back” for the autumn time change. As soon as I hear back from them, I'll post a new starting time if applicable. I really and truly thank everyone for checking in, and apologize to those who were unable to. I really feel bad about that.

It may be a better idea to have co-net controls so to speak, both in different skip zones. This is a work in progress and I am very excited so many people stopped by. As soon as I know more, I will post right away and encourage any recommendations to help make things roll smoother in future weeks.


Afterthought - Pete after re-reading your post, would you be willing to volunteer as a net control? From the sound of your above post, it sounds like you would do an excellent job. Please let me know. Thanks!

Given that there was an AM net on 14.286 for decades, I don't see why there couldn't now be one on 14.330, etc. Sure, not everyone is going to hear everyone else. It's always been that way.

Last night on 14.286 or thereabouts, I talked to K0JM in South Dakota, a W3 that lives in New Mexico and a K6 that was down in my QRM but could hear me. 

My Apache/Mohawk is happy on 20 AM.

I invited them to join us on Monday evenings on 14.330 +/-.

This new time is to allow more time for people to check-in and general partcipation before 20 closes for the evening. We will also most likely have mulitple net controllers per se, to allow for a more "structured" experience while still trying to stay informal. Moving the net back and hour could perhaps mean more SSB QRM, but hope to find a clear spot between 14.330 and 14.343.

I wish to thank everyone for their patience as we try to change and tweak things to make it a better experience for all.

Not hearing anyone.....

Net in progress John on 14.330. Condx however are TERRIBLE!!! The A-index is 31 now. Hang tight. I'll have net control in Conn give you a shout.

Ah shoot I guess I couldn't hear anyone here in Louisiana... I was really listening hard.

Jon,

   The band crapped out as Joe N1VIV turned it to you, around 7:20PM CST. I never heard another station after that. At first I thought you were making an old buzzard transmission, but know I know you never keyed the Mic.

There was an AM QSO on 14286, but to weak to copy.

Maybe next week.

Jim
WD5JKO

14286 kcs was werking yesterday (Monday) between the Pac NW and Calif.AZ, N Mex and some points North of the US border....A bit noisy and some deep QSB at times..I did my best to keep the band open from 8 AM to 6 PM...

For sure.

I did a test and then called CQ at 7:15PM Central time and the band just seemed to drop out.

Phil - AC0OB

Well as already noted, band conditions last night were horrid. Despite this circumstance, there still were a good number of check-ins. I am really hoping propagation will be much better next week. The following stations were noted to have checked-in, and I thank Dick (WA2ROC) for helping me compile this list.

W3GL (Ralph)
WA2ROC (Dick)
W2IQK (Carl)
KD6OS (Ralph)
KE1FT (Phil)
KK7TV (Randy)
W1FYI (Dick)
N1VIV (Joe)
WD5JKO (Jim)
KX5JT (John - heard by WA2ROC, but no contact)
KJ4QVJ (Vincent)
K1WIP (Bob)
and myself WS4B

As always, I apologize if this list misses someone. Have a good week, and will listen out for everyone and others next Monday.

vy 73
Brad

A index back to 36. Why Monday evenings for above average absorption? Sorry all!

  I checked in, and it turned out since I was in Texas, I was copied by several stations, and none of them could copy each other. The band was long. So I made the rounds till almost 9 PM eastern.

Stations included:

N1VIV
WA2ROC
KJ4QBJ
WS4B
KE1FT
WA1HLR
W2JBL
WB2ERS

Jim
Wd5JKO

Last night we had a pretty good turn out. Conditions were variable, and QRM came and went. We started with a carrier on 14330 that was S9+ that swayed up and down for over ten minutes. Se we moved to 14332, and that proved to open up 14330 later for a SSB QSO. That QSO kind of broke things up, but some survivors stuck it out.

Neither Brad WS4B or Joe N1VIV could attend, so Dick WA2ROC and I tried to keep things going.

Stations heard:

WA2ROC
WD5JKO
KB9ZBF
W2IQK
AA3RE
KJ4QVJ
KC0WCG / Mobile
WZ5Q / Mobile
WA6NQO
KE7TRP
KD6OS

In my opinion, Clark KE7TRP with his Viking 500 and 4 element Mosley was the "Tall Ship". That setup "Rocked".

Jim
WD5JKO

We had a good turn out tonight. Had some bad QRM with a station on 14227 USB splattering up 7 Khz or more. We persisted and he went away. Dick Wa2ROC, myself (WD5JKO), and Timtron WA1HLR took turns at net control. We were like the points of a triangle. Joe, N1VIV pitched in as well.

Stations included (could be a few more)

WA2ROC
WA1HLR
WD5JKO
W2ICK
AC0OB
KD6OS
W2CKL
WA8VRS/4
KN4M
KA5RHK
WB0KCK?

Lots of good signals tonight. Rumor has it that Brad WS4B is in Vegas, and he said a mighty hello via "text".

Jim
WD5JKO

Hmmmm, way cool!   8)  As you guys might remember, I like doing AM on the high bands.  I'll have to check this net out next Monday.  Brad, it's been a while since we tried working each other on 20m.

73,
Ellen - AF9J

Rumor is correct. I was on Freemont Street during this Monday's net. I'll certainly be back for next Monday.



Yes Ellen it's been a while. I'll certainly listen out for you. We've been having a lot of fun on 20 meter Yeah-em on Monday evenings.  :)

Fremont Street, eh?  You didn't happen to run into my brother-in-law, Bob, a black jack dealer at Binions Horseshoe, did you?

Welcome back.  Last Monday evening was fun and I think we set a record.  At lease 4 of us heard and talked to each other!

See y'all next week, same AM time, same AM channel.

I don't think so Dick. I am a 99% craps player when visiting a casino. Talk to you all on Monday!

I will be absent tomorrow evening as I am on a business trip. I hope the turnout is good.

Jim
WD5JKO

I plan to be on the air about 7:15.  You folks North and East of me may wish to take shelter.  sandy is on the way.

Tonight was good news/bad news. The good news was that the SSB QRM was non-existent, and the bad news was the time change worked against the east coast stations. The band seemed long at times, but Clark in Arizona was top dog at my Texas QTH. I could not hear Phil, AC0OB, or the west coast stations at all.

Stations heard by some:

KE7TRP, Clark on the Ranger + TBolt... The Tall ship tonight!
W2IQK Carl
W7KBT
W5FRS
N1VIV
WS4B
AC0OB
K6BHH
KC9SOE
WD5JKO

Jim
WD5JKO

Thanks Jim, sorry I could hear you tonight.

Clark was 20 over S9 here but due to the "bacon frying" noise and long band I was unable to really hear anyone else.

Hopefully, this noise will go down and maybe next Monday we can start an hour earlier.

Phil - AC0OB

 I could hear KE7TRP and others, but I couldn't get anyones attention. I cant understand why @ 200 watts carrier and a 3 element yagi. Really wanted to run my Barker & Williamson 5100 B tonight. Time change and lack of solar flares goes against me.

de AA3RE

I heard Clark and several others but nobody heard me.   Not even Jim JKO in Texas.

I hung around for an hour and then shut things down. 

I'll try again next week.

I was on frequency as well last night. For me the band was very long, and very weak. I could only hear Clark (KE7TRP) and Roger (W7KVT). I tried breaking in several times, and to no avail. I know that Clark had his beam pointed NE, which wasn't in my direction.

Oh well, hopefully condx will be better next week.

Same here in NY, I could only pick out a few stations, and very weak at that. Is the plan to start at 6:15pm (est) this Monday? Or stay with 7:15?

I cast my ballot for 6:15.

This might be necessary for the folks on/near the east coast. As for me in Texas, I could join in a bit later since I work to 5 pm (6pm EST)...This coming Monday I will be away again on a business trip.

Jim
WD5JKO

I agree with 6:15. Due to my work schedule, I doubt I'll be around for the beginning of the net, but will try and check-in as early as possible. Many may not be aware of an earlier start, so you may have mulitple later check-ins if the band holds.

I just found this post.  Thanks for the comments on me being the TALL SHIP.  Thanks alot!    Here is a video of those two tall ships:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-hui-p5Tbs&feature=share&list=UUqyZ7V9qQcpVYtDMy3CSz4g

The 4 el mosely helps :)  I am considering upgrading it to the 5 el beam one of these winters..

I the think the time change got us tonight.

I got on and never heard anyone up at 320.  I found Jon kx5jt at 286 so I started talking there and made half a dozens QSO's.  Then I was informed that everyone was up on 330.   By that time I had the BBQ grill going and had to feed the pets.

For a 6:15 start time for  eastern that would mean:

4:15 for AZ and 3:15 for CA.

It think thats a bit early for most on the west.  I am normaly home from work at 3 or 4 so that does work for me.

I will catch you guys next week and if any of you want to get on more then one night a week by all means let me know!  I love 20 meter AM!

C

I jumped on early...With a ssb net on 14.330, I started to tune around. Plenty of activity. Found KE7TRP and a fellow who had never worked AM before on 14.286. Up a bit on 14.320, were some West Coast stations, and another group on 14.335. By the time I tuned down to 14.330, the net was winding down and the band was dropping out. Good Show.

I will try next Monday, Bob K9ING

What time are we gonna start things tonight?

I eat dinner at 6 PM EST.

You can call me anything you want except late for dinner.

I will be on tonight with the J500.  Probably around 4:30 AZ time

C

I give up. Nobody can nail down a time or frequency. I waited on 320 for an hour.  Talked to a couple guys who said nobody was there yet.  Sat and waited and then decided there was no net. Spun around and did not hear anyone else.

I called out one last time and the guys agreed no net tonight they gave up and so did I. Turned the vfo up one last time and found the net on a different freq ending.  Keyed down and was answered and told to check in, I did, I unkeyed and dick was keyed down doubling with me the entire time :(


C

Life is hard on 20 meters.   8)   Thank goodness for panadapters.

A couple of guys on AM... sounds like a good time... so what no net?  Heat up the ionosphere!! :)

I was monitoring around 5pm central and I heard a "DX net" of some sort on 14.332 usb
Made a few calls on 14.286 AM which was free at the time.... no responders.

We where waiting for the rest of the group to start the net which never happend I guess. Its a great idea but no firm time or frequency so its been touch and go the last two weeks. 

Sorry I was doubling with you Clark.  I called a few times and nobody answered. 

There was a W7 in Oregon that was copying the New England aqnd quite well.  I spoke to him but not VOV and company.

No excuses here...

  I was away on another business trip. Last night I checked with Brad WS4B via text, and he too was away. So Pete is right about 20m being tough. You kind of have to roll with the punches, and make the best of it. Maybe if situations are chaotic, move off 10 Khz one way or the other, and call CQ. That is kind of what happened two weeks ago when I counted four frequencies being held by AM'ers. This was at 14286, 14320, 14330 (net), and 14335. It was chaos for sure, but glorious in that 20m had such a large AM presence.

Jim
WD5JKO

The name of the AM game is presence; 10 stations on one frequency or 10 stations on 4 frequencies. I would take the latter.

How about one station on all the frequencies at the same time?

Do Class E rigs now work on 20 meters ??

So, what time should we start tonight?

I'll try to be around by 7 PM EST.  14.330 or thereabouts

Brian, W1LYD and Ralph KD6OS are on 14286 AM at this time, come and join us.

KD6OS and KE7TRP on 14328 AM at this time.

Will be checking in around 7:30 eastern. I just can't get on until then. I hope the band will still be open at that time.

Brad
WS4B

Hi Brad, we are still on 14328 am.

Spoke briefly with KE7TRP on 14.330...Then the QSB took over.

I moved around a bit from 26 to 30..  I just followed people as they came on.  No formal net. But did have a good time and made some contacts on the J500/HRO60 into 4 el mosely at 60 ft, 375 watts AM carrier:


W2CKL Bob dx60-collins - dipole north south
kx4?  Forgot Call
Ka7ISV  Ranger and HQ160 with open wire 80 meter dipole
wd6jko  JIM on the Gonset with "gunther" GSB 201 amp.
kd6os Ralph on his 706 and 4-400 amp
Bryan w1LYD (could not copy to well)
n4zed
Thought I heard Phil... Never heard again.

Not bad! 

C

Don't be afraid to move your beam further south than straight NE. There are those of us in 4 land that are due east of you. (If not slightly ESE like in my case in S. central Florida)

Not being critical, just saying. You might hear us better, and make the experience better for everyone when looking for check-ins.

I heard only Jim JKO and Clark TRP but just when the QSB was "up".

Nothing or nobody after that.

I tuned around and all 20 meter signals were down, probably band conditions in general.

QRT at 8:30 EST

We'll keep tryin'....

I can move the beam down east more. I dont chase the beam as the controller is in the ham shack at the other end of the house.  I will try due east next time.

C

Yes, I tried to check in Clark (I was running 300+ watts carrier) but apparently the QSB and general band conditions wouldn't allow it.

I did hear some OP's in the background but they were in the noise.

Phil - AC0OB

I'll try to be there at 7:00 PM EST tonight.  14.330 or thereabouts

Anyone else???

Sounds like a plan.

That is 4 pm PST...I am crystal controlled and only have 14286 and 14250...I will listen for you guys...The band doesn't sound too good this morning....

I had one rig tuned to 14.286 or so, and another on 14.330.  I started out at 6:45 PM EST and every so often out out a call on each frequency. 

I heard nothing.  Nada.  Zip.  Zilch.

Not even SSB-ers.

Shut down and went back to the house at 9 PM.

Yeah 20 meters was bad yesterday...I monitored off and on all day and there wasn't much activity  AM, CW or SSB...Better condx on the way

I was in Hel paso texas.  Maybe next monday I can make it.

C

I wasn't able to get on until about 7:00 PM eastern last night. Band sounded like six meters, not a single signal to be found anywhere. When Joe (N1VIV) and myself (along with a few others) started this many months ago, evening band condx on 20 were so much better. It's now very frustrating to say the least as of late.

Cycle 24 as a whole has been a complete disappointment. I hope things will improve, but I'm getting jaded about it all. As others, I'll try again next week.

I too was on, made a few calls, nada.

Longer days in spring should help...I hope.

Jim
WD5JKO

I probably won't be monitoring tonight.  We have T-Storms heading this way and I'd rather not try to fight the lightning bolts. 

Maybe next week.

I just had QSO with Steve KL7OF on 14286 AM, Checked out 14330 at 6pm CT heard no AM at all.
Maybe next week. Steve is still listening on 14286 AM if someone would like to call him.
73 Ralph

I heard Steve KL7OF calling CQ at about 4:30 PM EST and I answered him with my PW 100 watt Apache.

 He responded,  but only "WA2 something", so he did hear me.

I also got on at about 8:00 PM EST on 14.330 and the whole band was dead like door nails.

See y'all next week....

This net seemed to fizzle out as the winter solstice approached. Now that we are past that, and the days are getting longer, is there any plans to get this going again?

Jim
WD5JKO

I would be willing to give it a try next Monday evening.

What time and what frequency?

330?

286?

Due to my work/family schedule, it's very hard for me to get on before 7:00 PM eastern. IMHO .330 is usually better because of less slop bucket QRM. I'll tune in this coming Monday evening as soon as I can to hear any AM signals on either frequency. If I don't, I'll throw out some CQs on or near .330.

I will try to get on 14.330 +/- between 6-6:30 PM central tonight....

Jim
Wd5JKO

Well, I tried last night at 14330 and 14286. The noise was down, and some very good signals...none from areas already dark though. After several long CQ's on each frequency I moved on. Seems encouraging if we can get some mid west stations and west coasters to participate. Looks like it might be a month or so before 7:30pm EST will work for those on the east coast.

Jim
WD5JKO

Band must have closed down for the night here in Florida by 7:00 PM, as I didn't hear much of anything on 20. I agree, we may be several months away before better evening conditions.

Cycle 24 really frustrates me. Remember a band like 20 being open 24 hours a day to somewhere? Maybe cycle 25...............

If you guys are hot for some net action, why not do it on a weekend morning or afternoon.

I have tried 20 meter AM on weekend days from time to time, mostly on .286 by calling CQs. It's hard because there are a lot of what I call "Geritol nets" occurring on evil slop bucket near that frequency. I choose .286 as that is the most likely place to get a decent response. One might as well forget it on a major contest weekend.

Having said all that, if someone (or plural) would like to try a Saturday or Sunday morning/afternoon on 20, by all means let me know! I usually spend my time on the weekend near 21.420 as that is usually more productive for Yeah-em. However I am not adverse "establishing" something on the weekend that can accommodate most everyone else's schedule.

At 47, I'm still a working class guy. Thus weekdays are out for me for another 20 years or so.       :)

I was listening on 20 last night, about 7 pm central, and there was a AM QSO going on at 14306. These were all guys unfamiliar to me, using modern rigs, and fast break-in. One was in Arizona, another in Florida, and the third in Pennsylvania. I heard all three, and I broke in for a while to exchange reports, and chatted a bit. A nice bunch of guys.

To the point of this thread, it seems 20m is back, and going at least an hour past sunset...Those guys were still going up to about 8 pm...fading more, but still there.

I might be out of town this coming Monday, but if I'm home, I'll put out a few calls on 14330 around 6:30pm Central.

Jim
WD5JKO

With Daylight savings time a-coming, should we start up the net again? Brad?? Joe?? Dick??

Jim
WD5JKO

What time and what frequency?


John N2XD

We were holding the start time to 7 PM or so local time, which would be 7 PM EDST next Monday night.

We attempt to be on 14.330 +- a bit

I logged on AMfone today wanting to suggest just that! I love it when great minds think alike.  :)

I agree with daylight savings, 20 should be much more accomdating to early evening activity. I'll be on at 7:00 PM eastern on or just above 14.330 this coming Monday. Let's get this thing going again! I know the interest is there, so lets do it!!!

I am happy to report we had a nice little turn out this evening. Following check-ins were:

W8GPA (Rupe)
WD5JKO (Jim)
N1VIV (Joe)
N2XD (John) - on beautiful sounding 20V3
KD6OS (Ralph)
NE1S (Larry)
And myself

The band held out until about 8:15 eastern, and the group disbanded near that time. All could hear each other for the exception of Ralph and Jim. Slop bucket QRM was present for about the first 15 minutes or so, and then it was relatively quiet. I think we have this going again, and hope to hear more check-ins in the weeks and months to come

CUL on 14.330 AM !!

OK tonight we had a nice little turn out once again.

The stations were:

W8GPA, Rupe at Jackson, Ohio

WA2ROC, Dick at Durham, NC

KD6OS, Ralph at Porum, Ok

W6PSS, Dave at Kansas City, Mo

WD5JKO, Jim at Round Rock, Texas

At my QTH, Dave W6PSS was the Tall Ship

The net went on almost an hour, and most of the stations copied each other. The exception was Ralph and I were just too close to each other...

Jim
WD5JKO

Hope to catch all of you next week.Had thunderstorms here in western nc last evening.


John N2XD

I was absent too last night as well John. I had an evening meeting to go to that ran late. I'll be back next Monday for sure. Thanks Jim (JKO) for posting the check-ins!!

Tonight there was a very good group of check-ins for the net which was held on 14.340 this evening due to already existing SSB activity on or near .330 at 7:00 PM eastern. Most could hear each other, and it was a fantastic sounding group I must say with good signals!

KD6OS (Ralph)
WA2ROC (Dick)
N2XD (John)
NE1S (Larry)
W1LYD/VY1 (Brian)
and myself.

We all hung in there until around 8:20 PM, when the band started to shift too much and everyone started to lose copy on each other in a net/roundtable manner.

After the net concluded, I worked KC9SOE in KY and N3PPO in MD on .340. Both were peaking S-9 running 25 watt riceboxes, and may join us in following weeks to come. All in all it was a really good evening, with the QRM on 14.340 being non-existent.

To be continued next Monday.............