Some good discussion tonite on the APRN 160m net!!

Tonite that APRN 160m net topic was oddball uses for different things. We talked about using a 1 pound coffee can for a sterno stove, a nine volt battery and steel wool used as a fire starter, different uses for coffee filters, and the different uses for cucumbers. An example, a couple of cucumber slices in a pie pan left in a garden would drive away grubs and garden pests. Seems that the cucumber and aluminum in the pie pan reacts and the odor drives away pests. That idea will be put to the test this growing season. Also, we jumped into a heath discussion dealing with Apple Cider Vinegar and it's use as well as many other remedies for acid reflux. Here is the website for Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar.

Tonites Check ins:
AC0BG Dean, IA
WA1HHN Walt, MA
KD8KWD John, WV
NW8I Del, OH
KD8KWE Dave, WV
KD8LOF Missy, WV Missy is our first lady check in. In fact, KD8KWE and KD8LOF are our first husband wife combo check ins!!!!! WELCOME!!!!
KB9QDC Matt, WI
KB3SJI Barry PA

Thanks to all that checked in and please don't forget the Thursday Night 80m net led by KD8KWD on 3.962 at 9pm Eastern (0200UTC). We need to give John a good case of writers cramp so come join in the discussion!!!!

The APRN 160m Net will be kinda odd........

The APRN Net on Sunday night will deal with the things that can be kinda odd in their uses. In other words, things that can be used in ways that were never really intended. A good example would be using a screwdriver as a hammer.......Well, maybe that's a bad example, but you get the point!!!(After all, K7DLB does that stuff all the time!!!!)
So come up with your ideas and join in Sunday nite a 9pm Eastern (0200UTC) on 1.860LSB and lets see what kinds off odd things we can talk about!!!!

Bad Band, Good discussion!!!! The APRN 80m Net

Last night the 80m band was being it's normal noisy self but John KD8KWD kept at it and Del, NW8I joined in and along with KJ4PZZ, Bill and KI4LWA, Howard, in spite of the noise. The discussion covered a number of topics one of them being Kerosene stoves, lanterns and heating. Del mentioned this website to check out: St Paul Mercantile. There are many items on that site of interest. So, thanks to everyone that checked in and remember, John will bring the Net back to life next week, same time same frequency!!!!!!

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

Tonite, John,Kd8KWD 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!!!!
KD8KWD John, WV
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, KD8KWD's 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, KD8KWD 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, KD8KWD 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!!!!!