The AM Rally Returns! February 1-4 2019

I would categorize it s a special event, and instead of sending in a log submitting a summary sheet, something like number of stations worked on each band, class your station qualified for, hours you worked the event. No awards or winners but maybe a certificate for obtaining X number of points.

I had the most success calling CQ, that way I could better control the length of the QSO. It was great hearing about the stations being used and mods made to old equipment but listening to how someone built a modulator for 20 minutes is a bit much.

 

I worked about 30 stations on Saturday.
I had much better luck calling CQ, I made about 3/4 of my contacts that way and it was fun working new people.
I tried getting in other groups, but like has been pointed out, there were long transmissions and lots of people waiting.

You CAN move out of the 'window' and call CQ, all you need is a clear spot. or toss your call in after someone in a smaller
group makes a transmission.

Stephanie (WX3K) was holding a position on 80 for a while, with a rapid (mostly) turn over of stations working each other.
She runs about 60 watts out....

 

Was fun talking to you on the 814 rig.
Nice qso about that tube, never worked an 814 rig before.
I think you were the only other homebrew station I worked as well, which is odd, I know they are out there...

 

I talked to her on 40 meters as well as on 50.400.

 

Yes, for my time, I felt Stephanie's approach (she co-anchored with Kerri and Janis) best matched the nature of the AM Rally.

AM operation and "contesting" are almost mutually exclusive, which is why many AM ops default to roundtable, sequential style of conversation. No, that does not lend itself very well to racking up points and contacts. All in all, I had a good time however, and will be submitting this log.

02 Feb 2019 1645 3885 W1AW Bob Newington CT Gates BC1-T/Flex 5K
1650 N1BCG Clark Greenwich CT
1700 3872 AB2RA Janis Ithaca NY Viking II /HQ180
1703 WX3K Stephanie Sciota PA Eico 720 / HRO50T
1710 W2DAS Don Rochester NY TX1/NC303
1715 WB2HJK George Long Island NY IC765 w/carbon mic
1717 N3YUG Jason PaxRiver MD Flex6300
1720 W2TGR Terry Buffalo NY Flex5K
1722 W1VT Zak Newington CT K3
1735 KD2FO Don Somerville VA 32V2/75A3
1737 KC2UFU Keri Manahawkin NJ Flex 5K
1739 KG2IR Nick Greenlawn NY hb 4-400s/R390A
1740 N2DTS Brett Voorhees NJ hb tx/rx
1742 W2NBC Jeff Oakridge NJ pr4-400s>4x1 SP600
1748 WB2GCR Bear Hannacroix NY Valiant/R388
1750 N3FRB Russ Lexington SC TS590-Amp
1751 KD2AFL Darryl Irvington NJ GK 500B
1758 W2ILA Tom Jamestown RI T368/R390A
1840 W2JBL Chris Old Forge NY ART13/R390A
1845 N9GTO Lou Lanesville IN hb 4-400s-4x1/75S3
1900 W9GT Jack Ft Wayne IN Federal Radio/R390A
1910 KØSF Steve Corcoran IN 20V3 HRO60

2125 VE2BHH Guenter Montreal QC IC7300
2138 W8LXJ Robert Chillicothe OH KW1
2140 N4DV Gerry Tampa FL Flex 5K
2142 W2DTC Ken Middletown NJ Flex 5K
2149 W8KHK Rick Marietta GA hb 810s-250THs
2150 K5NSN Jimmy Ft. Worth TX TX1/4x1
03 Feb 2019 1434 7285 K1GUP Jerry Carmel ME GK400/75A4
1445 7295 VE3AJM Al Bethany ON Marconi FRT501/SP600
1502 7275 K1OIK Burt Sandwich MA Ranger/HQ170
1506 VE3LYX Don Belleville ON 1943 Tank Radio
1512 W8SAW Steve Bloomfield MI 32V2/Scott SLRM
1515 KD4UMU Dan Shepherdsville KY Valiant/HQ150
1517 K4AKY Fred Louisville KY FT857B 25W
1523 KA4KOE Philip Richmond Hill GA Flex 6300
1526 WD4IGX Roger Lawrenceville GA DX100/RX1
1533 K9PNP Mitch Princeton IN Viking II / HQ170
1541 7290 WØVMC Robert New Richmond WI 20V3/Perseus
1542 K2BXN Robert Avon IN 32V3/75A3
1544 K9LL Lou Gillespie IL FT1000MP
1711 3725 CU2BD Phil S.Miguel, Azores modern xcvr
1714 K2ORC Paul Va. Beach VA SB1400
1747 KZ4B John Charlotte NC IC7300
1749 W8TB Jeff Cleveland OH IC7300
1756 N4AK Glenn Sunset SC Johnson 500/R390A
1758 W8HOG Gary Lynchburg OH FT1000MP
1804 WB2GHV Dick Wildwood FL Flex 1st AM contact
1811 WB4KYW Jay Cape Cod MA IC7300
1816 N5VF Gary Ashburn VA IC7300
1823 K2WS Alan Long Island NY Flex 6500
1828 VA3WU Rick Thorold ON Flex 6300
-- last contact--

 

I thought the event was supposed to be more casual than the typical contest. I usually don't have enough to say to make a buzzardly transmission anyway.

I only logged the people that I had a decent qso with vs exchanging info and 59's. One guy was two miles from my qth. I had never worked him and he had never used AM before. Hopefully the event was a good experience for people like him.

I think the lower power operators would have had more success if they spread out a little. There were a few guys on 40m that were parked 3kc apart. It didn't seem right to do much talking there because it would have interfered with someone else.

 

I think it was perfect for 1st timers, not a contest more of an event. When I slipped down from the 40 meter QRM and called CQ I only made a couple of calls till someone found me, worked a lot better and a lot more pleasurable than jumping in the fray.

The only thing that miffed me was most of the stations were older stuff (like I ran) and most commented on either building or modifying their transmitters and most had been hams a long time yet apparently did not have or did not use a dummy load to tune up and quite a few took quite a while to tune their rigs which with the crowded bands was very annoying.

 

K6YVM logged 2 QSOs each day, 3 hours "operating" each day. 4 QSOs. 3 within 5 miles, 1 about 1000 miles to CO. We spent much of the time laughing and talking, not seriously on the air, tuning around.

Guests on board were new, inactive, and lapsed hams. Talk about mic fright! I never convinced any of them to take the mic and call CQ. But we had a great time so I'm calling success!

I agree with many of the comments above. Lots of buzzards squatting on the roost (I thought those folks were only awake overnight), no one spread out, power over finesse.

Great intro to typical AM!!

Many more stations heard this year than last year.

So for an activity, great success. I'm eager to see how many homebrew and commercial vacuum tube stations participated.

 

^^^ THIS ^^^
...is solid gold

 

W1AW- The Collins 32v3 and 75a4 station