The AM Forum

Been sitting here. Made 4 contacts on 3855.  AZ and CA.  No other AM heard on any of the bands. 40 is full of AM broadcast.  20 and 10 are silent.  Calling on 3885 now. I know the band is open because I can hear the SSbers.


Clark

A nice group on 7.280, W9AD and K9ACT holding court. Hope to hear ya.

Mike/W8A

I'm trying to get my wife to dig a path out to the Radio Lodge.

Give me a few.  
We've got 2 feet of snow and she's only 3 feet above it.

Monitoring 50.4 and 29.0, both dead here. Firing up on lower bands now..........Larry

I am in 5 contacts now. I just hit Washington state on 14.286.  Nice.    Back on 3885 talking to CA now. Great signal.   Best action is on 20 meter AM right now.  I think I will tune the T3 up there.

C

Well I'm not 'officially' in the contest (yet) but have worked 3710/3715 this am;
AB4JK, Bob, Hopewell, Va
W9AB, DAve, MEXICO via internet to ILL. Flex 5000A (think of the points he'll get.)
VE6PG, Tim (rough copy/incomplete)
WA0STX/4 John, Hamilton Va
W4PNT, Dee, near Waynsboro, VA.
W3HM, Howard, Harpers Ferry, WV.

-and am listening to Derb hollering his lungs out on 3865.
Think I'll turn the 813 back on and work him.
 

Band is short.  Cant work you guys yet.


7:24   3855   w8qbg   george   Mesa AZ   Bauer 707   
7:57   3855   k7jeb   Jim   Scottsdale AZ   Kenwood-HL2200   
7:58   3855   k6cja   KEN   Hisperia CA   6146 X 6146 HB Collins Rxer   
8:34   14286   kw7y   paul   washinton State   Valiant-Heavy SSB interference. Slopbucketeers strike again
8:36   3885   w6fe   John   Chula Vista CA   Flex 5000/amp-Says I still have HUM!   
                  

I'm at work!!! >:(

Taking a break to get errands done and to get some breakfast.  Back on 40 at 7290 around 11 am.

C

came in for lunch and to save my voice. will be holding court down the band - anywheres above 3820 or so.   Going right back out after i eat. 7 contacts so far.

Nice day in the Rockies and I'm outside pitching firewood today, I'll be on 75 & 160 beginning this evening.

Back on the air. 7293 AM.  Got Bill w7HB in here full blast. 

C

I am on 14,286. Worked Dave, N8YHP in WV. Now I hear multiple stations on at the same time. Is there an alternate 20M AM frequency besides 14,286?

Jim
WD5JKO

another point that needs to be noted: 3 of my contacts were from ops that had am gear but had not been on in years. One of them had a DX-100 that had been sitting idle for 3 years until today. So the "contest" is bringing out some people.

14.290 and 14.293 for 20 meters.  Worked 14.293 just a while ago. 

Lots of action on 7293 here!   

C

Have fun guys ...


"8:36   3885   w6fe   John   Chula Vista CA   Flex 5000/amp-Says I still have HUM! "

Clark,  I hope that FE John was not being too smug !

73   Vic

Just my notes..  John saw some PS hum on my signal.  Nice guy and friend.

Ok.. Worked 14!   40 meters is going strong. also hearing lots of CQ with no returns on 20 meters.

C

2pm eastern...

someone just threw the big switch.....

Signals on 75, 40 and 20 just dropped right out of the picture....

Hopefully that'll change this evening!

Oh man.  The bands went dead. Nothing on now. Just CA stations that are real weak.  I will keep trying.  Its 85 in this room with the T368 and Sp600. Been going non stop for an hour now.

Clark

The action in AZ is on 14.286.  I hear a number of AM stations going on 20.  I made 17 contacts so far.  Mainly in the last hour on 40 meters.

C

calling cq now 7.240

I heard KW7H on 21425 5-9+ on 15m!!!

I am now on 15m at 21417 calling CQ... Come on up and join the party!!

Jim
WD5JKO

Nothing heard on 15 meters.  Maybe the band. I can hear a FULL SCALE broad cast station at 21525 so I know the radio is working.

C

I'm at 21416.1 calling CQ AM every 5 minutes or so with 150 watts RF out into my 80M Windom...

I got chased off frequency by a W7 net operator saying my LSB is 3.5 Khz wide!!!

Now on 21429.2 calling CQ. 15m WIDE OPEN!!!

Jim
WD5JKO

I dont hear you on 15.. Sorry. I tried. 

Still on 7293.  Big signals.  Mainly West coast. Band is short.  I have 21 contacts so far.  I really need to figure out how to mute this Sp600.  Its a real pain to short key this T3 and have to cut the audio off the Sp600.

C

Next time you're in there, underneath just lift a lead on the Send/Rec switch and bring it out on shielded HV wire to a relay. There's a few hundred volts on there, be careful.

Talking with VE6KQ from Calgury now on 21429......

About to break 30 contacts in the log.  Still traffice on 7293!  Getting tired now. Its hot in the room. The T3 overcame the ambient air in the room.. LOL. 

Going to move to 75 soon.

C

wd5jko.. I hear you loud and clear on 7290.  I called but you keyed up to fast with your Friend.

C

Worked a bunch on 75/80 M.

Took a chance & tried 20 M around 5:45 ish Pm....Was thrilled to briefly work on 14.286
K4CWW operating W6SAI Bill Orr Legacy Club station.  Signals went kapuut shrtly thereafter.  But anything to do with Bill Orr was still a gas for me.... ;)


That Red cover (1970's) west coast handbook was and still is my favorite radio book reference.

 ;D

I am at 35 contacts now. Getting tired. Back on 75 meters now. Nailed two contacts in the first 5 minutes on this band.

I feel sorry for the guys that decided to rag chew about Drake gear on the 3875!

Clark

I went and took a nap.  :P now making dinner. condx dont look so good at the moment but there are plenty in there slugging away between the slopbucket QRM. be back after dinner until the end. Not being able to get on 40 really sucked. I coulda made a lot of contacts if I had a 40 meter antennna up.

Dont feel bad about 40.. I dont have a life. Everyone is out of town and or busy so I would be sitting around in this office working anyways!

I hope I can make contact with you later on man!

C

HAY!

The band is fine. Come on down. Been CQing on 3705.

Bill.. Your 50 Over!  But I am not an extra. Sorry.   I am on 3870. Just a Yung buck General.

I was listening on 3870, but the SSB QRM is horrendous.

Yeah. Thats crazy. Those guys are yelling and screaming at Amers right now.  What a bunch of A-holes.  Its an AM community contest and some of us are rock bound. The 75 meter band is open and they wont move!

I am on 1885 now. Great signals.

C

As AMers, we still have "incentive licensing" !  On the 80 meter band, in the ghetto, during prime time, it's very difficult and crowded.... nice open spaces available down below with plenty of elbow room on the extra portion.  It's a pleasure to open up my rcvr to 15khz and listen to AM without the squawking of nearby QSO's.  Of course 40 meters at night makes the 7.290, 7.295 nearly impossible with broadcasts coming in, and the extra portion is BEGGING for some more AM activity!

I encourage all the extras to operate MORE in the extra portions and I encourage upgrading to extra class if you aren't yet!

Somewhere around 50 contacts now.   On 4 bands.  Been working since 7am.  About to lose my voice. Not sure I can do much more. Plus, The storm is comming in.  I am hearing lighting crashes big time. 

Sitting on 3880.. HUGE Group out there around KS,MO, ARK, OK.

C

Now I know why I haven't worked many of you guys--you have all been above 75 m.  I've been on 75 all day and in early evening moved to 1880 where I've been since.  Worled W9AD, KB9YSJ, HUZ a.k.a. W3Z, and Budley a.k.a. W8C.  worked Don KYV on 3860 earlier with Jack ACT and Jack W9T on 3875 where he was holding forth for hours (I sure don't have that stamina) running his Marine TX with a gigantic signal in here from his 3 wire dipole and romote controlled tuner, and other assorded stations I can't remember so pse forgive me as i killed too many brain cells over the years.  Early this morning worked a few guys amongst the Classic Radio pre-Net on 3885 and Harry, N9CQX the net control kindly asked everyone to give their tx information when it came their turn for Rally purposes to try to fold it into the net.  I also have noticed some new (to me) AM signals today so I also think it has brought a few dormant AMers to life.

Lots of New AM people on.  I have a large number of contacts here in AZ from guys never used AM before. I am happy about this.  Am Contests are flawed for the numbers though.  I talked to all of these guys. Not just a call and a 5/9 and gone.  Every one of them I talked to an we went back around.  I was stuck with a Crappy band and a stormy West coast. I did the best I could. I am glad I stuck in. This transmitter belonged to a good Friend who lost the battle with cancer. I am sure he would be very happy to see this thing keyed down all day like this.  I bet I keyed the thing 1000 times or more. Its actualy making full power and has been since 7 am.  I really dont think the GK500 would have lived through this.

Still sitting here at 9:25 PM AZ time.  Don and Bruce are talking right along on 3875.  When they pass it, There is a HUGE pile up of AM carriers.. LOL. I dont have the voice to get in there. Don is Running the show right now.

Clark

Thats it for me.   I worked 4 bands from 7am to 11pm.  I am shot. 61 AM QSO's.  I will email log off.  Turning T3 off. It deserves a rest. What a hell of a transmitter.  Running full power all day with out issue. 

Clark

most successful AM operating event I've ever seen. Cant wait to do it all over again next year. This has got to be a annual deal. It's a winner. Everybody send on in ur logs even if you were just a casual op.

I wish I had 40 and 160 going - 75 was crap here a good part of the daytime,  so no production. during that time.

only one gripe: not enough spreading out. 75 was xtal clear from 3810 to 3870 at one point after 11pm Sat night, but from 3870 to 3885 was 5 seperate qso's . QAt he same time I was calling CQ Rally on 3840 crystal clear frequency, but hard to raise contacts because nobody wants to tune. Where was the West Coast?

thanks to all that worked Kilowatt 8 America. lets do it again next year.

Sounds like you guys had fun.....Sorry I couldn't participate.......I was traveling yesterday from way before dawn until late afternoon and wound up at a destination far away from the radios...I would especially liked to have been able to operate on 20...Next year for sure.....73    Steve KL7OF

Everyone must be ragged out.   Nothing on now but the DX60 net.  ;D

Lot of fun, even just listening to all the signals.

Kilowatt Eight America probably had the most fun from what I heard.

Well I've logged hundreds of contacts so there's no need for you guys to submit your logs. Looks like the Cadillac Escalade grand prize is all mine! lol

Hat's off to the organizers for a great day!

Wow! What a great event.  I was going to try other bands, but so much activity on 75M, I just stayed there.  Worked lots and lots of stations and heard KE7TRP late in the evening, but had to finally QRT before I could work him.  I hope the wonderful reception for this activity and the obvious high level of participation encourages holding more of these in the future!

73, Jack, W9GT

I had a great time working the rally on 1.885 last night. Never left that frequency!  It was good to work NE1S, W3Z, K2PG, KC2IFR, W2XAM, W3SCC, K1KBW, KA2QFX, W2GEZ, WA2PJP, KD3HT, K1BF, W4PNTand WA1GFZ.

Todd, KA1KAQ was down visiting Steve WB3HUZ (W3Z).  It was great hearing Todd on top band. 

W2XAM was using his converted Harris MW-1A which he converted to 160.  I have over the years worked a lot of tube BC rigs but this was the first solid state converted BC rig.  It sure sounded good. 

Joe, W3GMS     

160 was a blast last night. Good interesting old buzzard transmissions while i worked on projects.

Yep, it was a very well-attended event.  I enjoyed both hanging out and rag chewing in various pubs (most of the time) as well as working a pileup later in the night of western stations on 3875.

There were many new AMers who said they had been listening to AM "all over the band" and decided to give it a try for the first time. It sounded like an AM hamfest convention. Perhaps 60% of the calls I've never heard before.  Fabio performed flawlessly.

Later on at about 10:30PM Don/K4KYV was taking a break from 3875 and I offered to keep the freq warm for him. I called for west coast and stations who haven't worked east coast yet. Thought I'd give some of the weaker stations a chance to get in. There was a fast run of contacts for a good hour. The highlight of the event for me was when Jackko from Finland, OH1TX was there for the schedule on 3765 split 3870. Steve/HUZ and I both worked him. We tried several times to connect him with USA AMers on 3870 and 3875, but conditions were down and Jackko had to pass. Too bad.

The strangest event of the day was at about 2:30 PM when I called into the "Ladies" on 3885. I transmitted for about 60 seconds and then unkeyed. I heard nothing. There was a faint female voice in the noise, that's it. Turns out we had a big time solar flare. The band then became chaos as people called and called and then went outside looking at their antennas. I got fooled too.... ;D  Conditions slowly came back, as usual, but the band was squirrelly the whole day afterwards.

Still, there was enough activity to continuosly move around the 75M band (and other bands) and not talk with the same people twice. I noticed the regular ssb groups between 3860 and 3890 were gone most of the night on 75M.

Mission accomplished . It's well worth it to plan another event.

Tom -  AM Special Event Station, K1J

One of the girls was very overmodulated but I was in there for a while after 3875. I heard the buckshot and tuned in. I tool a break around 1230 to make a batch of sauce for my Son's birthday and then took a short nap, so missed the flare.
75 seemed weird later so did 160 for the rest of the time.

They did a great job.

Many thanks to Jack, Dubya Niner Tango for handling traffic on 3.875 last night.

Phil - AC0OB

Yes I agree it was a great event and tnx to the organizers.  We'll definitely have to do it again.

Jack W9GT had a huge signal in here on 75.  Ditto for Don K4KYV. 

Late last night I worked KN9N who was running a SDR1000 driving an AL811H for 150 w. to a sloper and he sounded great.  I was his first or second AM QSO with his Flex radio and we had a nice 1 hour QSO on 1880 until about 15 minutes after midnight at which point I packed it in.  I had gotten to the point where I was confusing controls, adjusting audio level when I wanted to adjust carrier.   That when I know it's time to flip the big switch and hit the sack.

<< Todd, KA1KAQ was down visiting Steve WB3HUZ (W3Z).  It was great hearing Todd on top band.  >>

So THAT'S who that was!!  Steve, Dave W9AD and I couldn't pull the identity of ur visitor out of the fade.  When I asked for a repeat you had moved on.  I asked Dave if he had heard the identity of the mysterious visitor and he said no.   I figured I'd find out later on and I did!  Good to work you Todd even if I didn't know who you were at the time  :D

Rob

I had the same problem, I got tired late in the game. I was making mistakes and it was harder and harder to get call signs down. 

C

*nod* Sorta like when we tried it on 40 last spring, except this time I could understand what you were saying.  ;D

We were getting out to the more ragged edge of conditions for longer haul stuff by then, I guess. When we worked W3GMS and others earlier, it was as if they were sitting in the room with us. Joe has some of the cleanest, smoothest audio on the air so it's always a pleasure to hear his station.

Especially enjoyed hearing folks discuss their original Novice stations, including the bit from WA2PJP about his mom bringing him home a relay from the AT&T CO there. The roundtables were enjoyable as were the few break-in sessions that blossomed.

And it was good that Dave could make it in remote from Mexico. I wonder if that makes him a DX contact or some massive multiplier for running AM Remote?   ;)