Results of the 2005 Flight of the Bumblebees
We received a total of 147 logs, an increase of 19 logs from last year, but the total number of QSO's increased by 2182 (thereby almost doubling those of 2004). Similar to last year, 20M was the workhorse band, with the QSO's breaking down as follows:
| Band | QSO's |
| 40M |
939
|
| 20M |
3213
|
| 15M |
248
|
| 10M |
5
|
| Total |
4405
|
ARS was pleased to receive word that this was the first contest that some of you had ever participated in as a ham. In addition, we had a number of folks comment that this was their first time operating the Bumblee Contest. It is our hope that your enthusiasm for Adventure Radio will continue grow.
Top Five Bumblebees:
Congratulations to first place Bumblebee Larry K5OT, who stated that his site near Round Rock, TX produced a "never-ceasing pit of buzzing" on 20M.
Second place Bumblebee was earned by Jim WA9TZE, who did an effective job with a mixture of S&P and calling CQ with his SGC-2020 and multiband inverted vee.
Todd N9NE loaded his station into his grandson's little red wagon and pulled it to an industrial site, and when the dust settled, he ended up as third place Bumblebee. Todd lamented the fact that there was no award for "the ugliest site."
Fourth place Bumblebee went to Bill W4ZV, who operated atop Dark Springs Mountain in the ancient Uwharrie Mountain range (central NC). Bill reported that 20M was very spotty and 40M seemed better but had lower activity.
Jerry N9AW was our fifth place Bumblebee, reporting that conditions were excellent on 20M, with little activity on 15M and terrible conditions on 40M. Jerry reported lots of bee activity.
Awards:
1) Most Interesting Equipment-
Mike W7DRA put an incredible amount of time and effort into redesigning his Paraset for this year's FoBB in order to stay true (in Mike's own words) "to those of us who follow the 'ancients'. What I started out with was three unit set up; 6X5 power supply, 6AU6/5763 MOPA, and a 6CB6/12AU7 regen. The transmitter put out about 4 watts, well within the bumble bee limits, but the receiver needed a bit of work, more band spread, better stability, and less drifting after transmitting. This was solved by 1) a new band spread cap of smaller capacitance, 2) adding a grounded grid RF stage, and 3) a separate receiver power supply."
2) Most Outrageous Venture-
Jacques VE6AMA and Colin VE6YD aptly named their venture "The Flight of the Buffaloes." Here is a partial account provided by Jacques: "The band was hopping, and I kept my earphones on . While watching the buffalo herd that had by now crossed the lakes and leisurely worked its way towards my position . I understand buffalo make beautiful house pets, but there is a limit! They were now about 60 yards from me. I heard a station calling CQ BBs and was about to answer when a much louder and wilder signal came through the earphones, a mixture of growl and bathtub flushing. At the same time, I felt some distinct ground vibrations through my sitting pad . Gulp .. I cautiously turned my head to the right, at which time I saw four other buffalos (having presumably split from the herd without my noticing) about ten feet away from me . We were now on a first-name basis! I dared not move from my sitting position and sure enough did not answer the other station's CQ! Fortunately, three of the animals kept on moving very slowly after having eyed me for a bit . but the other one, the big male, did not budge one inch and gave me the evil eye. I strongly suspect that he was the herd watcher keeping dangers away while the others were feeding. Or maybe he was interested in hamming!
3) Most Beautiful Site-
This was a tough one-even downright agonizing, because so many beautiful sites were submitted. We look forward to reading the stories and seeing the photos of fellow Bumblebees. In the end, the five-man N2XE/BB team (John N2XE, Tom KC4YJU, Vinny KR2F, Roy KC2DMH, and Todd KC2MFR) took this prize while conquering Mt. Marcy in the Adirondacks.
Pictures, articles, and soapbox comments will appear in a forthcoming edition of the ARS Sojourner.
ARS wishes to thank everyone who participated in this year's Flight of the Bumblebees! Also, a big thanks to John NA8M for compiling the results:
The scores are as follows:
| Call |
40M
|
20M
|
15M
|
10M
|
QSOs
|
BEEs
|
Score
|
| K5OT/BB |
6
|
105
|
16
|
0
|
127
|
77
|
29337
|
| K4LTA |
39
|
86
|
3
|
0
|
128
|
75
|
28800
|
| WA9TZE/BB |
30
|
93
|
12
|
2
|
137
|
69
|
28359
|
| N9NE/BB |
35
|
74
|
7
|
1
|
117
|
75
|
26325
|
| W4ZV/BB |
48
|
50
|
8
|
0
|
106
|
69
|
21942
|
| N9AW/BB |
17
|
75
|
16
|
0
|
108
|
60
|
19440
|
| N4UM |
0
|
73
|
30
|
0
|
103
|
54
|
16686
|
| K7TQ/BB |
0
|
100
|
0
|
0
|
100
|
51
|
15300
|
| NN0C/BB |
0
|
88
|
0
|
0
|
88
|
48
|
12672
|
| N2XE/BB |
23
|
62
|
2
|
0
|
87
|
47
|
12267
|
| K7TD/BB |
10
|
70
|
3
|
0
|
83
|
47
|
11703
|
| NK9G/BB |
28
|
44
|
4
|
0
|
76
|
49
|
11172
|
| K0ZK/BB |
30
|
31
|
15
|
0
|
76
|
46
|
10488
|
| WB8RTJ |
8
|
52
|
5
|
0
|
65
|
48
|
9360
|
| AB7E/BB |
0
|
67
|
4
|
0
|
71
|
41
|
8733
|
| N3DRK |
5
|
54
|
5
|
0
|
64
|
42
|
8064
|
| AA1MY/BB |
13
|
53
|
0
|
0
|
66
|
40
|
7920
|
| AK0M/BB |
12
|
51
|
6
|
0
|
69
|
32
|
6624
|
| W2AGN/BB |
13
|
45
|
0
|
0
|
58
|
36
|
6264
|
| KF0UR/BB |
0
|
60
|
0
|
0
|
60
|
30
|
5400
|
| AI4BJ/BB |
29
|
19
|
4
|
0
|
52
|
32
|
4992
|
| WA8REI/BB |
27
|
18
|
0
|
0
|
45
|
34
|
4590
|
| N8ET/VE3/BB |
17
|
28
|
0
|
0
|
45
|
32
|
4320
|
| K4KO |
13
|
23
|
10
|
0
|
46
|
30
|
4140
|
| N5ESE/BB |
4
|
42
|
0
|
0
|
46
|
28
|
3864
|
| KB2FEL/BB |
18
|
24
|
0
|
0
|
42
|
28
|
3528
|
| AC6NT/BB |
0
|
38
|
1
|
0
|
39
|
30
|
3510
|
| W9LR/BB |
11
|
25
|
2
|
0
|
38
|
29
|
3306
|
| W7WEL/BB |
6
|
37
|
0
|
0
|
43
|
25
|
3225
|
| KT9E/BB |
34
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
44
|
24
|
3168
|
| VE3XT/BB |
8
|
26
|
7
|
0
|
41
|
25
|
3075
|
| W0NTA |
0
|
40
|
1
|
0
|
41
|
25
|
3075
|
| AC0S/BB |
1
|
36
|
2
|
0
|
39
|
26
|
3042
|
| W9CC |
1
|
35
|
2
|
0
|
38
|
26
|
2964
|
| KW4JS/BB |
14
|
17
|
5
|
0
|
36
|
25
|
2700
|
| N7OU/BB |
2
|
31
|
0
|
0
|
33
|
27
|
2673
|
| VE3ELA/BB |
22
|
15
|
0
|
0
|
37
|
24
|
2664
|
| W1MT/BB |
12
|
16
|
3
|
0
|
31
|
28
|
2604
|
| K4BYF/BB |
0
|
34
|
0
|
0
|
34
|
24
|
2448
|
| K6EU |
1
|
26
|
10
|
0
|
37
|
20
|
2220
|
| WA0RSE/BB |
0
|
32
|
0
|
0
|
32
|
23
|
2208
|
| WB4X |
13
|
12
|
3
|
0
|
28
|
24
|
2016
|
| AD6GI/BB |
0
|
29
|
0
|
0
|
29
|
23
|
2001
|
| WB3AAL/BB |
19
|
11
|
0
|
0
|
30
|
22
|
1980
|
| W8VE/BB |
13
|
12
|
0
|
0
|
25
|
25
|
1875
|
| K2EKM |
17
|
8
|
1
|
0
|
26
|
24
|
1872
|
| NW8L/BB |
0
|
31
|
0
|
0
|
31
|
20
|
1860
|
| NT6K |
1
|
31
|
0
|
0
|
32
|
19
|
1824
|
| N2CQ |
11
|
16
|
5
|
0
|
32
|
18
|
1728
|
| K6LG/BB |
3
|
23
|
0
|
0
|
26
|
22
|
1716
|
| WA4MQW/BB |
0
|
27
|
0
|
0
|
27
|
21
|
1701
|
| K3TW/BB |
22
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
28
|
20
|
1680
|
| AB4PP/BB |
11
|
14
|
4
|
0
|
29
|
19
|
1653
|
| WU0H/BB |
0
|
24
|
0
|
0
|
24
|
22
|
1584
|
| W7MRG/BB |
0
|
31
|
0
|
0
|
31
|
17
|
1581
|
| N8VW/BB |
4
|
25
|
0
|
0
|
29
|
18
|
1566
|
| W5ESE/BB |
1
|
25
|
0
|
0
|
26
|
20
|
1560
|
| W5FIO |
0
|
27
|
0
|
0
|
27
|
17
|
1377
|
| N6XG |
0
|
25
|
0
|
0
|
25
|
18
|
1350
|
| KA3WMJ |
11
|
12
|
2
|
0
|
25
|
18
|
1350
|
| WD4MSM/BB |
14
|
13
|
4
|
0
|
31
|
14
|
1302
|
| K0LWV |
4
|
16
|
4
|
0
|
24
|
17
|
1224
|
| WN1GIV/BB |
3
|
17
|
0
|
0
|
20
|
20
|
1200
|
| N9RY/BB |
0
|
25
|
0
|
0
|
25
|
16
|
1200
|
| AC5K/BB |
0
|
14
|
6
|
0
|
20
|
20
|
1200
|
| VY2/W1OH |
3
|
18
|
0
|
0
|
21
|
18
|
1134
|
| NT4XT |
5
|
13
|
1
|
0
|
19
|
19
|
1083
|
| K8JV/BB |
5
|
15
|
0
|
0
|
20
|
16
|
960
|
| KI0II/BB |
1
|
19
|
0
|
0
|
20
|
16
|
960
|
| W1PID/BB |
5
|
16
|
1
|
0
|
22
|
14
|
924
|
| KC2AFK |
0
|
22
|
0
|
0
|
22
|
14
|
924
|
| WD8RIF/BB |
5
|
14
|
0
|
0
|
19
|
16
|
912
|
| NI8N/BB |
9
|
11
|
0
|
0
|
20
|
15
|
900
|
| N7RVD/BB |
0
|
21
|
2
|
0
|
23
|
13
|
897
|
| KG6HAF/BB |
1
|
10
|
8
|
0
|
19
|
15
|
855
|
| W2XN/BB |
0
|
19
|
0
|
0
|
19
|
15
|
855
|
| K6DGW/BB |
1
|
18
|
0
|
0
|
19
|
14
|
798
|
| KE6US/BB |
0
|
16
|
0
|
0
|
16
|
16
|
768
|
| N7LT/BB |
1
|
16
|
3
|
0
|
20
|
12
|
720
|
| K2UFT |
4
|
13
|
0
|
0
|
17
|
14
|
714
|
| K4KJP/BB |
0
|
13
|
3
|
1
|
17
|
14
|
714
|
| WB9HFK |
5
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
15
|
15
|
675
|
| K3SFP/BB |
9
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
16
|
13
|
624
|
| VA3SIE/BB |
5
|
11
|
0
|
0
|
16
|
13
|
624
|
| W0ESE/BB |
2
|
14
|
0
|
0
|
16
|
13
|
624
|
| K4BAI/M |
0
|
17
|
0
|
0
|
17
|
12
|
612
|
| N1AIA/BB |
0
|
17
|
0
|
0
|
17
|
11
|
561
|
| K4AQ |
5
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
15
|
12
|
540
|
| AF4XL/BB |
5
|
13
|
0
|
0
|
18
|
10
|
540
|
| K2UD |
13
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
13
|
13
|
507
|
| WA7NCL/BB |
2
|
12
|
1
|
0
|
15
|
11
|
495
|
| KE5AKL/BB |
4
|
11
|
0
|
0
|
15
|
11
|
495
|
| KI4FW/BB |
0
|
12
|
0
|
0
|
12
|
12
|
432
|
| VE3WMB/BB |
3
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
13
|
11
|
429
|
| KT3A/BB |
4
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
12
|
11
|
396
|
| K9EW/7/BB |
0
|
12
|
0
|
0
|
12
|
11
|
396
|
| N7GS |
0
|
12
|
0
|
0
|
12
|
11
|
396
|
| KK4R |
8
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
13
|
10
|
390
|
| WA1GWH |
13
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
13
|
10
|
390
|
| WA1ZCB/BB |
7
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
13
|
10
|
390
|
| K5BOT/BB |
0
|
16
|
0
|
0
|
16
|
8
|
384
|
| W2NED/BB |
5
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
12
|
10
|
360
|
| K1KID/BB |
2
|
11
|
0
|
0
|
13
|
9
|
351
|
| W0IIT/BB |
0
|
9
|
4
|
0
|
13
|
9
|
351
|
| NA8M/BB |
9
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
15
|
7
|
315
|
| W8VPW |
3
|
7
|
0
|
1
|
11
|
9
|
297
|
| KD3FG |
0
|
9
|
2
|
0
|
11
|
9
|
297
|
| N8XD/BB |
4
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
9
|
9
|
243
|
| AA8EB/BB |
6
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
9
|
8
|
216
|
| WA1ZCQ/BB |
12
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
12
|
6
|
216
|
| VE3GAM/BB |
9
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
10
|
7
|
210
|
| KG0MZ/BB |
0
|
11
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
6
|
198
|
| K7ESU |
0
|
9
|
0
|
0
|
9
|
7
|
189
|
| KD7GIM |
0
|
9
|
1
|
0
|
10
|
6
|
180
|
| K6UIZ/BB |
0
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
7
|
168
|
| W9FNB/BB |
0
|
9
|
0
|
0
|
9
|
6
|
162
|
| K1CGZ/BB |
0
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
6
|
144
|
| KD4MSR/BB |
11
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
4
|
132
|
| AA2AD/BB |
1
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
5
|
120
|
| WB1HGA/BB |
0
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
6
|
108
|
| WA5ZNU/BB |
1
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
6
|
108
|
| N0IBT |
0
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
6
|
6
|
108
|
| W0OOW/BB |
0
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
5
|
105
|
| NK6A/BB |
0
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
4
|
84
|
| WB4KLI |
2
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
5
|
75
|
| AA8UU/BB |
3
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
5
|
75
|
| KI4DGH/BB |
0
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
4
|
60
|
| VE6AMA/BB |
4
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
4
|
60
|
| KG6UZB/BB |
0
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
4
|
60
|
| VE6YD/BB |
1
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
4
|
48
|
| N8ZEE/BB |
1
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
4
|
48
|
| KI6SN/BB |
7
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
2
|
42
|
| W5KDJ |
0
|
6
|
2
|
0
|
8
|
1
|
24
|
| KC9AQD/BB |
0
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
2
|
24
|
| K3PTC/BB |
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
1
|
18
|
| KB9ZRX/BB |
1
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
1
|
15
|
| WB6HQK/BB |
4
|
9
|
0
|
0
|
13
|
0
|
13
|
| VE3ENG/BB |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
12
|
| AB4VF/BB |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
12
|
| KG6TGI/BB |
0
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
1
|
12
|
| KV9R/BB |
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
12
|
| W7DRA/BB |
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
9
|
| WV7O/BB |
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
| KB9AU/BB |
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
| KB2FCV/BB |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| K5GQ/BB |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| AC7YE/BB |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|