Team RaDAR Rally at Falling Waters State Park, April 2024

Tom WD0HBR was my teammate during the April 2024 RaDAR Rally. Our venue was Falling Waters State Park in Florida. Tom, Suzy, and I walked the trails to four locations within four hours making five contacts at each on 20 meters. We used the FX-4CR rig on SSB with both the SOTABeams 40-30-20 link dipole and the Alexloop mag loop. The last stop was my favorite, using the Elecraft KH-1 running five-watt CW. It is a handheld rig with a four-foot whip antenna. I got the last five there for a total of twenty contacts. The weather could not have been better. Tom and I enjoyed our team's RaDAR outing.

 73, Greg N4KGL

Countdown to the April 6th, 2024 RaDAR Rally

RaDAR is Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio. The next RaDAR Rally is April 6th, 2024. See the details at www.radarrally.info. All ham radio operators are welcome to participate.

N4KGL April 6th RaDAR Rally Venue Update

Linda and I should return to Dothan, AL, before the April 6th RaDAR Rally. So, I have decided on Falling Waters State Park, one hour South of Dothan near Chipley, FL. It is POTA US-1864. I used this venue for the Spring 2023 RaDAR Rally.  Here are the blog and YouTube links.

For the 2023 Fall RaDAR Rally, I was at St. Andrews State Park. I had the advantage of the saltwater shore. I used the Chinese FX-4C and the Alexloop. The rig puts out 20 watts, which is an advantage for SSB.  That would be another good choice this time. However, I must consider my recent experience with the new Elecraft KH-1. While walking Suzy in the neighborhood, I had good luck hunting POTA stations with the KH1. The KH1 is a hand-held CW rig with an attached whip and built-in tuner. The whip is good for 20, 17, and 15 meters. Once the rig is in my hand, I will be ready for all stops. It does not matter where the stop is since I can operate and log on foot. That is it. Of course, on CW, my chances of getting RaDAR to RaDAR contacts are reduced unless more of my RaDAR friends use CW. I can still ponder my choice of rigs for the next two weeks.

If your RaDAR Rally plans are coming together, send me a registration via email with

• Name
• Call
• Day (Sat or Sun),
• Venue,
• Start UTC
• Conveyances
• Bands
• Modes
• QRP (Y or N)
• Spotting method (optional)

Please visit www.radarrally.info for the rules and the Spring roster.

73,

Greg N4KGL

Suzy Walks For QSOs

We are underdogs on the band. This morning, we had a 20-meter POTA contact in Illinois and SKCC in TX while on Rosemont Drive. Then a 17-meter ragchew with K3PR in Texas while on Gardenia Drive. The rig is Elecraft's new KX1. It comes with a 46 inch whip and a 13 foot drag wire counterpoise. The KH1 is a five-watt CW rig 40-15 meters. I should get lots of use out of it since Suzy insists on a walk every morning. It comes with a paddle but I am using a straight key.

Greg

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N4KGL's Nov 4, 2023 RaDAR Rally Report

It was perfect weather for the Rally in Florida, with cool temps and sunshine. I was pleased to have RaDAR to RaDAR contacts Pat N5VMO once and Chris VA3ECO in his canoe twice. WE4BY in California was almost R to R, but I only got six digits of his grid square. Indeed, the POTA activity on 20 meters helped with thirteen Park to Park QSOs. I alternated between the Grand Lagoon Pier and the sand near Sandy Point, one kilometer to the East. I had the benefit of a light backpack and carried the Alexloop assembled. There was little time to set up at the fifth stop. So I talked a local Bob AB4OB into a 2-meter FM simplex contact. I had no problem making QSOs with the Chinese FX-4CR at twenty watts and the Alexloop magnetic loop. It never hurts to be near the saltwater. 

St. Andrews S.P. Pier on Grand Lagoon

• Name: Greg Lane
• Call: N4KGL
• Day (Sat or Sun): Saturday
• Venue: St Andrews State Park, Florida
• Start UTC: 1500
• Conveyances used: On Foot
• Bands: 20 meter
• Modes: SSB
• QRP (Y or N): No, 20 watts
• # R to R QSOs =3, # Pota/SOTA QSOs =14, # other QSOs =3, # Deployments =5, Bonus Points= 12
• Eight-digit grid squares for your deployments Stop 1,3 and 5 EM70DD22 Stop 2 and 4 EM70DD31

Grand Lagoon near Sandy Point

Bob KK4DIV and Scott K7DIA had great results in the same county here in Florida, and Ken KX4BT in Alabama. Of course, Chris had it good in his canoe in Ontario. I got reports from Bob LB4FH in Norway and Lucy M6ECG in England, who had to deal with stormy or rainy weather. I also appreciate a report from Eddie ZS6BNE in South Africa. There will be more reports and follow-ups. Thanks for all the participation across the globe.

Many R2R & 73,

Greg N4KGL 

N4KGL's RaDAR Rally Plan Nov 4th, 2023

I plan to do the rally at St Andrews State Park near Panama City, Florida. I will walk between two spots, one at the marina area and the other at Sandy Point. Those are on the saltwater shore of Grand Lagoon to take advantage of the saltwater effect. I'll need five contacts at each stop to move to the next. The rig will be my FX-4CR, and the antenna will be the Alexloop magnetic loop. The hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT. Look for my spots on the RaDAR Spots page: https://www.radarrally.info/p/radar-spots.html. and the POTA site,https://pota.app/#/ , The park is POTA K-1917. I may reach out on the 145.210 repeater and QSY to 146.565 FM simplex QSO.

Please read the rules httpwww.radarrally.info/p/radar-rally-rules.html

Review the roster for the registered RaDAR participants at https://www.radarrally.info/p/fall-2023-roster.html.

Good luck and stay safe

Greg N4KGL

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Is the Saltwater Effect advantageous for the RaDAR Rally?

I discuss a study I did to quantify the saltwater effect for vertical antennas on the saltwater shore. The results motivated me to choose St. Andrews State Park overlooking the Grand Lagoon for my RaDAR Rally venue. I likely will use the Alexloop magnetic loop, which is vertically polarized for my portable antenna. This was the topic for our October 23rd, 2023, Beginner's Academy Zoom meeting. Checkout the RaDAR Rally info at www.radarrally.info