The APRN 80 Meter Net was all abuzz!!!!!

That's right, Del NW8I Net control for the APRN 80m net had some sort of line noise that just wiped out his receive. So, Dean AC0BG jumped in and did some great work to salvage the evening. Great job guys and once again that just goes to show how 2 Hams working together can get the job done!!!!!
Tonites check ins were:
Del NW8I, OH
Dean AC0BG, IA
W2IF Scott KY
KD8JPQ Jeff OH
KD8KWD John WV
KJ4CMG Berb KY

Thanks to all that checked in and a BIG THANKS to Dean for stepping in!!!!!

Through rain, snow and the dark of night.....The 160m net takes off Sunday Night!!!!

Yup, time flies when your havin fun and K7DLB is once again preparing for the APRN 160m net on Sunday night at 0100 UTC (9pm Eastern). This weeks topic will be dangers to your preps. We will talk about Rats, Mice, bugs and other things that can ruin your day if they get into your food storage.
So, come one, come all and join in the discussion on 1.860 LSB!!!!!

Short List!!!! GREAT Conversation!!!!!!!

The APRN 160 meter net went off as scheduled tonite and the check in list was short but we were long on the conversation!!!! We had an open mike night with a topic kicker about water pumps. Here is a website with a TON of info that EVERYBODY should check out!!!! http://www.backwoodssolar.com/.
Tonites check in list:

W4DMH Dave, WV
NW8I Del, OH
AC0BG Dean, IA
WA1HHN Walt, MA
KD8JPQ Jeff, OH.
K7DLB Dave, MD Net Control.
So, thanks to all that participated and we hope you have a safe week and we'll catch ya next week, same time, same frequency!!!!

PS. K7DLB will need a substitute Net Control operator for the 160m net Sunday Oct 25. Please click the Email button and let us know if you can help!!! It's not hard. Heck, if K7DLB can do it......ANYBODY CAN!!!!!

WOW!!!! It's almost that time again!!!!

Yup, here it is the weekend again and K7DLB is outside staring at his 160 meter wire making sure it is ready for another go at the APRN 160 meter net at 0100 UTC(9pm)eastern) on Sunday night. His neighbors think he is a bit nuts because his yard looks like a landing zone for UFO's with all of the antennas out there!!!!
The topic will be an open mic format with a short(or long) continuation of last weeks water storage topic.
So, come one come all and join in the discussion!!! Bring your thinking caps and comments and questions.

40 Meter Net was Generating Excitement

Tonights Topic for the Rag Chew was Generators...when are they worth their weight in Watts? And everyone was really good to weigh in with some great personal examples and experiences about those gas-drinkin' volt-makers. Observations about power needs, gas stablizing, maintenence and more made this topic a good one which we're sure will be a good one to bring up in detail in a article here.

A little smaller group tonight, but everyone here was pure quality, with a first time check in that will sure be comming back, KB0EMB Larry out in Independence MO...(I like the name of that pretty town)Good signal Larry, n' thanks for the relay net control.

Some "regulars" got on the payroll...KD8HDP Justin, KB1LUK Bill, KC2SGV Joe, NW8I Del, and others...although considering this is only our 4th 40 net, that's stretching the term "regular" indeed.

And despite the Pirate Radio Sermonizer who started up immediately after we closed the net, we had a great time, sharing great advice and info about electrical generators and showing again that a net of good hams is always a benefit. To the Pirates Credit, they were nice to hold off until we were through....a Polite Pirate...ARRRRG! '73 KI4HEE

BTW... Tonights 40 meter Net Signal Plot via Google Earth includes a Ireland DX Station, EI6JK Mark who got on the list during the pre-net.

Here's tonights "Generator Gang"...

EI6JK MARK Ireland DX during pre-net
W4DMH DAVE WVA
KI4HEE BOB SC NET CONTROL
KB0EMB LARRY MO
NW8I DEL OH
W4SQL LANDY SC
KB1KZD DAN MA
AC5CH MS STEVE
N1FBF CT BOB
KD8HDP MI JUSTIN
W2KON NY JOE
KB1LUK MA BILL
KC2SGV NJ JOE
KB1RXA CT RICH

The 160 Meter Net...Be There, or be Square!!!!

Please don't forget the 160m net tonight at 0100UTC (9pm eastern)on 1.860. Dave, K7DLB, will fire up the 'ol Kenwood and stomp on the foot pedal and fill the airwaves with the melodious tones of his voice. So come one, come all and join us!!!! If the band doesn't want to cooperate, we'll make it cooperate!!!!!!

It sure beats Thursday Night TV!

Don't forget, Thursday nite is 20 NITE! Come join Dave (aka Santa) on 14.320MHz. 01:00Zulu. (9PM EST)

Conditions have been poor of late, but the check-ins have been QUALTY! Become one of 'em...check-in early, stay late, n' bring a friend! We'll see ya' on the Radio!

They came from far & wide...

Tonights net started out noisy but ended with signals coming in clear & strong. A lot to be said for persistance, it was a matter of keeping the net moving, calling for check-ins and working everyone who checked in.

There's starting to become a handful of regular stations like Bill KB1LUK, or Stuart KG4LMW in Knoxville on his front porch running 25 watts, who are checking in weekly. Great to see these stations working hard to get the net established. And it's always exciting to welcome a newcomer to the net, like Jim K4PV, with his wonderful sounding signal on his Flex Radio and powerful Delta Amp over there in the Florida Panhandle. Jim found this blog from our referrence to it during the net, as well as learned about the American Preppers Network, you can tell from his comments, he'll be checking in again.

While it was noisy...the net mined out pure gold...

1. KI4HEE BOB SC NET CONTROL

2. W4DMH DAVE WVA

3. NW8I DEL OH (MOBILE)

4. W2WTF BRAD SC

5. N5PED ART LA

6. KG4LMW STUART TN (QRP)

7. K1RMA DON NH

8. KB1LUK BILL MA

9. KG4SRW MIKE NC (MOBILE)

10.KD8CMX JOHN MI

11. K4PV JIM FL

12. KC8QKO CHRIS WV

13.W5MOE MOE AR

14.KG4BYL ROBERT VA

Long Net, Great Results

Twenty Check-ins! Wow! What fun. Each time we do this, the list gets longer and longer. Conditions were less than desirable, but still, there were pile-ups as folks tried to check in, with audio fading in an out, it was sometimes tough to dig the callsigns out of the noise.

But after the smoke cleared, and a hour & 10 minutes later, 20 stations were in the net log:
1. KI4HEE BOB SC Net Control
2. W4DMH DAVE WVA
3. N5JXM BILL TX
4. KE5VOX RENE TX
5. KB1LUK BILL NH
6. KG4LMW STUART TN (25 WATT)
7. KA1SWK RUSSELL WMA
8. KB3ROZ ED PA
9. KA3IRJ FRED NJ
10. KB3EDT LYNN NJ
11. KC4YBO STEVE GA
12. KD4AEK RANDY VA
13. AI4QT BILL AL
14. WA0YAS* (GARBLED CALLSIGN)
15. W3BT JULIAN PA
16. WA0FAS ALLAN PA
17. KC8QKO CHRIS WVA
18. N4UTN CALVIN VA
19. N4ICF STEVE AL
20. KX4O JOHN VA

We added a new feature to the net...a ragchew topic, and tonite's topic was on how you would operate under "Field Conditions". A lot of great responses, which was expected since Ham Operators are aways known as people "Out Standing" in their fields. '73 Bob KI4HEE

Psst...spread the news...

Just a reminder to tune in to 40 Meters tonight, 01:00 ZULU/9PM EST on or around 7.198MHz.
Bob KI4HEE will start the net with a new feature... A RAGCHEW TOPIC!

Tonight's topic..."How prepared are you to operate radio under "Field" conditions?"

We'll see you on the radio.... '73 KI4HEE

NOISE, NOISE and MORE NOISE!!!!!!!

I'll betya all of the other bands were quiet tonite because we had ALL of the noise on the 160m band. We did manage 1 new checkin tonite though;KB3IFH, Randy from Baltimore, Maryland checked in and stuck around to shoot the breeze a bit. So tonite we had 3 checkins, W4DMH Dave, KB3IFH Randy, and K7DLB Dave net control. PLEASE keep in mind, we will continue to hold this net because as summer winds down, the 160m band "opens up" and it gets real easy to make contacts all over!!!!! So we will try again again next week!! Same time, same frequency. Until then, this is K7DLB, saying 73 and have a great week!!!!!

Topband Sunday

Spread the word. The Net's on 160Meters Sunday night at 0100 ZULU (9PM EST) listen on or around 1.860 Mhz. Dave K7DLB will be net control.

A hard band for some, a band of choice for others, 160 Meters is a wonderful band for all who can tune in. We'll be listening for your check-in starting at 9PM.

Wow! They came from everywhere!

Talk about a Barn-burner! Tonight's 40 Meter APRNet saw stations checking in fast & furious, and all jumping out of a cacophony of static crashes & QRM (...cacophony means a WHOLE bunch)

After a last minute move from 7.196 to 7.198 to get some distance from another net in progress, the net started smoothly enough, although it was rough going trying to hear through all the hash.

Again, another total stranger, (to the net) came to the rescue...Derek, AJ4OV down in St. Petersburg Fl. checked in and was immediately recruited, with his "blowtorch" signal, to call for some check-ins. He brought in 5 additional stations to the list. Thanks a BUNCH, Derek.

All in all, 20 stations checked in, a bunch of repeats and a lot of first-timers. We plotted all but one, Robert N8Rlg in Ohio who was mobile, but still, the whole southeastern US, from New Hampshire to Texas was well represented.

While some checked in from hearing of the net from our blog, most signed in first time from just hearing the net on the air, one fellow, Gary, AI4JA was real happy to find us, since he & his wife are fully "prepperized". They are very happy to find us, and the blog.

Here's who got on the "payroll" this week...
1. KI4HEE Bob SC Net Control
2. N5QNT Art NC
3. W4DMH Dave WVA
4. W2WTF Brad SC
5. KF4VGV Rick SC
6. KD5GFG Tom LA
7. KB1LUK Bill NH
8. N5JXM Dick TX
9. AJ4OV Derek FL
10. WB4GLE Jerry NC
11. K0TPP Larry MO
12. KE5VOT Rene TX
13. K4GIV Tom GA
14. K4QBA Matt KY
15. N1FBF Bob CT
16. AI4JA Gary SC
17. N8RLG Robert OH
18. KB3QIU Marty PA
19. WD4SDC Steve NC
20. W4FCH Clyde VA

As popular as 40 meters is, it's looking like Tuesday night is solidly 40'nite for the APRN. Thanks for everyone for making this all happen.
'73 Bob KI4HEE

Tuesday Night is 40 Night!

UPDATE: To Keep us from conflicting with another Net, Tonights Net will be on 7.198Mhz....KI4HEE

Feeling frisky? Looking for fun? Come join in the "Forty Frolic" with us Tuesday Night at 9PM EST (01:00 Zulu)


We'll be taking the American Preppers Radio Net to the air again on 7.196MHz. Last week's net had a rocky start since the advertised frequency was dominated by the BBC broadcast right at the top of the hour.


Hopefully, things will start out fine with our move to 7.196, if we do have a conflict, just tune around...we'll be out there, taking check-ins. We're counting on good band conditions, and with luck we'll be heard clear across the country, maybe even out across the globe.


Come join in the fun, Tuesday Night, 9PM EST (01:00Zulu) on 7.196MHz.

What a NOISEY BAND!!!!!

Well, we tried to run our 160m Net this evening and the band would not cooperate. We did have 5 stations to add to the log,KD8USA and KD8EAF from Michigan and W4DMH from West Virginia. Rounding out net was KB1LUK and KI4HEE. It was real interesting to try to pull call signs out of the static but I really appreciate the persistence from each of the checking stations. That is one thing about HAM radio, we will not always have "perfect" conditions but through persistence, and a little electronic wizardry, we can get the job done!!!!!
Well, we'll try again next week at 9PM Eastern, on 1.860. So, a big THANKS!!!! to all that stuck in there with us and have a safe week!!!!
73's
Dave
K7DLB