Tonites the Nite!!! APRN 80m Net!!!

Tonite, John, will open up the APRN 80m net at 9pm Eastern(0200UTC) on 3.962LSB. The topic will be open for suggestions. Seems that emergency power and issues pertaining to that subject are popular, but, we don't have to stick with that. Think up some stuff to talk about and some suggestions for future nets. We gotta keep John busy!!!!! So, check in, join the converstation and if your not careful, you just might learn sumthin!!!!

The APRN 160m Net ended February on a good note!!!

Tonites APRN 160m net featured a good discussion on a variety of topics ranging from fusible links, fuel sources for lighting and the peculiarities of the 160m band. WA1HHN and K7DLB worked the CQ 160m SSB contest this weekend and learned alot about the 160m band. It was interesting to see how the band would move into different locations and also move up and down the frequency range of the band.
Tonites Check Ins:

W4DMH Dave, WV
AC0BG Dean, IA
WA1HHN Walt, MA
NW8I Del, OH
KB9QDC Matt, WI. New Check in!!!!

N2ZKX Rich, NY Mobile!!!!!

K7DLB will be wore out, but the 160m net will go on!!!

K7DLB Net Control for the 160m APRN net will be worn out from typing log entries and spinning the dial on the TS-450 as a stray for the 160m contest that was happening this weekend. He reports the band was rolling from Illinois to Texas and all over the Northeast. Hopefully, the band will cooperate when he wakes up from a nap to get the Net underway at 9pm Eastern (0200UTC)on 1.860LSB. Not sure what the discussion will be yet, but we are sure it will be interesting nonetheless!!!!

FINALLY!!! The APRN 80m net gets a break!!!!

Thanks to John, persistence, the APRN 80m net got going last night. The band started out rough but cleaned up as the night wore along. The discussion centered around battery power and fuse protection for you equipment. Thanks to all that checked in!!!!!
w4dmh Dave, WV
ab0bg Dean,IA
nw8i Del,OH
wa1hhn Walt,MA
kj4pzz Bill VA new
kj4pta John SC new
km4da NC Bill
ki4lwa Howard VA new
We hope this net will become a regular feature here at the APRN. Thanks to John,  for sticking with it and getting it off the ground. See you all next week!!!!!

The APRN 80 meter net is wired up!!!!!

Thursday nite, John, will take the reins of the APRN 80m net. He has slogged through the snow and repaired the damage done to his wire antenna. So lets make his efforts pay off and join in on Thursday night at 9pm Eastern(0200UTC)on 3.962LSB or thereabouts. The topic will be open and we hope that the weather cooperates. So bring your ideas and thoughts and CHECK IN!!!!!!!

The APRN 160 meter net was all charged up!!!!!!

Tonite,the APRN 160 meter net set a a couple of milestones. We had our first /AG check in. We also had our first mobile check as well. KD8KWE/AG checked in for one of his first HF QSO's. N2ZKX mobile checked in as our very first mobile 160m checkin!!!! Welcome to both and we hope to hear from you again!!!!
Also, NW8I and K7DLB switched to battery power for the 2nd half of the net. It was surprising to see that cutting the output power of the rigs to 30-45 watts did little to change the signal of both stations. K7DLB had a meter in line and here are the results.
13.07v to start. The rig pulled 1.25 amps on standby
While keyed and modulating, the average was 12.45 volts, with the rig drawing an average of 5 amps.
K7DLB did a couple of long winded reports just to see what the batteries would do and they held up just fine.
At the close of the net the batteries recovered to 12.52v and 1.5 hours later they are holding 12.90v.
The total AH used was 1.233AH.
The batteries used in K7DLB's setup are 4 6v 12ah sealed batteries from a emergency lighting setup. They are wired in a series parallel array and are in a nice compact wooded box that weighs about 15 lbs or so. Keep in mind, in an emergency situation, most radio contacts will be very short and to the point. What K7DLB will do next is to get into a contesting situation and use the pack for most of the day to see how it does.
NW8I has his setup performing very good as well. His signal did not change much at all and his 12v battery setup seemed to stand up to his TS-430s just fine.
That is the purpose of these nets. We need to test out our setups BEFORE they are needed. That will give us piece of mind that we can at least communicate in case of any situation that would shut down "normal" methods.
Tonites check ins
W2AOJ Matt, NJ
NW8I Del, OH
KD8KWE/AG Dave, WV
N8NMJ Mike, MD
N2ZKX/mobile Rich, NY

The 160m APRN net is gonna try out battery power.

Inspired by Del, NW8I, K7DLB finished up building a small battery pack and he will try it out on Sunday nights' 160m APRN net. Word has it that Del will try out battery power as well. The net takes off Sunday at 9pm (0200UTC) on 1.860.
The net will start out at 100 watts for the check in portion of the net and then the switch will be made in the discussion portion of the net. Output power will be reduced and a meter will be used that will track the condition of the battery as time goes on. Please join in the discussion and see how 4, 6v 12ah batteries set up in a parallel/series configuration do for an emergency power setup!!!!!

The APRN 80m and 160m Nets

Thursday nite was still suffering antenna issues so NW8I jumped in as alternate net control. The discussion varied dealing with emergency power and HF power amps being talked about. The check ins were:
AC0BG, Dean IA
NW8I Del Ohio THANKS DEL!!!!
KB9QDC, Matt WI
N9MZF, Mike IN

As far as the 160m net goes, Sunday is Valentines Day. Lets take the evening off and spend it with the Wife, Girlfriend or your special Valentine. The radio takes a bunch of time away from family and friends, especially if your significant other hasn't grasped the concept yet!!!!!HiHi!!!!
So the APRN Nets will return next week Feb 18, for the 80m net, and Feb 21 for the 160m net. Stay tuned for updates!!!!!!

If we get any more snow..........The APRN 80m net!!!!

Thursday night, is going to try out his slinky antenna and get the APRN 80m net on the air. His main wire is still down and is now under about 4 ft of snow!!!! We got smashed again Tuesday and today!!!!! Add in the winds and we have quite the mess!!!
So, tune in at 9pm, (0200UTC) on 3.962LSB and see what  has in store!!!!

Also, K7DLB will need a fill in Net Control Op to fill in for Sunday nights 160m net. He is going to have to work for sure!!!!! The storms have put a real kink in FedEx Grounds operations. So Email Dave, K7DLB and let him know if you can take over!!!!

A full house on the APRN 160m net!!!!

In spite of the Super Bowl, we had a good list of participants for the APRN 160 meter net tonite!!! We really had no topic but each operator was asked what they would like to deal with in the coming months. There were several good suggestions as well as the need for a review of the topics we have covered in the past.
K7DLB had the net tonite as suffered a broken wire antenna because of the extreme weather over the weekend.
We here at the APRN hope that everybody under the gun of this latest winter blast stayed safe and well. Just think, 6 more weeks of winter!!!!!
Tonites check in list:
W2AOJ Matt, NJ
AC0BG Dean, IA
NW8I Del, OH
W1AYC Maurice, MA
W1HHN Walt, MA
N8BIT Dave, MI
KD8JPQ Jeff, OH
Thanks for checking in and everybody have a SAFE week!!!!