Hi, all.

Well, the net was its usual success on 20 meters today, despite some very 
anoying QRM, and despite the fact that the band started to give out for our 
East Coast folks toward the end of the hour.

Shortly after the net, a couple of us agreed to go up to 17 meters, and see 
what it was like up there.

I never heard Kevin (K7RX), but did hear Betsey (K1EIC), and Gerry (WB6IVF). 
If anyone else was in there, I did not hear you, so I apologize.  Please 
don't think I was ignoring you (grin).

I was able to tune my Ameritron AL811H amplifier on 17 meters, and actually 
got good signal reports from Gerry and Betsey.  However, for some reason, 
running 500 watts or so on 17 meters creates RFI problems by setting off 
several smoke detectors, so I probably shouldn't volunteer to be net control 
for next week-end's net, if we decide to try 17 meters.  I certainly can 
serve as a relay station, though, and will contribute whatever else I can to 
the net, even if I have to run 100 watts.  (Yeah, I know, Kevin, that ground 
rod will really help!  (smile)

Given that 18.1575 is the HF backpackers' standard calling frequency, we 
probably would be best off going to 18.160.

How does this all sound as a plan?

P.S.  Toward the beginning of today's net, Steve (WA1RTB), Howard (WA9TOP), 
and Steve (KW3A) were louder than I have ever heard them, so 20 meters is 
definitely my  band of choice for any future nets beyond next Sunday, at 
least for a while.)

73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ, Louisville, CO