The AM Forum

Anyone have any news on the Heavy Metal Rally for this year and when it will occur?  Who intends to participate? This will be my first with the 813 Maul.

Hi Bob,

I just received my copy of ER the other day. The Rally is scheduled for Dec. 27th, and begins at 6:30 PM EST.

I for one will be participating, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Hope this helps!

73,

Bruce

Hi Bruce,
I haven't received my issue of ER yet.  Maybe today.  Thanks for the heads up.  Looking forward to it.  Hopefully some of the big guns will be there.  They've been hiding lately.

I'll be back on 80m by then.

Maybe this year, "down low" will be a popular place to park.

After all, contests are exempt from any voluntary band coordination and have the right-of-way over all other activity.

Riiiight ????

Just contests...?

That's day to day activity, I thought.......

Excuse my ignorance , but what is this Heavy Metal Rally?

Is this another regional, East Coast thing? ???

We landlocked ethanol types in the Midwest want to know ;D

Thanks

Phil - AC0OB

Will someone post this years rules? Yeah, I know, it is more of a AM promotion thing. Just want to make sure the Junkston Desk still qualifies ;D

Craig,

the muddy water slappa only weighs 100 pounds, not heavy enuff to qualify.

That's all right, the HB rigs will. yeh, somebody post the rulez.

Hi Phil,

It's a nationwide on-the-air operating event featuring the heaviest AM rigs, as defined by a combination of weight and power.

The event was conceived by Bill, KDØHG a few years ago, and there's a trophy and published accolades for the winner. 

Top stations have been defined, at least in part, by the numerical count of stations worked during the hours of operation.  I think there also has been a popularity poll among remarks sent in.

For some people, myself included, enjoying the turnout is more important than filing a log or trying to work the maximum number of stations.

In years past, myself and Bob, W2ZM, co-anchored a frequency and took turns all night funneling stations through. Some people would stay, and we would chat, others would come and go, collecting the calls of those gathered.  It worked well, because it served both the contest-types and those who wanted to sit and visit.

Bob put in 14 hours straight, and I put in about 11 that year.

Put the Slappa inside the fridge and use it as the cooling system. Pow, instant 600lb tx'er.

my ol buddy Parker in Romney W8HSC actually built a transmitter in a fridge. I saw pictures of it last time I ran over there to visit. he didnt have any money to buy a rack so he used the fridge instead. Did a great job. had the meters mounted on the door, which worked the same way.

I miss park, he was a good guy.

I'd love to see the pictures if you have them somewhere!

Parker & W8HSC rang a bell. Had to dig out the old logs, found Parker and his address, worked him Oct. 26, 1979. I use to pass through Romney once or twice a year.

Craig,

There was that fella that was in ER that had the 'Kelvinator Kilowatt'. Now that was a kool rig, (pun intended). And would qualify for Heavy Metal Rally.

THIS coming Sunday, kids!

After mounting the Viking Bud, it's variac, VFO, Amplifryer and audio gear in the 6' rack I made 260 Lbs of "legal limit" A.M. !!!

I'll be there!

Look for W7W from Tum Tum, WA.....20 meters, 75 meters and 160 meters.....I have really enjoyed the Rally in the past....I'll be looking for YOU!!

I'll have to re-tune the MK-214D for 160m. Its been awhile since I played with it down there but nothing like 'rock solid'  ;)

BILL,
Nice to see the LED VU going into the red every now and then

Fred

I'm looking forward to listening in on this.  Maybe participate next year if I have anything heavy.

This is really a come one, come all event for AM. Call it the CQ sweepstakes evening for A-ngel M-usic. In the last 10 years of listening and participating I have heard and worked some of the finest sounding stations in the country. many of which (unfortunately) only hit the plate switch once or twice a year. This is big Rob and I hope conditions are good. Get that transmitter on the air and to heck with the points. Lets all get on and have a real fine AM night.

Mike
www.w8bac.com

Okay Mike but I'm currently running a plastic radio driving an amp.  I think you have to meet a weight or power requirement.  It's not a big deal; I'm happy to listen.   Maybe by next year I'll have the HT20 going and the outboard plate supply for the amp built.  I'll strap them all together with duct tape and they should weigh > 300 lbs.   :D

A couple of you asked for the "rules"....

Here you find them:


http://www.ermag.com/forum/thread.cfm?TID=236

 KØA will be on the air from Kansas City.
Millen heavy metal this year.

250lbs or 250 watts AM.   Anyone can participate but if you turn in your logs, you should be 250w or 250lbs+ of transmitter.

I am going to run the GK500C.   I have three RXers in the room for recieving on diff bands.  All my other rigs are to small in power or not functioning so I am with the one.

ALOT of people dont take this seriously and ALOT of people bend the rules..  So do what ever you want to have fun. Thats the point fun.  I know several that will be running Flex radios and Alphas. I know a guy running a ranger and an SB220. 

Its just a great time for AM and have fun and enjoy it!

Clark

Is there any problem with participating if your rig doesn't meet the qualifications?

I realize you can't win and would be disqualified if you submitted logs, but can you get on and rack up QSOs just for the fun of it?

I guess you can.  I think I took the "heavy metal" part too literally.   

Fred said:

Now that is a sweet looking rig, Fred!

Seems like we all do it for fun and so few send in logs that, with a  bit of luck, nobody will except some guy with a Soft Rock and take the trophy.

K9A will be rocking the 8000's on 75 meters with my eyes glued to the Ip meter to make sure I don't go to radio jail.

I will make a few puffs on 160 with the 810 rig but the Heavy Metal takes priority.

And of course, I will be streaming audio and video all night on

http://stickam.com/k9act

If you sign up at sitckam (free) your face will be there too.

Jack K9A

Yep.. Anyone in AZ that is not going to participate is more then welcome to come to my house for coffee and AM action on Sunday Dec27th. We are starting at 4:30pm

C

Mike (who I thought was Fred) said:
Heh, heh! My bad! I looked your call sign up and inadvertantly dropped the 'A' from KA0ARA.  :P Thirty lashes with a spaghetti noodle for me.....

 All 's Good..... Mike
Hope to work ur station Sunday, Sunday ,Sunday!!!!

Are there any changes in the rules from last year?  There was some talk about the rules being modified, but I haven't seen or heard anything with respect to this.

Can someone post the rules for 2009?  That would be great  :D

Thanks and Regards,

Steve

I posted the link to the rules yesterday.... but here's a cut'npaste.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd like the contest to start at 6:30 PM Eastern Standard time. That's 5:30 Central,4:30 Mountain, and 3:30 PM Pacific time. There is no official stop time, it stops when everyone gets tired or the band gives out.

What is the Heavy Metal Rally? The Heavy Metal Rally is a night for friendly AM QSOs, and it is open to anyone using commercial ham gear, restored broadcast, military, homebrew, anything that's AM capable. This is an AM event!


The Rules Suggested Frequencies: 1885 kc east of the Mississippi, 1915 kc west; 3830 kc, 3870-3890 kc, 7160 and 7290 kc nationwide. Let's not forget the possibility of working some European stations on 40 meters this year! Simple Scoring: You get 1-point-per-contact on each different band. If you work the same station on both 80 and 160 it counts for two points.

You get 1 additional point per contact if you are using all tube-type heavy metal.

There is 1 point for each different state worked. So, if someone works 20 stations in 10 different states with a Johnson 500 (for example), the score is: 20 contacts + 10 states + 20 tube points = 50.

Qualifications The idea behind the Heavy Metal Rally is to encourage the use of big tube-type transmitters that run the full legal limit. The winner should be running a rig weighing 250 pounds or running at least 250 watts. This includes big homebrew, military, and vintage commercial ham gear, and Class-E solid-state rigs as long as they meet the qualifications. For example, some vintage Navy rigs weighed in at over 300 pounds, but only produced 100 watts of carrier, that's still Heavy Metal! I suppose this includes the K7DYY transistor rigs too because they run the full legal AM limit. An imported transceiver running 25 watts into a heavy Henry amplifier qualifies too, but are these really what the Heavy Metal Rally is about?

We welcome the participation and the sound of smaller transmitters like Elmac AF-67s and Viking Rangers, Valiants, DX-100s, ART-13s, etc., but you can't win unless you're running a Heavy Metal rig! This is Heavy Metal night!

Contest Log Submissions Completed logs should be sent by email to Ray@ERmag.com or by US mail to the Electric Radio address printed inside the rear cover. Please have your point totals calculated when you send in your log, and be sure to mention the equipment used during the rally, and don't forget the photos! Last year the winner got a nice Heil Classic microphone, and we will have a prize this year for the event winner. I would like to run a special photo column with photos from this year's event, so don't forget to send me photos this year!

Have Fun and Keep Those Filaments Lit!

[Edited by nb9m on 12/17/09 01:15 PM]

Wow, 6:30PM Eastern - Late!  Last year I think I started in at around 8:00AM or so, and continued until midnight.

Interesting that there's no stop time.  Does that mean it could go on for days  ;D  ???

OKAY!

Last issue of ER, 5:30am(?) stop time next morning.

EVERY night should be a Heavy Metal Night.

Maybe even Tim and Marcy are back from the honeymoon.

I heard Tron on this afternoon.

Wouldn't you know it, last night all of the transmitter meter readings looked screwy and it looks like Mr. 304 is going gassy after 5 years.

Just dropped a 'new' JAN 1947 bottle in, reset bias, neutralized and loaded up.
Hopefully no more Murphy for a while.

Same here Bill. RF in the audio of the Viking Bud. Outta nowhere!!!

Re-wired the studio. It looks gone but we'll see!

Murphy was an optimist!

My imported exciter does not measure up.  :'(

Still in the lightweight division. I'll listen in on a heavy receiver the 75A2 or the RAO.

I have my 'Limey Rig' at the ready. I'm hoping to hook up with Max from across the pond on 40M so that it may speak to the land whence it came  ;)

If'n you can squeeze 250 whats outta the leenyar yer covered, Tim

The only date I have seen is Dec 27, 6:30 PM EST.

This would be Sunday night and not much fun for the working class.

Saturday night would make more sense and is probably what was meant.

Would someone please confirm the date?

Jack K9A

Jack, It is indeed 12/27.

Last year people complained that it was over Xmas.  It was changed to the 27th sunday. This year, Everyone is complaining that its on sunday and that people have to work on monday.  Its a no win I guess :)


Unreal..   Murphys law steps in.   THe king ran rock solid.. now, its arcing again when I unkey!  Right before the Rally. 

C

The breaker will go poof. I am this close to taking the damn cover offa that box myself and trying the snap on choke thing. To me it's like opening a box to hellfire & brimstone  ;D