Hello Everybody. I'm John, WB9OFG, and I'm the new manager for the Indiana Code Net. I've been a Ham for about 32 years, having started out in 1971 as WN9HQU. I live in Brookston, IN, about 12 miles North of Purdue University. My traffic handling experience goes back to my Novice days, with the old IPON Post Office Net, which was managed by Ted Winkle, WA9AHJ.
After my Novice ticket expired and I upgraded to Tech, I became involved in both the 6 Meter IPON and Air Force MARS on 49 Mcs. I was away from HF and CW for about 10 years, and when I regained interest in that part of the service around 1983, I was checking into the ICN, which was managed at that time by Bill Blessing, KW9D. After I upgraded to Advanced and put the Knight T-60 away in favour of a Hallicrafters HT-37, I started inflicting my fist on Peggy, W9JUJ, on the QIN. I eventually improved my operating enough that I could take an occasional liaison spot to the 9RN.
I think all Hams go through cycles, and so it was for me, not operating very much from around 1990 until 2000. At one time, I didn't even have a HF antenna up in the air. Now I'm back, and I'm back with both feet. So it goes....
My current station is a Ten-Tec Pegasus, with the built-in LDG auto-tuner, and the antenna is 100 feet of wire up the tree outside my apartment. I run my NCS spot on the ICN with a Junker straight key (it was made in Germany by Junker, it's NOT a "junker") or maybe a Hi-Mound straight key. I try to keep the speed of the net around 10 WPM, but I will slow down to match anyone checking in.
Currently, I'm manager and Thursday evening NCS for the ICN, and Thursday night NCS for QIN. Most Thursdays, I take the liaison spot to the late 9RN session, but that may have to change with the time change and conflicts with other nets I'm active in. I'm also active with Navy-Marine Corps MARS, and I am the Assistant to the State Director for Training.
I'd like to ask all the NCS to please get your reports into me quickly. I'm on ICN and QIN on Thursday nights, and on QIN on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The SM and STM need to get their reports in as soon after the first of the month as they can, so I usually try to get it all together and on it's way to them no later than the 5th of the month. I like to have a day or 2 to put it all together and check my math, so if I could get those reports by the 3rd of the month, that'd be great!
As the nights get longer, band condx in the evening continue to improve. In October, we had a QNI from K1QT, Bob in NH. Plus, we're not bothered by Summertime QRN, even though I have a pesky local noise problem that pops up sporadically with an S-9+ growl on 80M.If I don't hear you when you first call, keep trying, because this noise only stays up for about 2-3 minutes, then goes away for a while.
That's all for this month, Thanks for your Support, and CU on ICN!
73,
John WB9OFG, ICN Manager
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