tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63177846338797570712024-03-12T22:52:25.243-05:00N4KGL - RaDARI enjoy Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio, Field Days, QRP, satellites, and CW. I have many friends in the hobby that make it fun. I will keep you posted on what I learn about amateur radio on this blog.N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comBlogger487125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-1247406063859768002024-03-02T14:45:00.001-06:002024-03-02T14:45:19.831-06:00Suzy Walks For QSOs<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">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</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://elecraft.com/products/kh1-transceiver&source=gmail&ust=1709482932804000&usg=AOvVaw077LXg2IUnSaUZ4vfyEVBm" href="https://elecraft.com/products/kh1-transceiver" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">Elecraft's new KX1</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">. 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.</span></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div><br /></div><div>Greg</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img alt="20240223_084146.jpg" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="562" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=5dab1e5250&attid=0.2&permmsgid=msg-f:1792432164144675522&th=18dfff8e7bd3fac2&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ8ZEnjlVUHDtJvrBiMMus-zvWChXOevFEt1mbHaa0rJKyQK7halag8b3juJT4yj8k1WHLp2QW5eFBamcIBJefzkuaNmKeJj1puFNvvxitydkK2CqLmnTf53AZk&disp=emb&realattid=ii_lta9wfdv1" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="260" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /><img alt="20240226_084550.jpg" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="562" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=5dab1e5250&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1792432164144675522&th=18dfff8e7bd3fac2&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ-GnrhgZrXCCdzxWBQXo021HwUbB-rHn3KJ7h0mZAnZW7ak_2qnJWmkmemaiLrRfsErio3WiZpieDBuWpRSnp0k9OXAFVm-TLYCDgimcvyPH3mpBKF4S92ilJ4&disp=emb&realattid=ii_lta9v9zj0" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="260" /><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" width="1">_._,_._,_</div>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-45800388685567666332023-11-05T15:39:00.000-06:002023-11-05T15:39:52.543-06:00N4KGL's Nov 4, 2023 RaDAR Rally Report <p><span style="font-family: inherit;">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. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KDzjKyBWxR-T4fV_5-c0FPzC7f492_GlViYuzCCKVZ1PH7Ang7C_VVQ5McceCT-d6DTnxDYGOyjaSdxFSU_OURx2xg-tXk6sjLbvLuqCDBie5-_K1UXxNuJ7AuZskMQNTNrtEOzHiq0Jxdghp-0ZJ7DMjpJcr7-nS87_M7gPPlPzjYlZ3BOS4s8-iuc/s2811/20231104_093726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2811" data-original-width="1848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KDzjKyBWxR-T4fV_5-c0FPzC7f492_GlViYuzCCKVZ1PH7Ang7C_VVQ5McceCT-d6DTnxDYGOyjaSdxFSU_OURx2xg-tXk6sjLbvLuqCDBie5-_K1UXxNuJ7AuZskMQNTNrtEOzHiq0Jxdghp-0ZJ7DMjpJcr7-nS87_M7gPPlPzjYlZ3BOS4s8-iuc/w263-h400/20231104_093726.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Andrews S.P. Pier on Grand Lagoon</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Name: Greg Lane</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Call: N4KGL</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Day (Sat or Sun): Saturday</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Venue: St Andrews State Park, Florida</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Start UTC: 1500</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Conveyances used: On Foot</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Bands: 20 meter</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Modes: SSB</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">QRP (Y or N): No, 20 watts</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"># R to R QSOs =3, # Pota/SOTA QSOs =14, # other QSOs =3, # Deployments =5, Bonus Points= 12</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Eight-digit grid squares for your deployments Stop 1,3 and 5 EM70DD22 Stop 2 and 4 EM70DD31</li></ul><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sRNAW4H4ADtbTbTXLxwIQ6S25smb2_hQy_qE7GaNROiUHA3aOp2U7erejHVmBt9umaRrL-BcJSZMEJtKhSkliJMJ81a8H2ihoxf5soqRKYh_ZI2S_cVX1Sg7vctVojuvlJuEJmhYolS-cPwWAG1ZjfFPa-gwuaqe7Ie7OU4wVB8VtDYhkhD193DZpX0/s4000/20231104_105031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sRNAW4H4ADtbTbTXLxwIQ6S25smb2_hQy_qE7GaNROiUHA3aOp2U7erejHVmBt9umaRrL-BcJSZMEJtKhSkliJMJ81a8H2ihoxf5soqRKYh_ZI2S_cVX1Sg7vctVojuvlJuEJmhYolS-cPwWAG1ZjfFPa-gwuaqe7Ie7OU4wVB8VtDYhkhD193DZpX0/w185-h400/20231104_105031.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Lagoon near Sandy Point</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many R2R & 73,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Greg N4KGL </span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLez5_cTd6Av2Z5jpz_DCBBTbxLPn9nLcBCeLHRljQwGb2LyQMy-uCsZqJETAJVGpG9K_eFgSTv4fPD9r4VuY4BcH3VQjJcdjWym_cJU_CAFpftrXFvmU4-9Gjd0VxmLpUkxvtvCKAFOPw8oiCU2TUOWMIRkPeFEUm-h1XT-60oTT_AzA8Ncypm4ds-zo/s602/20231104_091632.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="517" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLez5_cTd6Av2Z5jpz_DCBBTbxLPn9nLcBCeLHRljQwGb2LyQMy-uCsZqJETAJVGpG9K_eFgSTv4fPD9r4VuY4BcH3VQjJcdjWym_cJU_CAFpftrXFvmU4-9Gjd0VxmLpUkxvtvCKAFOPw8oiCU2TUOWMIRkPeFEUm-h1XT-60oTT_AzA8Ncypm4ds-zo/s320/20231104_091632.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-11022410393426893982023-11-03T15:08:00.001-05:002023-11-03T15:36:38.804-05:00N4KGL's RaDAR Rally Plan Nov 4th, 2023<p>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 <span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">RaDAR Spots page: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.radarrally.info/p/radar-spots.html&source=gmail&ust=1699112941480000&usg=AOvVaw3zX0oV0tuyUMZj7rTAnf9w" href="https://www.radarrally.info/p/radar-spots.html" mcafee_aps="true" rel="noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://www.radarrally.info/p/<wbr></wbr>radar-spots.html</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">. and the POTA site,</span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pota.app/%23/&source=gmail&ust=1699112941480000&usg=AOvVaw0AncO22YS3rijxIJi_am0A" href="https://pota.app/#/" mcafee_aps="true" rel="noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://pota.app/#/</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"> , The park is POTA K-1917. I may reach out on the 145.210 repeater and QSY to 146.565 FM simplex QSO.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDDy4BBK2TeXMBWH18RpaXfSnMGWBrOkAP-w7vhhcYxrxHZ7vgMC7fPIhBZ2PIw1VNDEE_qDCHgpq0ElgPtTPq9yNDSnAmdXN4-NoRqypvEICLPmqeULcs5H5iU4Ylm5KeFQGNefbuaOut98RI1tALXm8RwPm4rwzUghDfe6-uLIfSMzbzs9ByarVsPY4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="1521" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDDy4BBK2TeXMBWH18RpaXfSnMGWBrOkAP-w7vhhcYxrxHZ7vgMC7fPIhBZ2PIw1VNDEE_qDCHgpq0ElgPtTPq9yNDSnAmdXN4-NoRqypvEICLPmqeULcs5H5iU4Ylm5KeFQGNefbuaOut98RI1tALXm8RwPm4rwzUghDfe6-uLIfSMzbzs9ByarVsPY4=w400-h223" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Please read the rules</b><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.radarrally.info/p/radar-rally-rules.html&source=gmail&ust=1699112941480000&usg=AOvVaw0n78VeU6ZKQqPQh1wiivY1" href="https://www.radarrally.info/p/radar-rally-rules.html" mcafee_aps="true" rel="noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">httpwww.radarrally.info/<wbr></wbr>p/radar-rally-rules.html</a></p><p><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Review the roster</b><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"> for the registered RaDAR participants at </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.radarrally.info/p/fall-2023-roster.html&source=gmail&ust=1699112941480000&usg=AOvVaw2E1pq_M2n1JBky7Vyhj5iQ" href="https://www.radarrally.info/p/fall-2023-roster.html" mcafee_aps="true" rel="noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://www.radarrally.<wbr></wbr>info/p/fall-2023-roster.html</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">.</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Good luck and stay safe</span></p><p>Greg N4KGL</p><p><br /></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">.</span><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/moHlgtAkkJ0?si=RUfe3up5e3TeIAgv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-52498771695397304842023-10-24T13:03:00.005-05:002023-10-24T13:03:54.386-05:00Is the Saltwater Effect advantageous for the RaDAR Rally?<div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; white-space-collapse: preserve;">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 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; white-space-collapse: preserve;">overlooking the Grand Lagoon </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; white-space-collapse: preserve;">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</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/2SY6ZpsjSfw?si=8bdhBeQjxe5ecHqb" width="480"></iframe></div>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-76972063504552060792023-10-05T11:00:00.003-05:002023-10-05T11:02:13.175-05:00Registration is open for the Nov 4th, 2023, RaDAR Rally<p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">RaDAR is Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio conceived by Eddie Leighton ZS6BNE. RaDAR encourages outdoor operating with a unique challenge:</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">make five contacts and redeploy as fast as possible in four hours.</b><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The RaDAR Challenge has become the RaDAR Rally with some rule tweaks. Please take a look at the complete rules</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.radarrally.info/p/radar-rally-rules.html&source=gmail&ust=1696606436117000&usg=AOvVaw2g_zNnGH11171BV9qqGQXZ" href="https://www.radarrally.info/p/radar-rally-rules.html" mcafee_aps="true" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">. If you are interested, could you make your plans and register? Registration will facilitate RaDAR to RaDAR contacts. Email your registration info below to the RaDAR Rally POC, Greg Lane, at</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a href="mailto:lanekg@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">lanekg@gmail.com</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">.</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll accept registrations through November 3rd UTC.</b><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">If your plans change, send me an update. This is not a contest; it is just for fun! Check out </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/moHlgtAkkJ0?si%3DoqpudWG-o7VwDg2O&source=gmail&ust=1696606436117000&usg=AOvVaw3rKzoHEaZG0ll6o_Iadq2l" href="https://youtu.be/moHlgtAkkJ0?si=oqpudWG-o7VwDg2O" mcafee_aps="true" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">this intro video</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> and the</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.radarrally.info/p/fall-2023-roster.html&source=gmail&ust=1696606436117000&usg=AOvVaw0rqFZTqAIdueUs6gbyCh1H" href="https://www.radarrally.info/p/fall-2023-roster.html" mcafee_aps="true" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Fall 2023 roster here</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">.</span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Registration info includes:<br /><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Name</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Call</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Day (Sat or Sun),</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Venue,</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Start UTC</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Conveyances</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Bands</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Modes</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">QRP (Y or N)</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Spotting method (optional)</li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good luck,</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greg N4KGL</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzR-7WMzJXuoaPEzcfiZ1YiHVoSQE_-9WxGnw-W7gbyjksEz2RFiCG6iwN7kwfS4zK8_1BfUTms1OOw08aXRpEDBx0SuAH5ZGxdydCIx_cQitsWERdGYCKJnxLIqtpX_5mZyrP3w7bxLIoBEPljQLv_JkWhT5ox9GTFJsn2gSxzcYUgEqMnqVqO-Boiiw/s1200/radar%20rally.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzR-7WMzJXuoaPEzcfiZ1YiHVoSQE_-9WxGnw-W7gbyjksEz2RFiCG6iwN7kwfS4zK8_1BfUTms1OOw08aXRpEDBx0SuAH5ZGxdydCIx_cQitsWERdGYCKJnxLIqtpX_5mZyrP3w7bxLIoBEPljQLv_JkWhT5ox9GTFJsn2gSxzcYUgEqMnqVqO-Boiiw/w400-h210/radar%20rally.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-61391975521445398322023-07-01T09:13:00.001-05:002023-07-01T09:13:32.070-05:00Our 2023 ARRL Field Day at Eastbank Campground, GeorgiaRick NZ2I and I operated 2B GA on Lake Seminole from Eastbank Campground, Georgia. We managed 127 CW, 2 PSK-31, and 112 FT8 contacts. These counted ten points each. Our satellite QSO on RS-44 was five points for 2415 points total. All contacts were QRP, five watts or a little less. The bonuses were 750 points. Among the bonuses were the satellite contact, ten natural power QSOs, and a message to the Georgia Section Manager via WinLink. <div><br /></div><div>73,</div><div><br /></div><div>Greg N4KGL<br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8StAnq5Jro51XeCRrOQ55fbrlgiZd-1avbVIdRC7tygr9rM1Emd_zhyUiSvlN_33V_eNKl1gBv6mb4Id7fjtgdILeHmRjVSkajRf7RopIeq0w0hXSEwWhrPWHYwAEJqj0j0i0Oqh4SfWRumoSB-6QIH_5rwYJ2NeRtN59Fiuxk4yVLFTvLiR1IOE7DhU/s2783/20230623_154604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="2783" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8StAnq5Jro51XeCRrOQ55fbrlgiZd-1avbVIdRC7tygr9rM1Emd_zhyUiSvlN_33V_eNKl1gBv6mb4Id7fjtgdILeHmRjVSkajRf7RopIeq0w0hXSEwWhrPWHYwAEJqj0j0i0Oqh4SfWRumoSB-6QIH_5rwYJ2NeRtN59Fiuxk4yVLFTvLiR1IOE7DhU/w400-h265/20230623_154604.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is our setup at campsite C-33. It has lots of bonus green space we used for antennas.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7cw3w-SmPKICO-rnQPSItvqUla3eUzozK94YB7imzgi1Z1ZVXisNMMYggyTyvtGXAoiku43sb0IVmfjASVkYy0Qr5kOy-npZNL2Hlo8OS52otg7ZSNgw3K6qCZxm5h0FujvHk547z2lYXpWtK4AuP-9jV4T9yFmtQG95FsyBlAsiprohBsnoyHMaZ_g/s4000/20230624_161905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7cw3w-SmPKICO-rnQPSItvqUla3eUzozK94YB7imzgi1Z1ZVXisNMMYggyTyvtGXAoiku43sb0IVmfjASVkYy0Qr5kOy-npZNL2Hlo8OS52otg7ZSNgw3K6qCZxm5h0FujvHk547z2lYXpWtK4AuP-9jV4T9yFmtQG95FsyBlAsiprohBsnoyHMaZ_g/w185-h400/20230624_161905.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Buddipole Buddihex hex beam is a real winner for field day.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6TCrtZgJ3mmojYnQN694XF3QxEZnlapZ36Q0NGLnfhBEXUp6vsPLH75HXY4bz2FVh92JdA4Dp6wHuDlqV83QqdZLLdOuTbxcrXifOvaKqkJ7w8hxJ3dZmxJjvyb229kHY9x3209vnjWh6xdRNHTLB7KQawzxggXF81gPf_lI0gY-hv4HDh1BIdKBgJE/s1848/20230624_161921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1848" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6TCrtZgJ3mmojYnQN694XF3QxEZnlapZ36Q0NGLnfhBEXUp6vsPLH75HXY4bz2FVh92JdA4Dp6wHuDlqV83QqdZLLdOuTbxcrXifOvaKqkJ7w8hxJ3dZmxJjvyb229kHY9x3209vnjWh6xdRNHTLB7KQawzxggXF81gPf_lI0gY-hv4HDh1BIdKBgJE/s320/20230624_161921.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>These solar panels help keep the voltage up on our two LiFEPO4 batteries. The smaller panel is a Bioenno 60-watt. It is lightweight and portable.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAZBvjspUQlql_pp5WqSN4QCUgXAbsBoufrVr6Y9c7A_IQbaNBlIhOaPSeHWQDLIgGq4AGaPU-5sAESQ_l9PGrFoupwKVfqMpKGszcTFI9OYMCyyyQxMZ13B8h1lGzOpRrXRCX85LC9psBwWlKy4US1XfC3YRwb5T0ad2aoaLedUzWTI0UjguL6VKu5Y/s2207/20230623_154647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2207" data-original-width="1491" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAZBvjspUQlql_pp5WqSN4QCUgXAbsBoufrVr6Y9c7A_IQbaNBlIhOaPSeHWQDLIgGq4AGaPU-5sAESQ_l9PGrFoupwKVfqMpKGszcTFI9OYMCyyyQxMZ13B8h1lGzOpRrXRCX85LC9psBwWlKy4US1XfC3YRwb5T0ad2aoaLedUzWTI0UjguL6VKu5Y/s320/20230623_154647.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>Our Quickset Venture shelter<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGX3VwKQh_C5OlnX1YHdaMkNGjFl_3VvHjuYgQpKf14If1AMcD50pQEu3aAvTLqVp0nApw1pxguV9A4q__7aWVlhxZ3hYNE2Wuls4oi-jtLysDlEx1ufGGGxjVC5spio_J0sVxE00FKkZ3qS_gfFcBJ5GHUWD3Jasc3nlWltHgVvyDgkDOGBD2KZOknn8/s4000/20230624_221122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="4000" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGX3VwKQh_C5OlnX1YHdaMkNGjFl_3VvHjuYgQpKf14If1AMcD50pQEu3aAvTLqVp0nApw1pxguV9A4q__7aWVlhxZ3hYNE2Wuls4oi-jtLysDlEx1ufGGGxjVC5spio_J0sVxE00FKkZ3qS_gfFcBJ5GHUWD3Jasc3nlWltHgVvyDgkDOGBD2KZOknn8/w400-h185/20230624_221122.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of our two operating positions in the shelter. Rick was on the left on digital modes. I was on the right doing CW.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXOvgNQWVrJSEWGyl0qDxiZOcsXO1nuZl_fTPOjRqpR8LP7-DVSs--1etcm4W2iI1jNim2wcfRqdKyuo0f2p9NXtzC52hznQyhd2XHOaXzF6-phFhkHhQ3lwQWwnIXxlRXE42RxfWDrsW0sMWO0cqAdGDOhJE0eM0EcIIptmTexUx93YVSgDafakEg-g/s2584/20230624_110326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2584" data-original-width="1848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXOvgNQWVrJSEWGyl0qDxiZOcsXO1nuZl_fTPOjRqpR8LP7-DVSs--1etcm4W2iI1jNim2wcfRqdKyuo0f2p9NXtzC52hznQyhd2XHOaXzF6-phFhkHhQ3lwQWwnIXxlRXE42RxfWDrsW0sMWO0cqAdGDOhJE0eM0EcIIptmTexUx93YVSgDafakEg-g/w286-h400/20230624_110326.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I enjoyed a visit from Micky Baker, the ARRL Southeast Director.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKU1RHZA9D9YbisZ9dTGAaIs80_W4YVkPDKtNfNKg7UceWyojcFP2BJ30rVpjRnbTriuHdyuoADo9nda84XQj8SpjfBTyp545InO7xBWkzzxbn8x358ozyjWuXqPjesqGDat0Mjo09z6GuH5e8dITOA5dn9mwVQrs3z1xrehwKcUgCrVoV0cOZXdtGv8/s2153/20230623_154525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2153" data-original-width="1848" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKU1RHZA9D9YbisZ9dTGAaIs80_W4YVkPDKtNfNKg7UceWyojcFP2BJ30rVpjRnbTriuHdyuoADo9nda84XQj8SpjfBTyp545InO7xBWkzzxbn8x358ozyjWuXqPjesqGDat0Mjo09z6GuH5e8dITOA5dn9mwVQrs3z1xrehwKcUgCrVoV0cOZXdtGv8/s320/20230623_154525.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We look forward to Winter Field Day, likely from the same campsite.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-67764453633276418282023-06-10T10:36:00.001-05:002023-06-10T10:56:31.141-05:00Field Day CountdownI used to spend one day packing before <a href="https://www.arrl.org/field-day" target="_blank">ARRL Field Day</a>, and that was it. This year I am getting a head start. Rick NZ2I and I plan to operate callsign N4KGL, Class B Battery, two-person, two transmitter station at Eastbank Campground on the Georgia side of Lake Seminole. I chose campsite 33 because it has bonus green space. There is room for the Buddihex hex beam and a MyAntennas 130-foot Endfed. I know because I used campsite 33 for this year's Winter Field Day.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABqpj0MOP25BRs-HKQcE-gxJRC0iU2xhlQKJxOQIOZT0x-DkhEVVRuhJAmWyEh_HorVZ-C-lkfnxiSkaPtNIO8pOw2ZjyhNG-6ZhasVZY0pqr6_rEsdrKa8gsh4S_zj-3IdGVZ1x_Lwh_P_-BmZphJWwJuauWtoZ14XhZ42ZQdSp-HXPK4__uyOD0/s4000/20230129_081402.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="4000" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABqpj0MOP25BRs-HKQcE-gxJRC0iU2xhlQKJxOQIOZT0x-DkhEVVRuhJAmWyEh_HorVZ-C-lkfnxiSkaPtNIO8pOw2ZjyhNG-6ZhasVZY0pqr6_rEsdrKa8gsh4S_zj-3IdGVZ1x_Lwh_P_-BmZphJWwJuauWtoZ14XhZ42ZQdSp-HXPK4__uyOD0/w400-h185/20230129_081402.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Campsite 33 we used for last Winter Field Day. It is just the ticket with bonus green space for antennas. We will be operating in the shelter next to the camper. Of course, the panels will be removed to help with the heat,</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div>To QRP or QRO? ARRL is very generous with the QRP Battery multiplier. In simple terms, two QRP CW Contacts equals five 100W CW Contacts or ten 100W phone Contacts. One hundred CW contacts yield a decent score. The rigs are an Icom 705 and an Icom 7100. Note, the Icom 7100 does take eight amps on transmit even with five watts RF output. </div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oX_hKCmlZLw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We are using two 40 amp-hour Bioenno LiFEPO4 batteries for the power source. I have a solar panel for each, one 100-watt panel and one 60-watt panel. I am very impressed with the Bioenno 60-watt lite panel for its portability.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcSlQNnAX5IqKTAbGOjmJO7X2ulUPaTb3lwEN_HO0-mEsWykR3J-B380DfYgN1QvQHYIFOgTvy4_RHLOGuxthOOvbHJob5SqgZBgkksH2fXsL9GmQe4QcJEL8RDubDhg4mZFPY0bi8i6wLdjEFYlk-a0QoVaJ_J94a_gLpOiK2SoUVsnq4vj8cgjg/s3157/20230605_133347.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="3157" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcSlQNnAX5IqKTAbGOjmJO7X2ulUPaTb3lwEN_HO0-mEsWykR3J-B380DfYgN1QvQHYIFOgTvy4_RHLOGuxthOOvbHJob5SqgZBgkksH2fXsL9GmQe4QcJEL8RDubDhg4mZFPY0bi8i6wLdjEFYlk-a0QoVaJ_J94a_gLpOiK2SoUVsnq4vj8cgjg/w400-h234/20230605_133347.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I tested N1MM Logger + networking with two Toughbook laptops. The two laptops are tied together with an ethernet crossover cable.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>We plan to use a Quadplexer to operate both transmitters simultaneously on the same antenna. The Buddihex deserves to be shared. Hopefully, it will make five watts roar.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEz8DAZKQGMuz8gXgQxS-v7YxyggxFEHsP5fFm6kIMXQwnS-GmjINxdMujMzk1CD79dLS6gm0vTwGVCebjJ8tHSsBtNfhmyhvvQdWSFHe44wtwq50UYRt1eJJs9hccQ0leclwHO66aHQAnEpjAXZIDCjR2hZ6adcMqmiUPo9tSd43SxAccbdt8Ljza/s2992/20221228_155504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEz8DAZKQGMuz8gXgQxS-v7YxyggxFEHsP5fFm6kIMXQwnS-GmjINxdMujMzk1CD79dLS6gm0vTwGVCebjJ8tHSsBtNfhmyhvvQdWSFHe44wtwq50UYRt1eJJs9hccQ0leclwHO66aHQAnEpjAXZIDCjR2hZ6adcMqmiUPo9tSd43SxAccbdt8Ljza/s320/20221228_155504.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div>Networking N1MM Logger + for two stations is a new challenge. It is easier than I thought. N1MM does take a bit of configuration for digital modes like FT-8 and PSK-31. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUZdd_ugxiFCcyfrOA1gn00qA1XJiiWOKCytjo_n1h0DG8Uc5-Cl4JGBLUuEI3COO3h2Ud9_i9bV3sNMSrFvM3QopwPCJZQYF06zjnoKG0X8gjLw31K8Xp33RXBuCqT3DfI_yz19HZJp2Wt0Numob5_NiheH3So6WZfcEwmom5p5gYRsgqDUEsXxE/s4000/20230609_153937.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="4000" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUZdd_ugxiFCcyfrOA1gn00qA1XJiiWOKCytjo_n1h0DG8Uc5-Cl4JGBLUuEI3COO3h2Ud9_i9bV3sNMSrFvM3QopwPCJZQYF06zjnoKG0X8gjLw31K8Xp33RXBuCqT3DfI_yz19HZJp2Wt0Numob5_NiheH3So6WZfcEwmom5p5gYRsgqDUEsXxE/w400-h185/20230609_153937.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice satellite station, the Icom 9700, Arrow antenna, and CSN S.A.T box.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>But what about bonus points? The satellite bonus is always elusive. I do have the gear. Chris VA3ECO snagged a bonus sat contact with it at last Winter Field Day. So I had better practice. The sat station has an Icom 9700, Arrow dual yagi, and an S.A.T box. The S.A. T. box does much work, but it still takes some operator savvy to point the antenna and pull off a contact. I may go for the message bonus too. WinLink is a great choice; more prep and practice are needed.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSeofSj9Oo5KP_G_VV4tM4AXQevztj1ixapKgwY8NZoozBgiYzYnZe0iA_S0IgdxtdI2qAgtvSEz1xknVWuQ7QO7C85MhpiAIRsW5U1WPWdnFA2BuJja63KZgVp-D1TJfYcs1RZROi9vNkbBuLL_lR-qrZWGUXx5AGGPpWLu7pS39s0cwCxLAC89a/s4000/IMG_2556.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2248" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSeofSj9Oo5KP_G_VV4tM4AXQevztj1ixapKgwY8NZoozBgiYzYnZe0iA_S0IgdxtdI2qAgtvSEz1xknVWuQ7QO7C85MhpiAIRsW5U1WPWdnFA2BuJja63KZgVp-D1TJfYcs1RZROi9vNkbBuLL_lR-qrZWGUXx5AGGPpWLu7pS39s0cwCxLAC89a/w400-h225/IMG_2556.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What could be better than a view of the Buddihex at sunset over Lake Seminole?</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Hey, does this sound like a lot of effort? It is worth it; However, the effort can be reduced by participating with your local club. The Panama City, FL, and Dothan, AL clubs have planned great group field days.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fhlBi7zMiPFlPdBer9qu2TBhL98luSNw6m3px2sux78Jz-YybbrLE6ncICpgUR6KcjCZus7Opkhffa3_7jcHK5xoNguOiOBq-Mu-ZNxIT7lzbongX5Q99KMMdpU6lzzCVtmZfOp0YuZS05BRlDiL2jJ9u_UNZ5LKYL3DPQB_61rYKT6j-wWlA2YT/s4032/20210627_080041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1908" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fhlBi7zMiPFlPdBer9qu2TBhL98luSNw6m3px2sux78Jz-YybbrLE6ncICpgUR6KcjCZus7Opkhffa3_7jcHK5xoNguOiOBq-Mu-ZNxIT7lzbongX5Q99KMMdpU6lzzCVtmZfOp0YuZS05BRlDiL2jJ9u_UNZ5LKYL3DPQB_61rYKT6j-wWlA2YT/w189-h400/20210627_080041.jpg" width="189" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rick, NZ2I</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Rick NZ2I and I expect to have a great time despite the heat. We are long-time friends.</div><div><br /></div><div>Good luck at Field Day,</div><div><br /></div><div>Greg N4KGL</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-39291005268373968412023-05-19T15:35:00.000-05:002023-05-19T15:35:02.601-05:00A Dose of Alabama Parks On The Air<p>Linda, Suzy and I camped at Frank Jackson State Park near Opp Alabama. We were joined by Bob KK4DIV and his wife Carla. Bob, Carla and I followed through on our plan to activate Memorial Island for the <a href="https://usislands.org/" target="_blank">US Islands One Day Getaway on Saturday.</a> I was pleased to do four POTA activations at Frank Jackson. I also drove over to Florala State Park K-1040 which was my 50th unique POTA activation. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8V1poC195UjvrmTrF8YtIZ8zolGvzQF2rqZb8eUV8-_0liLk4aix4rE0gCOWZnbhEI0Qr-Y4BS4rsIQhf9nZbQdowQoKVXALAM4a3Fzxkdy2lASIQ6fpzqvJyBVXpWaXfMwF-LDZj8rGx_AKx2QDnLM5fHkE3-8U5gkxEIjTG7OaqcDf7KCpCUM8k/s4000/20230513_084006.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="4000" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8V1poC195UjvrmTrF8YtIZ8zolGvzQF2rqZb8eUV8-_0liLk4aix4rE0gCOWZnbhEI0Qr-Y4BS4rsIQhf9nZbQdowQoKVXALAM4a3Fzxkdy2lASIQ6fpzqvJyBVXpWaXfMwF-LDZj8rGx_AKx2QDnLM5fHkE3-8U5gkxEIjTG7OaqcDf7KCpCUM8k/w400-h185/20230513_084006.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of Memorial Island from our campsite</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>It was good to exercise my gear including the Icom 705, Elecraft KXPA-100 amp. I used the N6BT V8 vertical for most of my campsite contacts. On the island and at Florala I used the Alexloop magnetic loop for portability. I mied the modes, SSB, FT8 and CW. Tom WD0HBR and Sandy dropped by on Saturday also. Tom cast a worm lure in the lake, but it was too weedy where we were..</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBpLZyS-DIoIWB7_UfPY7GIUD8mPggASMwxPIP29-qI8eK60VUdzgLhth3PLz1tN7fCJC1nNVZQFM3V3DV_PwkXzyi83fHUbKvdO_iWBaoE9zVInYXO5GWldIz75x4t3wru9afqc1Cy8TOiYT_NLW-5nH04p1GffB88ap-NRT2QELjwdm1oxKEJuc/s1033/20230513_090219~3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="694" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBpLZyS-DIoIWB7_UfPY7GIUD8mPggASMwxPIP29-qI8eK60VUdzgLhth3PLz1tN7fCJC1nNVZQFM3V3DV_PwkXzyi83fHUbKvdO_iWBaoE9zVInYXO5GWldIz75x4t3wru9afqc1Cy8TOiYT_NLW-5nH04p1GffB88ap-NRT2QELjwdm1oxKEJuc/w269-h400/20230513_090219~3.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob KK4DIV and Carla from Lynn Haven, Florida</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I'll take any excuse to go to Frank Jackson. I consider it very scenic. Bob and I plan to return for next year's One Day Getaway.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDtdSd8mR_hP6GI-OhXekloOr6_PZAA_I_c0D-3ST8zlT51b4QGt22hZml8ETZW39ai6sYAXd6x98Xee5QulxgNIDdik2T7TDJvgG2Y2-X8KeFEKzckKeRJRFKtD7EjA2bu_L5DY53UMx4HpDRreqlIi2TXWYViHww0PVG0fv6AMAq75LKf1DlrMt/s4000/20230515_112815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="4000" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDtdSd8mR_hP6GI-OhXekloOr6_PZAA_I_c0D-3ST8zlT51b4QGt22hZml8ETZW39ai6sYAXd6x98Xee5QulxgNIDdik2T7TDJvgG2Y2-X8KeFEKzckKeRJRFKtD7EjA2bu_L5DY53UMx4HpDRreqlIi2TXWYViHww0PVG0fv6AMAq75LKf1DlrMt/w400-h185/20230515_112815.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Jackson at Florala, Alabama</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KzkN5AxDEX8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><div><br /></div>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-35042794238413671582023-04-03T12:02:00.005-05:002023-04-03T12:59:04.802-05:00My RaDAR Rally Experience, April 2023<p>I have been doing Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio for a decade now. Thanks to Eddie ZS6BNE for coming up with the concept. It is portable amateur radio on steroids. I have introduced <a href="https://radarrally.blogspot.com/p/radar-rally-rules.html" target="_blank">RaDAR Rally</a>. This is just some fine-tuning of Eddie's RaDAR Challenge Rules. The RaDAR Rally is the first Saturday of April and November, but I revised the rules to allow the following Sunday as an alternative date.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-oAMIcmYt-bb4OhC5TTM6TY37aJ-ir-8n_LmUcOTbTsP-ftTEw9WmuFLVCOXKS6Ch9u_WGhzI2hrpGMTt3VMwFZKV3aD7AEPKN8EyVD1M3fhN-Dvwt921oJunA5GRgEkyOEG2qPl4txtcUsLX5ttC5zmOcCE5QXc_5icPKTI-h1Cbqsvrmj5ttHq/s4000/20230402_115625.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-oAMIcmYt-bb4OhC5TTM6TY37aJ-ir-8n_LmUcOTbTsP-ftTEw9WmuFLVCOXKS6Ch9u_WGhzI2hrpGMTt3VMwFZKV3aD7AEPKN8EyVD1M3fhN-Dvwt921oJunA5GRgEkyOEG2qPl4txtcUsLX5ttC5zmOcCE5QXc_5icPKTI-h1Cbqsvrmj5ttHq/w185-h400/20230402_115625.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This waterfall is the Falling Waters' namesake.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>On Sunday, April 2nd, Chris VA3ECO and I did the RaDAR Rally. Chris was in Ontario. I chose Falling Waters State Park in Northwest Florida. Choosing a park on the POTA list is very helpful for RaDAR. Falling Waters State Park is reference K-1864.</p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q6lw1eC9lzU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><p>RaDAR Rally allows all bands and modes, including a digital mode FT-8. Chris and I tried out FT-8 at our first deployment at 10 am. We found each other right away. We used a trick Chris discovered using the TX-5 message to exchange an eight-digit grid square for making it a RaDAR to RaDAR contact. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbVZQNPoTzaJ99Jz32VA7tJ33KS5HthyfDtrrpb8C4wnGeio6V6dXYsfmmGdfmzTPheyKJxAMJFC5s6OpxjWA3eG1XjU9QG1DBff-m2lxyNShvk8iIv_JtB5IQC7AJY97g0eVv0Um6z1rtW1pO_Tj4nCdGdFLsFGd6Rgq0Kjzb6uq6yikr0_pkufo/s4000/20230402_145531.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbVZQNPoTzaJ99Jz32VA7tJ33KS5HthyfDtrrpb8C4wnGeio6V6dXYsfmmGdfmzTPheyKJxAMJFC5s6OpxjWA3eG1XjU9QG1DBff-m2lxyNShvk8iIv_JtB5IQC7AJY97g0eVv0Um6z1rtW1pO_Tj4nCdGdFLsFGd6Rgq0Kjzb6uq6yikr0_pkufo/w185-h400/20230402_145531.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suzy is always game for RaDAR.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>My basset hound Suzy has been my companion on most of my RaDAR adventures. She loves to take to a trail on the transitions. She likes even more to meet and greet the parkgoers. After five contacts, we move to the next deployment. On foot, the required distance is one kilometer. This time I did four deployments and three transitions. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEPo04jWszU_XB-5O2Rw5BVy83g-Jxah7--FdWOReIfjwBKYZ7on0TVawlNI-xFqNAJ9IF34IgT8zseFXtyXIQ4CmlQgZTObUroIo7XOs2kj0AYjC4xl0p8opk8E01ewm6t7uIzl0XdQ2jMN113zk_LGyd8qFdYfANQ2OmFzKEqavusZABfeD0YVn/s4000/20230402_135002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEPo04jWszU_XB-5O2Rw5BVy83g-Jxah7--FdWOReIfjwBKYZ7on0TVawlNI-xFqNAJ9IF34IgT8zseFXtyXIQ4CmlQgZTObUroIo7XOs2kj0AYjC4xl0p8opk8E01ewm6t7uIzl0XdQ2jMN113zk_LGyd8qFdYfANQ2OmFzKEqavusZABfeD0YVn/w185-h400/20230402_135002.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The HamPack packs up the Icom 705, Alexloop, and a laptop.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I have used my Icom 705 and the Alexloop for my portable operations lately. All the gear fits into the HamPack backpack Alex PY1AHD bundles with the latest Alexloop. The magnetic loop deploys fast and can quickly change bands as needed. This time, all my contacts were in the 20 meters band.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfAL_gxsrEtoMah0Lf1UaoARb-IMfre6_AMOchAREDNW55Uy1AcnhqGhTFSC0BLC_FlLMY1RZeHT9Aslvm-A_1Jbe2h6VFYP-KPVpwmH3wpJr_778jz0842cEpkzCVHr6JMDCYWiRxSKsXM6Zs1rv-R0gWuNc87ZvG9gZEBPmH1emSgP_tmmi2s5y/s4000/20230402_132704.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfAL_gxsrEtoMah0Lf1UaoARb-IMfre6_AMOchAREDNW55Uy1AcnhqGhTFSC0BLC_FlLMY1RZeHT9Aslvm-A_1Jbe2h6VFYP-KPVpwmH3wpJr_778jz0842cEpkzCVHr6JMDCYWiRxSKsXM6Zs1rv-R0gWuNc87ZvG9gZEBPmH1emSgP_tmmi2s5y/w185-h400/20230402_132704.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Alexloop is my go-to antenna for RaDAR and POTA.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I used three different modes FT-8, SSB, and CW. I am a novice on FT-8, and the 20-meter band was congested. I spent over an hour making my five contacts. I had better luck at other times. At a second stop, I jumped on 20 meters SSB. I did hunt and pounce between POTA and Missouri QSO party stations. I had one reply to my CQ. I got five in ten minutes. At a third stop, I spotted myself on the POTA app; I had five contacts in six minutes. In the RaDAR Rally, you are working against the four-hour clock. After the third walk, I had a short time left. I got the last contact on SSB at the last minute. Even one contact at the last stop helps your score.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K0Elquu_OuNtvBLTYjikLSJdxn3UQpoVAwkvmtQQS_TAlRZvXF7KwpkAtR6OF1AOq52lYXovPzhHHzLovyN011o4v_oJIAb1tEM7R5yIuzf7O0-Y5uTrfXym6-SI5zCs-Jn5r2D2fRzcNc8ru9tqg4pqDa_YtsUSptd6aSJBP295U9jsL_Fme_4m/s2340/Screenshot_20230402_160358_Connect.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K0Elquu_OuNtvBLTYjikLSJdxn3UQpoVAwkvmtQQS_TAlRZvXF7KwpkAtR6OF1AOq52lYXovPzhHHzLovyN011o4v_oJIAb1tEM7R5yIuzf7O0-Y5uTrfXym6-SI5zCs-Jn5r2D2fRzcNc8ru9tqg4pqDa_YtsUSptd6aSJBP295U9jsL_Fme_4m/w185-h400/Screenshot_20230402_160358_Connect.jpg" width="185" /></a></div><br /><p>Contacts are one point except RaDAR to RaDAR which are three. Stop one was seven points with the RaDAR to RaDAR with Chris. Stop two was five, stop three was five, and stop four was one for eighteen total.. I did a total of four stops which is a multiplier. Therefore the score was seventy-two. I was surprised to learn Chris had the same score as I did.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6GLhHD0E9f78grrGE3FovTosVLdJTbyttnKVF4X9No5cwHjfnA9Qq7v4gAB31OoqcrMoT6eyk5FiIQ79I-wqTy0Yii_BNBMGLV7y74sJbMWlTrEcghN3pVuZaQhVcz2Rcl3nSYJp2cFc_oMQ2Yq-g7HLXj-BveDEeSycaAgyehvcmTwSu9YXLWrM/s4000/IMG_0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2248" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6GLhHD0E9f78grrGE3FovTosVLdJTbyttnKVF4X9No5cwHjfnA9Qq7v4gAB31OoqcrMoT6eyk5FiIQ79I-wqTy0Yii_BNBMGLV7y74sJbMWlTrEcghN3pVuZaQhVcz2Rcl3nSYJp2cFc_oMQ2Yq-g7HLXj-BveDEeSycaAgyehvcmTwSu9YXLWrM/w400-h225/IMG_0118.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris VA3ECO does RaDAR Rally in Ontario</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Suzy and I went home thinking what a great day we had at the park. Par for the course, as they say.</p><p>73,</p><p>Greg N4KGL</p><p><br /></p>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-18686189461378305212023-03-23T13:18:00.001-05:002023-03-23T13:18:13.635-05:00Introducing the RaDAR Rally<p> <span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio, or RaDAR, was conceived by Eddie Leighton ZS6BNE in South Africa. Eddie has promoted RaDAR for many years. Eddie still sees value in RaDAR but has terminated the RaDAR Challenge rules as of 2023. I am introducing the RaDAR Rally event on the first Saturday of April and November. Please see </span><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" style="background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); border: 0px; color: #065fd4; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--display-type yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" force-new-state="true" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFYydmwyZUdhUnZ1ZzQxa1VuN1Vfc0N2c0hzQXxBQ3Jtc0ttXzlPT18wWlhzOXRUcHEwMExEY0tuSEtRMnhoNnlPSjV4Uk1yTUx2T3NRRHlSbFhyMWFFY0RYdG5NMUZDME1FeUpsLUZJel9oNG12VmVWaUU1dmZ1OWtoTF9MWHRGdi1VSXNnM0dFT2czMWlFZ0F4WQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fradarrally.blogspot.com%2F&v=YisbpyrCS1A" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3778cd; display: inline; text-decoration-line: none;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://radarrally.blogspot.com/</a></span><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for the rules. The first RaDAR Rally will be on April 1st, 2023 </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The following video was recorded during our March 20, 2023, Beginner's Academy Zoom meeting.</span></p><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_hYjZg2PmEY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-20545873362693651922023-03-16T10:01:00.002-05:002023-03-20T07:26:28.882-05:00Get Ready for the New RaDAR Rally, April 1st 2023<p><b>Background:</b> Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio, or RaDAR, was conceived by Eddie Leighton ZS6BNE in South Africa. Eddie has promoted RaDAR for many years. Eddie still sees value in RaDAR but has terminated the RaDAR Challenge rules as of 2023. I am introducing the RaDAR Rally event on the first Saturday of April and November. The RaDAR Rally rules streamline RaDAR contacts and minimize administrative effort.</p><div dir="ltr"><div dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="auto"><b>RaDAR Rally Rules:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="gmail_attr"><b>Dates:</b> The first Saturday of April and November</div><div class="gmail_attr"><br /></div><div class="gmail_attr"><b>Time: </b>Choose a four-hour operating period during the UTC day. <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://groups.io/g/RaDAR&source=gmail&ust=1679053848232000&usg=AOvVaw1S_Ya6r-4E5csYyIMHXRgc" href="https://groups.io/g/RaDAR" mcafee_aps="true" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">RaDAR groups.io</a> is available to announce your outing and coordinate with other RaDAR operators. Note that the four-hour duration creates an urgency that demands optimized equipment and operating strategies.</div><div class="gmail_attr"><br /></div><div class="gmail_attr"><b>Where:</b> You may choose any venue where you can legally and safely operate. Parks are a natural choice. RaDAR can be combined with Parks on the Air, POTA. You may also be interested in the POTA Roving Award.</div><div class="gmail_attr"><br /></div><div class="gmail_attr"><b>Goal:</b> RaDAR encourages a challenging and rewarding portable operating experience by promoting the rapid deployment of your station and physical exercise while moving between deployments. <br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><b>Deployment & Movement:</b> RaDAR deployments are at fixed locations of your choice. Your movement between deployments must be non-motorized, such as walking, bicycling, canoeing, or similar conveyances. Mixed conveyances for an outing are allowed. The minimum distance for walking or canoeing is one kilometer, and bicycling is two kilometers. You must make at least five contacts to move to the next deployment. A deployment location can be reused during an outing. </div><div><div><br /></div><div><b>Contact Exchange:</b> If you call CQ RaDAR, the exchange is both station's signal report and location. RaDAR to RaDAR contacts will exchange a maidenhead grid square of at least eight digits. If you are hunting contacts, the called station's activity determines the exchange. You may work a station on multiple bands/modes at a deployment location and work them again on another deployment. You can use any means to spot your activity.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Bands and Modes:</b> All amateur bands and modes are allowed except terrestrial repeaters.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Scoring:</b> The QSO points are three for RaDAR to RaDAR contacts and one for others. Up to five contacts count at a deployment' The number of deployments within four hours after your first contact is used as a multiplier. The final score equals the total QSO points times the number of deployments. The last deployment must have at least one contact. Your score is for your satisfaction and monitoring improvement. Please share your experience on social media, including <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://groups.io/g/RaDAR&source=gmail&ust=1679053848232000&usg=AOvVaw1S_Ya6r-4E5csYyIMHXRgc" href="https://groups.io/g/RaDAR" mcafee_aps="true" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">RaDAR groups.io</a>.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><b>Logging:</b> A log should be kept, but it is unnecessary to be submitted. You may use the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.radarops.co.za/radarsport/RaDAR_Sport.html&source=gmail&ust=1679053848232000&usg=AOvVaw0EZumM29l6QqZBw5_TnXja" href="https://www.radarops.co.za/radarsport/RaDAR_Sport.html" mcafee_aps="true" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">online RaDAR Log</a> to share your activity.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><b>Chasers:</b> RaDAR Ops appreciate ham friends who help them get those five contacts required to move. Since RaDAR ops bounce between operating and moving often with low power and compromise antennas, they are like rare DX. Please chase them. The QSO will make their day and yours.<div><br /></div><div><b>Point of Contact:</b> Questions or comments can be directed to Greg Lane N4KGL; my email is good on QRZ.com. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTk8i5nc0KZxMg4voy0sAPGLtWd-WsbVn4g2u9P9pTX3IVn38uwraHMALc6Av8qscEnt-6zt88D983LYMIeQ1pIicoUXwGSJDS7oSTZ85KKlsV8HtMl53PTuO_5oySbMm5qQtLIO_gHaF8MNef64M81rKY-KtAjMRRRiapAqwukZIrls0bXVi069rw/s4128/gplus-1665771860.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2322" data-original-width="4128" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTk8i5nc0KZxMg4voy0sAPGLtWd-WsbVn4g2u9P9pTX3IVn38uwraHMALc6Av8qscEnt-6zt88D983LYMIeQ1pIicoUXwGSJDS7oSTZ85KKlsV8HtMl53PTuO_5oySbMm5qQtLIO_gHaF8MNef64M81rKY-KtAjMRRRiapAqwukZIrls0bXVi069rw/w400-h225/gplus-1665771860.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div class="yj6qo"></div><div class="adL"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div></div></div></div>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-68628630162388522952023-03-13T10:51:00.001-05:002023-03-13T10:51:15.771-05:00N4KGL's 2023 Novice Rig Roundup Report<p>I operated the two weekends of the <a href="http://www.novicerigroundup.org/" target="_blank">Novice Rig Roundup</a>. My rig was the Drake 2-NT transmitter on crystal control and the Drake 2-C receiver. The output power was about 30 watts to my 130-foot 80-10 end-fed about 35 feet up.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2wBwCjiDgKPabLsJlu4eSluD4KbisRCE0OdatQIYxKKHDdYxaWMH1RQAde2hDWlNjtQhr_j4EqvM6QHiyYx5-QCNlWJaqR9FEFyORGezSrocE1j88SK-uzm95JPPuGeiHxAIt2dMziYfOXUupQrMfLxT_eRDRIobn-YGEksEy0qu3FWqbHcRKm5h/s4000/20230313_100825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="4000" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2wBwCjiDgKPabLsJlu4eSluD4KbisRCE0OdatQIYxKKHDdYxaWMH1RQAde2hDWlNjtQhr_j4EqvM6QHiyYx5-QCNlWJaqR9FEFyORGezSrocE1j88SK-uzm95JPPuGeiHxAIt2dMziYfOXUupQrMfLxT_eRDRIobn-YGEksEy0qu3FWqbHcRKm5h/w400-h185/20230313_100825.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Drake 2 Line</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I was pleased to work 26 other NRR stations among the 41 total QSOs. I enjoyed their chirp, and they heard mine. 15 Meters was the best with 22 contacts, 40 meters with 17 contacts, and 2 contacts on 80 meters. Those hams were all around the US, in 28 unique states.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI62OZtjbBoWq1FuC9CLl7P17ejG8HzfFlzluua4iV6TNgJXtMRbzLxLe-PdwJYTw-mf-yQtzVsBNt6HpmjVk-FvdGtCnbDZvrRztzr9DKd6lFVa-EtkYAUuVfdvBDK1lSkUQBMEnD4pzCXHMiLTsLEg4snRSL-Lyzuo12tReCzbf9e8rw7N7yyYxR/s4000/20230313_101017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="4000" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI62OZtjbBoWq1FuC9CLl7P17ejG8HzfFlzluua4iV6TNgJXtMRbzLxLe-PdwJYTw-mf-yQtzVsBNt6HpmjVk-FvdGtCnbDZvrRztzr9DKd6lFVa-EtkYAUuVfdvBDK1lSkUQBMEnD4pzCXHMiLTsLEg4snRSL-Lyzuo12tReCzbf9e8rw7N7yyYxR/s320/20230313_101017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Nye Station Master key and some crystals</td></tr></tbody></table><p>CW is a fun mode still. At least 200 hams were nursing their novice rigs for the event. There were Drake, Heathkit, and Eico, among others. Most use tubes.</p><p>This year I enjoyed working friends Tom WD0HBR in Dothan and Bobby AK4JA in Georgia. <a href="http://www.classicexchange.org/" target="_blank">Classic Exchange</a> is another fun event where the multiplier depends on the age of your rigs, </p><p>73,</p><p>Greg N4KGL</p>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-30113962483982266282023-03-05T10:18:00.001-06:002023-03-05T10:19:26.263-06:00Drake 2-C Repair Just in Time for the 2023 Novice Rig Roundup<p><a href="http://www.novicerigroundup.org/" target="_blank">Novice Rig Roundup</a> is March 4-12 this year and is now underway. My Drake 2 Line, the 2-NT transmitter, and the 2-C receiver is my go-to novice rig. I used a Drake 2-C as a Novice Class ham in the late 60s. I get to recreate that novice experience using crystals for the 2-NT. It is challenging when you have a few choices of frequencies, and you can't move around with a VFO.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuI4C-XTWXzfjurptzsjkRT34rZY5Ordp5Da9BqnbFTl3C4H_oHgRMow7jwKudGEqI4gayvJcaighFMEbB5-Y8z_ChILk-xUrAsLPBHayZJenOx20JxLEs8ciBmgCrkU8B1V3Fzc0aHFMF7KYTlQH9ZnBh42-xlFlNP-HOKQduqZ7DvhrVbKXUxWb/s2948/20220206_124032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1383" data-original-width="2948" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuI4C-XTWXzfjurptzsjkRT34rZY5Ordp5Da9BqnbFTl3C4H_oHgRMow7jwKudGEqI4gayvJcaighFMEbB5-Y8z_ChILk-xUrAsLPBHayZJenOx20JxLEs8ciBmgCrkU8B1V3Fzc0aHFMF7KYTlQH9ZnBh42-xlFlNP-HOKQduqZ7DvhrVbKXUxWb/w400-h188/20220206_124032.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Drake 2-NT transmitter and Drake 2-C receiver work smoothly together like a transceiver.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Sadly I let my original Drake 2-C go, so I bought a replacement from eBay. Phil N4STC now SK did a partial recap for me when I got the receiver. However, a hum developed that I lived with, but eventually, it was overwhelming the audio. The usual suspect is electrolytic capacitors, which was the case this time.</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8ZrQKZAioe4qsFOAuh20KgkqlA15NZ7IZOxOqp9UCYnMvvQtdnosO1CMxkG2h3dtRsztBacU_aLulDJd7Hf8PmxbE96n3Gx9QoMKnz_UxqXegKT9QzvuSLBNO5I6euaGDdVKVyHiFK4B7M7u50UeeAKefiykZR_S5nPmeWQXlb4hEJt4gKk7u1SF/s4000/20230228_073340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8ZrQKZAioe4qsFOAuh20KgkqlA15NZ7IZOxOqp9UCYnMvvQtdnosO1CMxkG2h3dtRsztBacU_aLulDJd7Hf8PmxbE96n3Gx9QoMKnz_UxqXegKT9QzvuSLBNO5I6euaGDdVKVyHiFK4B7M7u50UeeAKefiykZR_S5nPmeWQXlb4hEJt4gKk7u1SF/w185-h400/20230228_073340.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the 12-volt DC power supply circuit board in the Drake 2-C. The large electrolytic caps were the issue. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>There is a sidebar to this story. I bought a digital storage oscilloscope for my birthday. The good news is you can get a lot of bang for your buck these days. I purchased a new <a href="https://www.testequipmentdepot.com/instek/oscilloscopes/digital/100-mhz-2-channel-digital-oscilloscope-gds-1102b.htm?msclkid=adea51db322d167b258135df8099f72e&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NINS%20-%20Instek&utm_term=gds%201102b%20oscilloscope&utm_content=Instek%20GDS-1102B" target="_blank">Instek GDS1102B</a> two-channel 100 MHz digital storage oscilloscope for less than $300. The scope is a great value considering we hams may spend $300 on an antenna analyzer.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr8GBqdF9TNmw_nVHMUe0tC9F2elF4YgukpYqPMs3Dl_bK53yefGg2JjXt6s5vitzqQ8gkM-kZMNypSY7-tRLUzyYiPQOpCOdixPSaquyFHM-TkFHpecc4DMLj5RiRNbm5QT_8PBK3Orgz6W7o8Stib7iKoNk1_1tHuxtpWaE7O4aS59fbprteVNk/s4000/20230222_082926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="4000" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr8GBqdF9TNmw_nVHMUe0tC9F2elF4YgukpYqPMs3Dl_bK53yefGg2JjXt6s5vitzqQ8gkM-kZMNypSY7-tRLUzyYiPQOpCOdixPSaquyFHM-TkFHpecc4DMLj5RiRNbm5QT_8PBK3Orgz6W7o8Stib7iKoNk1_1tHuxtpWaE7O4aS59fbprteVNk/w400-h185/20230222_082926.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Instek 1102B. Note I had not compensated the probe.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The scope came in handy. Sure enough, the 12-volt DC power supply in the 2-C had a six-volt 120 Hertz AC component. There were two 1000 uF capacitors to do the filtering. One failed open they both had a cracked case. I ordered replacement caps from Mouser, and they arrived the day before NRR started. So a little soldering and mechanical maneuvering did the job. Yet the scope still shows one volt of AC on the 12 volts DC. That causes a minor hum, and I choose to go with it and get on the air for NRR.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYHUvEdwGKDWc5s7DPc7lHNzyFkgdR7ycoJx3DJoETViufuHWlnEojvuCzpGnzLtW6rJf1YgIzGEGSF8sclRiRtJKgXDULbUqqnEX_SB0DpwtI84AMObsuwxxk14dbp1nuEZrNxo6UjdJlOFHgyG5r5kKXIyeyS4nJ4v9Zu5Vzw1CCQxum12sSBqw/s4000/20230227_144832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="4000" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYHUvEdwGKDWc5s7DPc7lHNzyFkgdR7ycoJx3DJoETViufuHWlnEojvuCzpGnzLtW6rJf1YgIzGEGSF8sclRiRtJKgXDULbUqqnEX_SB0DpwtI84AMObsuwxxk14dbp1nuEZrNxo6UjdJlOFHgyG5r5kKXIyeyS4nJ4v9Zu5Vzw1CCQxum12sSBqw/w400-h185/20230227_144832.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: This is a terrible output for a DC Supply. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="4000" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7jGyuMvXaYDMSJsc-_Md4uaoABnaQy-gRObD4Cb9zmQU0vn0DyF0VKqX5lhfrtiJ3jvcvjnlukbVIOyGqmV9XXE3GFjEE3K77XmghsEbbgfCYUwquh1FXK5FwxpFU1_YUOLYG3MZ5Quni91gjBgKzX8mg8l2QXa4oDvnB7xb8Ag7dZdTznb48sWz/w400-h185/20230303_082653.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: Replacing the caps improved it, but there still is about a volt of AC.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I have eighteen NRR contacts from Friday night and Saturday. Among the contacts were friends Tom WD0HBR in Dothan, Alabama, and Bobby AK4JA in Newnan, Georgia. Most of these hams share my love of vintage rigs and the Novice days. This may inspire me to dig into other vintage rigs I have that need work. The scope is not required, but it sure is helpful. Note I am a novice at using a scope, but it is intuitive. I am pleased with my purchase.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-73454696883715253762023-01-31T15:49:00.001-06:002023-01-31T15:49:57.573-06:002023 Winter Field Day Camping in Georgia<p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #212529;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our WFD site was the Eastbank COE Campground in Southwest Georgia. Chris VA3ECO who is on a winter visit to Panama City, FL, joined me. We were a 2-transmitter outdoor Georgia (2O GA) entry. The camp site was adjacent to some green space that had room for both the Buddihex hex beam 20 - 6 meters and the MyAntennas.com 80-10-meter end-fed. A new wrinkle was using a Low Band Systems QuadPlexer to let both our transceivers use the same antenna at the same time, but different </span></span></span><span style="color: #212529;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">bands. We</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #212529;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> used a Quickset Clam Venture screen shelter for the </span></span></span><span style="color: #212529;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">operating hut. We closed it in with panels to keep warm. Chris spent Friday and Saturday in the shelter. Linda and I were in our trailer. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #212529;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC6Te89lQDeueARleYHqpIZt2d2h7LPQb1Hb7ai6wxCALok6xNdK8jQWDFPxyuiiQkq4i-vsFAie30asWF-d0o0Ffnr-px_CaB4pJqHEhZfEDv4qFE1y6-59QIECDV5V1ftJ6aZbDbcmZhlhenq8-4iGgl598NBjcx1F9I6eePR3G08-TTHzhlZgA/s4000/DJI_0302.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC6Te89lQDeueARleYHqpIZt2d2h7LPQb1Hb7ai6wxCALok6xNdK8jQWDFPxyuiiQkq4i-vsFAie30asWF-d0o0Ffnr-px_CaB4pJqHEhZfEDv4qFE1y6-59QIECDV5V1ftJ6aZbDbcmZhlhenq8-4iGgl598NBjcx1F9I6eePR3G08-TTHzhlZgA/w400-h225/DJI_0302.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A drone view of the campsite.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #212529;"></span></div><span style="color: #212529;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nyzS4i0e-dE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #212529;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We were ready by show time at 2 pm EST on Saturday. There was a CAS-4b satellite pass just after 2 pm. We had an Icom 9700 ready with Chris' Arrow antenna. We used a CSN Sat box to track the pass and adjust the rig for doppler. Chris snagged W4R also in Georgia on the sat pass. That was a great start to Winter Field Day and qualifies for a bonus.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #212529;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcP-cxVCMtXQX-IZ_-2f1Mm9TtQAvIfEuTN8lTYat4sHhReT30P1mqM3NJLMnBa1LZzpb81_R35bpnD7hFjDgQp6FGEs7W3ghjPaK0ZjRRsDLQyEfHKbeuRDhJrUwhfbYYzp6LjZgKpdaa5L6DYi_x6RyKvRIwMbXO2LFa24dY4GKLIFeNSK04X__/s4000/IMG_2556.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2248" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcP-cxVCMtXQX-IZ_-2f1Mm9TtQAvIfEuTN8lTYat4sHhReT30P1mqM3NJLMnBa1LZzpb81_R35bpnD7hFjDgQp6FGEs7W3ghjPaK0ZjRRsDLQyEfHKbeuRDhJrUwhfbYYzp6LjZgKpdaa5L6DYi_x6RyKvRIwMbXO2LFa24dY4GKLIFeNSK04X__/w400-h225/IMG_2556.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Buddipole Buddihex hex beam at sunset</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #212529;"></span></div><span style="color: #212529;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #212529;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Chris focused on PSK-31, and I focused on CW. We both did some phone. I had an unexpected run of 150 contacts on 20 meters SSB. 10 and 15 meters were open during the day. The Buddihex was outstanding. We used the end-fed for 80 and 40 meters. Eventually we got all band and mode combinations for 80 through 10. Then Chris tuned he end-fed on 160 and got a digital contact for a total multiplier of 16. Altogether we had just over 500 contacts. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #212529;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #212529;"><br /></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #212529;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQAS7wgCtp0TPqZ49zXmtBMkHgOXlc3lshYrtTQxP0mBpbEgMo6OXVCzBO4CvIvBk-Jg3SCGI2WkYXyZxx2MM44AH17nCxsr5eHGXB25bdsNkGGp7zUPV9dC0qQI20MhjqJeB8qslItOAeIdziZeapLqBTXemo8EHOtqedwim1wT0rC5WrOb6N0yh/s4000/20230128_101043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="4000" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQAS7wgCtp0TPqZ49zXmtBMkHgOXlc3lshYrtTQxP0mBpbEgMo6OXVCzBO4CvIvBk-Jg3SCGI2WkYXyZxx2MM44AH17nCxsr5eHGXB25bdsNkGGp7zUPV9dC0qQI20MhjqJeB8qslItOAeIdziZeapLqBTXemo8EHOtqedwim1wT0rC5WrOb6N0yh/w400-h185/20230128_101043.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris' Yaesu 857</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #212529;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It was not all operating, we ate at the Mexican Restaurant on Friday night, Chris cooked eggs each morning and Margot sent us some chili for supper on Saturday night. It was nice to hang out with Chris. He was a big help with the setup and operating. Pretty much this was a plan that came together and made for a great Winter Field Day experience. I hope to return to the same campsite for ARRL Field Day in June and have some more fun.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #212529;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1206ZkoTtJfWd5S98gfRUmgBl0E-jnJlasRH_fKSciu_nD-I8pPZOAahm5fxqkABXSLsiGbF9_fe7BNykQLD2nnoAyC8Z6pQCqume5SQ3tdVa4VBer9qrzqSl-Eq9HhqLrLn3h9RnDrjap3kinMsc6-ZULSqKYOroKBkJdt03BWIoubekPGb9ttK/s4000/IMG_2561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2248" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1206ZkoTtJfWd5S98gfRUmgBl0E-jnJlasRH_fKSciu_nD-I8pPZOAahm5fxqkABXSLsiGbF9_fe7BNykQLD2nnoAyC8Z6pQCqume5SQ3tdVa4VBer9qrzqSl-Eq9HhqLrLn3h9RnDrjap3kinMsc6-ZULSqKYOroKBkJdt03BWIoubekPGb9ttK/s320/IMG_2561.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VA3ECO and N4KGL</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #212529;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #212529;"><br /><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><br /></p>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-82850129869151629182023-01-24T13:20:00.001-06:002023-01-24T13:20:27.059-06:00N4KGL Winter Field Day 2023 Plans<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", "Liberation Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The WFD location for N4KGL is at Site C-33 at the Eastbank COE Campground, Georgia. Visitors, please let them know my name and site number at the gate. Chris VA3ECO and I are the primary operators. We will be a 2-transmitter outdoor Georgia (2O GA) entry. Our main antennas will be a Buddihex hex beam 20 - 6 meters and a MyAntennas 80-10 meter end-fed. We will be experimenting with a QuadPlexer to allow both transceivers on the same antenna but different bands, Chris will focus on PSK-31, and I will focus on CW. We will also operate phone mode and go for as many bands/modes as possible. We will set up starting at 2 pm Friday and begin operating at 2 pm Saturday through 2 pm Sunday. Chris and I are members of the Panama City ARC, and I am also a member of the Wiregrass ARC. Good Luck to all for Winter Field Day.</span></p><p><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Open Sans, system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Arial, Noto Sans, Liberation Sans, sans-serif, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Symbol, Noto Color Emoji;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", "Liberation Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmD_CjJoLG7DVR_hg4qsf4xR3LQ8EFP4oC0AMY6hTKkTulpCnrHtufa7X-1XlY7ymHcCK52qQU9m_K0Aw173NBt00sJszA1U9NLiII85feZfYBMihNn026MiwOr3w1v_gmEVU7mjAM73RtXWyrJY9WtV44m7ijxMnNNJBwmgZt6tPqGY5UC8jHx9Af/s1130/C33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1130" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmD_CjJoLG7DVR_hg4qsf4xR3LQ8EFP4oC0AMY6hTKkTulpCnrHtufa7X-1XlY7ymHcCK52qQU9m_K0Aw173NBt00sJszA1U9NLiII85feZfYBMihNn026MiwOr3w1v_gmEVU7mjAM73RtXWyrJY9WtV44m7ijxMnNNJBwmgZt6tPqGY5UC8jHx9Af/s320/C33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", "Liberation Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-61886357743604092042022-11-20T11:12:00.003-06:002022-11-20T11:12:50.549-06:00N4KGL's 2022 Fall RaDAR Challenge Outing <a href="https://radarops.co.za/" target="_blank">RaDAR</a> is Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio. For the Fall RaDAR Challenge, Suzy and I made three stops in three hours at Geneva State Lake in Southeast Alabama on Nov 10th, 2022. The site was on the Parks On The Air POTA list, and we benefited from the POTA hunters. I had to talk them out of their grid square for the RaDAR exchange. We made at least five contacts before moving to the next stop. Suzy enjoyed our two one-kilometer walks on the trail around the lake. We should have done one more stop; we had an hour left.<div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNNe10rXsmgG05zgsx-pc4L-tOMaXxof03G4fHw9iMByNrA8Bu4MpMMhLhuwBSjRzdYfmiyAWgM--GC6MqLegJ7SXX4sAYDy51W9eVdG_Zs5AgQt3SV3Q2Z4_-cQmfidn3lA__P1G2NkYLH3YFWwZltZ_ZPfQ7n00KC7naWQ6T-0Tu23dOQPiEIq_/s2992/20221105_104138.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNNe10rXsmgG05zgsx-pc4L-tOMaXxof03G4fHw9iMByNrA8Bu4MpMMhLhuwBSjRzdYfmiyAWgM--GC6MqLegJ7SXX4sAYDy51W9eVdG_Zs5AgQt3SV3Q2Z4_-cQmfidn3lA__P1G2NkYLH3YFWwZltZ_ZPfQ7n00KC7naWQ6T-0Tu23dOQPiEIq_/s320/20221105_104138.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first and third stops at Geneva State Lake in Alabama</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>At the first stop, I had seven 20-meter SSB contacts; then a one-kilometer walk, I got five more on 20-meter SSB. We walked one kilometer back to the first stop, and I worked one Alabama and one Georgia station on 40 meters SSB. I switched to 20 meters CW and worked eight. I needed to work more than five to get the grid squares. Asking for a grid square from a CW POTA hunter is difficult as they don't expect the request.</div><div><br /></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6lPSUW4hiMg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Geneva State Lake was an excellent venue for RaDAR. Since I spotted myself on the POTA list, the contacts came quickly. The Alexloop magnetic loop and the Icom 705 fit in my backpack and were both portable and efficient for RaDAR-style operating.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDlWnXSiXTQYvFo91YUycd39Jokka9ULtT2Vk2eKBvpxhB6ZA3jqifNg3ze8l201udZC8Hcu6Q6JhKCYGruvbtrLND12aiaN95MyFZ8ZmM6hQ0eE_tK3jGGulfQM1Tf3vbYer62vdkep0jc2SJsfEMv0p-TZaFruTZdhZlLEEWVQi9VEj5IjqjfCj/s2992/20221105_104257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDlWnXSiXTQYvFo91YUycd39Jokka9ULtT2Vk2eKBvpxhB6ZA3jqifNg3ze8l201udZC8Hcu6Q6JhKCYGruvbtrLND12aiaN95MyFZ8ZmM6hQ0eE_tK3jGGulfQM1Tf3vbYer62vdkep0jc2SJsfEMv0p-TZaFruTZdhZlLEEWVQi9VEj5IjqjfCj/s320/20221105_104257.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of the lake from the pier.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfBY5NrwbPqEvMwAqjge2Frb4umODhQxXDrKGDokraQYLogfX1-9x47eoq1YnpMgXlBOR8zcczKLBzOmtrvtdN7tAFofi8MDTGbxdF2uiD6kv-tKxEahUt-CHtwZDXk4Lwxl5mVT3aeGyAwgkrhDb-0p2m3uLBOKMjtwatm4xvZWIUxb919EyTGNe/s2992/20221105_104107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfBY5NrwbPqEvMwAqjge2Frb4umODhQxXDrKGDokraQYLogfX1-9x47eoq1YnpMgXlBOR8zcczKLBzOmtrvtdN7tAFofi8MDTGbxdF2uiD6kv-tKxEahUt-CHtwZDXk4Lwxl5mVT3aeGyAwgkrhDb-0p2m3uLBOKMjtwatm4xvZWIUxb919EyTGNe/s320/20221105_104107.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suzy, our Basset, and my RaDAR Companion</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-40007196567369261482022-08-22T08:53:00.002-05:002022-08-22T09:01:09.403-05:00Skeeter Hunt: My First Use of the Buddipole Buddihex Hex BeamThe annual <a href="https://www.qsl.net/w2lj/" target="_blank">NJQRP Skeeter Hunt</a> QRP Event on August 21st was my first opportunity to try out the <a href="https://www.buddipole.com/buddihex2.html" target="_blank">BuddiHex Hex Beam</a> by Buddipole Antennas. The assembly took some extra time being the first time. The quality and design of the antenna are excellent. I set it up for 20, 15, and 10 meters for this event. I spent three hours hunting skeeters. I found seventeen of them on 20 meters, including the head skeeter Larry W2LJ. The band conditions were not great for QRP but had a great time. Thanks to Tom WD0HBR for assistance with the Buddihex and for sitting in with me during the event.<div><br /></div><div>I look forward to more opportunities to use the Buddihex, in particular, Winter and ARRL Field Day.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkaayiZprZ8cpw2rJ-vUpjBpD74XIMVWx0ASC6C41mZbXZHNJGMrc6gG-ZnV5djhRToyfa-W3VH9LqQZMzM1xbICc2GaL7AdLPdEHek1vGve0BXJekXsXT0ydQkITm464dv8MfWmyoNaMC_UKN4lAOVLuPvZKLlrXL3BkqfI20HCi3vWAVyC6fJCT/s2735/20220821_160340.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2735" data-original-width="2190" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkaayiZprZ8cpw2rJ-vUpjBpD74XIMVWx0ASC6C41mZbXZHNJGMrc6gG-ZnV5djhRToyfa-W3VH9LqQZMzM1xbICc2GaL7AdLPdEHek1vGve0BXJekXsXT0ydQkITm464dv8MfWmyoNaMC_UKN4lAOVLuPvZKLlrXL3BkqfI20HCi3vWAVyC6fJCT/w320-h400/20220821_160340.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qxwpq2gOE0c" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-29434958214426483392022-07-23T16:53:00.000-05:002022-07-23T16:53:04.854-05:00POTA Fun with Icom 705, Alexloop, and a Saltwater Venue<p>I had fun this morning doing a Park On The Activation from my favorite spot at St. Andrews State Park near Panama City, Florida. There happens to be a picnic table right next to Grand Lagoon. That spot views the rest of North America over the saltwater. I believe saltwater enhances low-angle radiation for vertically polarized waves. My rig was the Icom 705 at ten watts into the AlexLoop magnetic loop. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYdurMafI-lVgkJb4Afic4uUdNVw0cnTGiUv9d9Z8CDh7aoQwFQzyEUAgR2brho3VMjQOwMO48zPiJU-C8hFKcdGse6l17EvinWWcJeXUVKFoPG6xE0-REmAhU3LGnmVk3m8v9kg_phjAQzIY6HorQ4v4nfaCRbjKPoPmaB7_kFsZa0Y0cuq9BnEX/s4000/20220723_083400.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYdurMafI-lVgkJb4Afic4uUdNVw0cnTGiUv9d9Z8CDh7aoQwFQzyEUAgR2brho3VMjQOwMO48zPiJU-C8hFKcdGse6l17EvinWWcJeXUVKFoPG6xE0-REmAhU3LGnmVk3m8v9kg_phjAQzIY6HorQ4v4nfaCRbjKPoPmaB7_kFsZa0Y0cuq9BnEX/w300-h400/20220723_083400.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Alexloop magnetic loop was about twelve feet from the water.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The results speak pretty well for this effect. I had 56 contacts, 48 on 20 meters, 6 on 17 meters, and 2 on 40 meters. To the west was NU7J in Washington State, to the south was ZF5T in the Grand Cayman Islands, and to the north was Chris VA3ECO in Ontario. The furthest contact on 40 meters was AA5UZ in Louisiana on CW. This was the best activation I have had with the Alexloop. </p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HdAw8FfH1sc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r8Ha_BUx5-cWUDGXbF_QXKR-NVtt-FlGzz01G82pYvjk6EK6soHfhN3Ec61mKPtl02gh2VmDMV46piG48gzYqIotrgeMesH2t4ygMpPYsOP3s4J5tSw5rReNV-th7WOz188dEy4ae0pu1ZatjVtBqN58miqkB7Xz2oytpiiuMDRNeKp7UtIjIDEY/s4000/20220723_083510.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r8Ha_BUx5-cWUDGXbF_QXKR-NVtt-FlGzz01G82pYvjk6EK6soHfhN3Ec61mKPtl02gh2VmDMV46piG48gzYqIotrgeMesH2t4ygMpPYsOP3s4J5tSw5rReNV-th7WOz188dEy4ae0pu1ZatjVtBqN58miqkB7Xz2oytpiiuMDRNeKp7UtIjIDEY/w400-h300/20220723_083510.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used the Icom IC-705 at ten watts powered by a Bioenno 3AH battery.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwj7jACS6qhMvF6o3KSzxnvS9ZSPFhVCX5VHrWmS515L-Jbv1a_UZHO5IGg5h4KwO4boHgnaPAX-qq-yu7rKNRSHYhBXLayA4-xJ0hEBzF08lI05NCiNz9h3tSc7MkPoW9K7qz0JL667pz7FGi9kBapBcBs63tK9ED_P9J30D6jX2hAmSj8_TofcMz/s4000/20220723_083415.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwj7jACS6qhMvF6o3KSzxnvS9ZSPFhVCX5VHrWmS515L-Jbv1a_UZHO5IGg5h4KwO4boHgnaPAX-qq-yu7rKNRSHYhBXLayA4-xJ0hEBzF08lI05NCiNz9h3tSc7MkPoW9K7qz0JL667pz7FGi9kBapBcBs63tK9ED_P9J30D6jX2hAmSj8_TofcMz/w400-h300/20220723_083415.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view toward the East over Grand Lagoon.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-41103459390445105612022-06-29T17:42:00.004-05:002022-06-29T17:47:04.676-05:00I used Five Watts, Battery, Hand Key, and Paper Log for 2022 ARRL Field Day<p>Our 2022 ARRL Field Day was at a campsite at Falling Waters State Park, Florida. When packing up the Icom 7300 and a laptop, it struck me. Why not go for the 1B category five watts battery. So I saved a few pounds by taking the Icom 705 and paper log sheets instead. This year like last year Rick NZ2I was my second operator. Bob KK4DIV, Daniel K4MDA, and Scott KF7MYF also did Field Day at the same park so there was a coordination of who was on which band.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-7iTVIblQdvkYGtumMd4QC6bVQ_9L1W6MC6TRvdINJBcStPZNLIB0HECwkmr6VPS0EJCLg3C0-jza8WHXlD8ivuyQOVOlB4U-5GsiWnSz2f1QWU-ux_0cJWXnF20hTs3AXN2vi_OnK3pJjQYpDJEINoXcwDT1UDQnMTrJzMWGyt0GPOMMC_EKgIf/s4032/20220624_110854~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-7iTVIblQdvkYGtumMd4QC6bVQ_9L1W6MC6TRvdINJBcStPZNLIB0HECwkmr6VPS0EJCLg3C0-jza8WHXlD8ivuyQOVOlB4U-5GsiWnSz2f1QWU-ux_0cJWXnF20hTs3AXN2vi_OnK3pJjQYpDJEINoXcwDT1UDQnMTrJzMWGyt0GPOMMC_EKgIf/w400-h300/20220624_110854~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2022 ARRL Field Day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Our campsite had plenty of room for antennas. I used a vertical with a remote tuner for 20, 15, and ten meters. I also used a SOTABeams 80/40/30/20 link dipole. It did 15 meters as well. Half of the dipole was within the campsite and the other half extended into an adjacent field.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3vtxT02dA4UyZITwkwedMx2k4Iu8HVVRu8Y2D3oCe4B41Bml4aDUJGllt8KqehFfEcyZuTOAsWxX1gr1hGdUckb_og74vfKsb9XG8bRdP7kv0u6bCaYvi8PEydofdwggO5jLLPo4tGexdbwbFzVCL_cltSRqAKh7ARlNBYJD9doHKrTT95Bn0A97/s4032/20220624_110938.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3vtxT02dA4UyZITwkwedMx2k4Iu8HVVRu8Y2D3oCe4B41Bml4aDUJGllt8KqehFfEcyZuTOAsWxX1gr1hGdUckb_og74vfKsb9XG8bRdP7kv0u6bCaYvi8PEydofdwggO5jLLPo4tGexdbwbFzVCL_cltSRqAKh7ARlNBYJD9doHKrTT95Bn0A97/w300-h400/20220624_110938.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Quickset Shelter worked well for us.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We operated outside in a screen shelter. It looked bad at the beginning as there was a first-class thunderstorm. We got on just thirty minutes late, but the rain help cool things off. I went strictly CW and avoided SSB. Having no laptop eliminated digital modes. I did hunt and pounce. There were plenty of running stations so it was a matter of staying in the chair. I managed 103 CW contacts. 20 meters was the best band with 58 followed by 20 on 40, 14 on 15, 7 on 80, and 4 on 10 meters. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLk7aENYlLS7SoSlGfblmLrUfnyj8LA_1eTze6CfzhK0z67khn_4HInfZKRG4RjdozL1PTmhzf1w2cRLVAr_NB51i27gPHBQ6EaCkYmnwfd9jsF7cUus3XPrzc3_KAxleyF1GJ8xdVYQDSZbEYCNp9zfMotFAjxhAvHqlvDKO8j-tdQLOIyWXOaEre/s4032/20220625_145658.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLk7aENYlLS7SoSlGfblmLrUfnyj8LA_1eTze6CfzhK0z67khn_4HInfZKRG4RjdozL1PTmhzf1w2cRLVAr_NB51i27gPHBQ6EaCkYmnwfd9jsF7cUus3XPrzc3_KAxleyF1GJ8xdVYQDSZbEYCNp9zfMotFAjxhAvHqlvDKO8j-tdQLOIyWXOaEre/w400-h300/20220625_145658.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rig was an Icom 705 which barely drained our 40 amp-hour Bioenno battery in the battery box.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>CW is two points per contact and the five watts battery has a multiplier of five. So without bonuses, the score was 1030. On last year's Field Day Rick and I had 166 contacts for 562 points. <b>So the QRP gamble paid off, fewer contacts for more points works for me.</b></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_w-4fzxka4FV3mdP1ND7CVoH6v8SYxzPjJpcLyqgeeI5SH-uKhfBqgtvDLkXe_Q9SLVa-4wAB4iK79snrOtd0pjxU-UKxL2fqzHqRWRDJ_yb6xZrx-7bUFpaO-vCMEeMl6gIowF5RyYwZ4of7Lcjqb3PILayd1ct9CynvWezmIK3PVYHKhGUqcrNa/s4032/20220624_110934.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_w-4fzxka4FV3mdP1ND7CVoH6v8SYxzPjJpcLyqgeeI5SH-uKhfBqgtvDLkXe_Q9SLVa-4wAB4iK79snrOtd0pjxU-UKxL2fqzHqRWRDJ_yb6xZrx-7bUFpaO-vCMEeMl6gIowF5RyYwZ4of7Lcjqb3PILayd1ct9CynvWezmIK3PVYHKhGUqcrNa/w300-h400/20220624_110934.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The SOTABeams Tactical 7000 telescoping pole supported the SOTABeams 80/40/30/20 link dipole. We ran one end to the volleyball net on the field.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p>I enjoyed socializing with Rick, Bob, Daniel, and Scott. We stayed for a few extra days and I did two POTA activations. For Winter Field Day in January, there is motivation to work all bands and modes for the multiplier. However, for ARRL Field Day I like sticking to CW.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiJ6_GCY5Ks1AGE18CSleTpoEt0J7ZVKMvNietTuJKNcq7HCq05eS2UweBw23nrhgwk5kcUCj7cp5BDGEWGxBbwAWSrxOqCLEDf7KwvVvGA-eQA18KR_a6QW3yHarQMCXK54ODtf89vb1uM8AygSumYsx2QU1i0wnScTREJS32315xKKKYrZP3pLX/s1368/20220626_091250~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="1368" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiJ6_GCY5Ks1AGE18CSleTpoEt0J7ZVKMvNietTuJKNcq7HCq05eS2UweBw23nrhgwk5kcUCj7cp5BDGEWGxBbwAWSrxOqCLEDf7KwvVvGA-eQA18KR_a6QW3yHarQMCXK54ODtf89vb1uM8AygSumYsx2QU1i0wnScTREJS32315xKKKYrZP3pLX/w400-h399/20220626_091250~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suzy basks in the sun near the sign Daniel K4MDA made for us.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-31820979923093954682022-06-13T14:03:00.002-05:002022-06-13T14:19:48.065-05:00Lassen Volcanic National Park POTA Activation<p>Linda and I took a plane ride from Panama City, Florida to Sacramento, California to visit our daughter Emily in Chico, California the first week of June. I worked in three Parks On The Air (POTA) activations in the valley including Woodson Bridge K-3597, Adobe K-3596, and Bidwell Sacramento River K-1128. Emily went with me to the first activation so she knows what it is about now. We saw pelicans in the Sacramento River. How about that?</p><p>My gear was my Icom 705 and my SOTABeams link dipole. QRP seemed tougher in Northern California than in Florida. It may have been band conditions. The best contacts were to the North/South and not to the East. I got the required ten contacts at each park. I learned to be mindful that the UTC day rolled over at five pm. I had to get ten contacts before the UTC day rollover or after.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFld4JLbHjBOXxdBhfaINfTCp--4T9Js6bYlcg_x8I8WHgglaNF4SYCMh6-N74Vh_aXx1sJUd1Dz2TBz826AoLQIygRKFuc1Qe0KuFlFsW-13Dteu8_cm-1dSaZQcRI2WYLaaDEWiliTOd4N4DlgWSCAtoEu9VDMPooyLwU1kB9MRP5pZOmFAls-x/s4032/20220606_114717~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFld4JLbHjBOXxdBhfaINfTCp--4T9Js6bYlcg_x8I8WHgglaNF4SYCMh6-N74Vh_aXx1sJUd1Dz2TBz826AoLQIygRKFuc1Qe0KuFlFsW-13Dteu8_cm-1dSaZQcRI2WYLaaDEWiliTOd4N4DlgWSCAtoEu9VDMPooyLwU1kB9MRP5pZOmFAls-x/s320/20220606_114717~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The POTA highlight was a trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park K-0049. There was some drama when I got lost in some rustic territory on the trip to the park. The Garmin GPS wanted me to take unpaved roads. I knew I was in trouble, but after about 45 minutes I came upon two men who sent me in the right direction. I entered the park from the Loomis Ranger station at the North end of the park. It was a short distance to Manzanita Lake where I set up a picnic table to operate. There was no cellular service anywhere in the area so I could not spot myself. It also was a Monday and stations on 20 meters were sparse. However, I got four on SSB and three on CW. With 20 meters waning my hope for the last three was 40 meters. I begged some SSB stations to give me contacts and that completed the ten needed. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMo8aGL19LGE_3n7tHKtBKPxp9xcLFtdDhx5XZYJ4DGtZ6crOY2QCzkhmg-FGzFnSEOKKlACsPsvOd807K3qcAAMRSrVQXSs5q2ZwPYLUfBpvFsfLf4L-6XcEC0VXm2RaOZnDvMAE2HjYn_QC0S619TuMn4z6VJ99eOmMMjrZgHP5Gq_C2DCG33eNq/s4032/20220606_142004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMo8aGL19LGE_3n7tHKtBKPxp9xcLFtdDhx5XZYJ4DGtZ6crOY2QCzkhmg-FGzFnSEOKKlACsPsvOd807K3qcAAMRSrVQXSs5q2ZwPYLUfBpvFsfLf4L-6XcEC0VXm2RaOZnDvMAE2HjYn_QC0S619TuMn4z6VJ99eOmMMjrZgHP5Gq_C2DCG33eNq/w300-h400/20220606_142004.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lqxPNckuRpY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p>The lake was particularly scenic at 5800-foot elevation. I had daylight to drive the thirty-mile park road to the exit on the South. I saw the snow-capped mountains and the road reached the 8500-foot level so there was plenty of snow there. I saw and smelled the boiling Sulphur Springs on the South end of the park. The park and the trip back to Chico were miles of winding roads. I saw some great sights we don't have in Florida.</p><p>73,</p><p>Greg N4KGL</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfp8sj-XzysKjwrUra54L2XBzby8BEAWpmKCmdITZo0hrnjhorWaaMV50NhsUt33lIjLPYY_qVkyVECizwUXbZ_cT4vb2GImH2LcpLCQDaN49EfU6GdAOijgCu2hJuLDiR8ow-NNzHi2VDeIewLQkrmvqjPAZavCVuh7ga5EutXWXN5g8cR4sHueN/s4032/20220606_153842~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfp8sj-XzysKjwrUra54L2XBzby8BEAWpmKCmdITZo0hrnjhorWaaMV50NhsUt33lIjLPYY_qVkyVECizwUXbZ_cT4vb2GImH2LcpLCQDaN49EfU6GdAOijgCu2hJuLDiR8ow-NNzHi2VDeIewLQkrmvqjPAZavCVuh7ga5EutXWXN5g8cR4sHueN/w300-h400/20220606_153842~2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-81355646069457040802022-05-18T13:06:00.001-05:002022-05-18T14:45:34.385-05:00One Day Island Getaway with the Alexloop and the Icom 705<p><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">One Day Getaway (1DG) is the <a href="https://usislands.org/" target="_blank">US Islands Programs</a>' excuse to operate ham radio from an island on the second Saturday of May. Since I chose to camp at Frank Jackson State Park, Alabama, I had easy access to Memorial Island, USI AL021L, in Lake Frank Jackson. Bob KK4DIV and his wife Carla also camped at the park. They operated from the other end of the island. I minimized my packup with the Alexloop and the Icom 705 which all fit in Alex's Ham Pack. I did search and pounce on 20 meters SSB for fifteen POTA stations. I also got one 40-meter SSB POTA contact and five 20 Meter CW contacts. A few of the contacts took extra repeats to get the info across and some did not. Overall, I had plenty for a POTA activation. I also worked our friend Chris VA3ECO on his island in Ontario. Bob, Carla, and I enjoyed the scenery and had a good time.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeZPI3j16_A_BMc1ZH-9pUaEcJH0XobI7OWDusPyueW-I76lTjauRW42jD_dLvTbs9fp01PQWU4FzJ_6mpmcHjnfs-0-LVTViLYIJskMscWTZpfAXiHxGVSbpkltKAiFw0_jOnA2yQ3KwHuN8IG5mP1T_M8AE0B5KrLWID0B5mgvRJ5TRB4L2qz25/s499/HamPack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="499" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeZPI3j16_A_BMc1ZH-9pUaEcJH0XobI7OWDusPyueW-I76lTjauRW42jD_dLvTbs9fp01PQWU4FzJ_6mpmcHjnfs-0-LVTViLYIJskMscWTZpfAXiHxGVSbpkltKAiFw0_jOnA2yQ3KwHuN8IG5mP1T_M8AE0B5KrLWID0B5mgvRJ5TRB4L2qz25/w400-h376/HamPack.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex PY1AHD's Ham Pack contained the Alexloop and Icom 705</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WQpPBghB7ps" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVmFZqNHS8-8Cfwemy3INxg_QFYd92ZMm9gkiW2aS1QdD2jwtC20N94Q9cZe5FDYhKYZF3aSrnp51U6LcpBaccnvzFtS1--zCwhdc4eVouxZHsfen4puABZOoexdQMBBO3SCWykmkccSkZZHU4i3vgVxCqPRpKkP3kOaYryr2TVJl_YO_4UZN3kO0/s4032/20220514_135059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVmFZqNHS8-8Cfwemy3INxg_QFYd92ZMm9gkiW2aS1QdD2jwtC20N94Q9cZe5FDYhKYZF3aSrnp51U6LcpBaccnvzFtS1--zCwhdc4eVouxZHsfen4puABZOoexdQMBBO3SCWykmkccSkZZHU4i3vgVxCqPRpKkP3kOaYryr2TVJl_YO_4UZN3kO0/w400-h300/20220514_135059.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My view from Memorial Island at Frank Jackson State Park</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtjs1cYxGz7DlFAgqtgj4f5swzAxNg-a7atEzp7RlOwNyFHbPJmeVNMSAxmmLFT0Fe-Ydz3hIPlyhT-HF4I1IHNQ6ASQaRf6hKCA8iTwlbbxPgQLy0tbJtUKducGXKEozPoDNESTKVTO6VWX5hT3OSbYXtEavEffCVU3GoQJMB1M3mU-b6WMPxyqu/s4032/20220514_135049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtjs1cYxGz7DlFAgqtgj4f5swzAxNg-a7atEzp7RlOwNyFHbPJmeVNMSAxmmLFT0Fe-Ydz3hIPlyhT-HF4I1IHNQ6ASQaRf6hKCA8iTwlbbxPgQLy0tbJtUKducGXKEozPoDNESTKVTO6VWX5hT3OSbYXtEavEffCVU3GoQJMB1M3mU-b6WMPxyqu/w400-h300/20220514_135049.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View over the water at Lake Frank Jackson</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQaw8yOW7eC2mN9CpmwMzLSTqvWx744O18NhCYJIfONNSL7-0f2hmY8YZeiPrHZgusbEhew7Nh88dv68d6Ei8-uq5uXb46Th10qAeEkHgkipkwpr8TJFu3vvIs76g-ZAvkHzD4bNxymA_NLPfRpbJzYFGFhsPQYR4iN9f8Ed1Uq3zzinZh57qhTC5/s4032/20220514_060206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQaw8yOW7eC2mN9CpmwMzLSTqvWx744O18NhCYJIfONNSL7-0f2hmY8YZeiPrHZgusbEhew7Nh88dv68d6Ei8-uq5uXb46Th10qAeEkHgkipkwpr8TJFu3vvIs76g-ZAvkHzD4bNxymA_NLPfRpbJzYFGFhsPQYR4iN9f8Ed1Uq3zzinZh57qhTC5/w400-h300/20220514_060206.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise view from our campsite at Frank Jackson State Park</td></tr></tbody></table><br />N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-10156062353485445962022-04-03T18:21:00.001-05:002022-04-03T18:21:57.035-05:00Awesome RaDAR to RaDAR QSO<p>Chris VA3ECO and I both participated in the Spring RaDAR Challenge on Saturday. We had radically different venues. Chris was on foot on a frozen Canadian lake, and I walked in my Garden District neighborhood in Dothan, Alabama. Finding another RaDAR op is challenging. However, I contacted Mike WB8ERJ doing POTA in Ohio on 20 meters SSB. I needed Mike's grid square, which he pulled right up on his Raspberry Pi. His next contact was Chris VA3ECO. I could hear Chris. Then Mike let us make our RaDAR to RaDAR contact. We exchanged our respective grid squares. Chris and I both entered our contact in the online RaDAR log that Eddie ZS6BNE created. So we got the QSL checkmark for having matching information, including the grid square. Communicating effectively is one goal of RaDAR. Chris had a phenomenal five stops in four hours with a one-kilometer walk in between. I made two stops. I did not think HF conditions were very good. I wonder what Chris's secret was for making all those contacts. He said his legs were aching when he was done.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjlc5oLe_VAjCM39oz51vpWbUMijZO0dBkTmT39gFAJ7ebdzw-JEOJLXRZgtvyjShF4nZTZEREfzupKTbZokwbYbdoZ21-qPqyiBgbTfPOo-YG6k6pLhelntxHuE3jJB3RrMYGAUlgFCbweDofWd_q0ZaEDv8I_WSbfb7wN8fwGqpHgYJ3os8_qVw/s557/Chris%20Ice%20Walk.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="557" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjlc5oLe_VAjCM39oz51vpWbUMijZO0dBkTmT39gFAJ7ebdzw-JEOJLXRZgtvyjShF4nZTZEREfzupKTbZokwbYbdoZ21-qPqyiBgbTfPOo-YG6k6pLhelntxHuE3jJB3RrMYGAUlgFCbweDofWd_q0ZaEDv8I_WSbfb7wN8fwGqpHgYJ3os8_qVw/s320/Chris%20Ice%20Walk.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris VA3ECO doing on-foot RaDAT on a frozen lake in Ontario.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfVtsYcUiE1J-CUgYM5nONajh9SzRP79KV3A17N3ck-M4a5GZSzdcPXaSH1KdM1xLW8iCYpPcb33trEc-Y0oAF7q5leax6MeJ0MvxZ2eY-PSw0ShTZ2owbFzzUTefgs47m4zqXEcBb0tmjInJZ377PQHs9AIlnzth0hAIyI0eOp-1YM35v-HoLtME/s648/Chris%20Operating%20RaDAR.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="648" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfVtsYcUiE1J-CUgYM5nONajh9SzRP79KV3A17N3ck-M4a5GZSzdcPXaSH1KdM1xLW8iCYpPcb33trEc-Y0oAF7q5leax6MeJ0MvxZ2eY-PSw0ShTZ2owbFzzUTefgs47m4zqXEcBb0tmjInJZ377PQHs9AIlnzth0hAIyI0eOp-1YM35v-HoLtME/s320/Chris%20Operating%20RaDAR.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris VA3ECO is operating RaDAR on the ice.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCI4M1Jcl8LXNtaTrshG7HtDZy-UPj2CBtnoZwGg_Y9GQy-eOWwYspAc4aiIFib-uWqrJ__fKaOhqbECxALEO-yX1n9Z4cM8o4T2bHvNFLRn_rXQdd76deNoB5txd6OfQyMYBqSMtc9wVA6daIwj4hUQarbH7jj1NR6hUSuDCFiJX1go_o0WiCPPs/s618/Greg%20Set%20UP.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCI4M1Jcl8LXNtaTrshG7HtDZy-UPj2CBtnoZwGg_Y9GQy-eOWwYspAc4aiIFib-uWqrJ__fKaOhqbECxALEO-yX1n9Z4cM8o4T2bHvNFLRn_rXQdd76deNoB5txd6OfQyMYBqSMtc9wVA6daIwj4hUQarbH7jj1NR6hUSuDCFiJX1go_o0WiCPPs/s320/Greg%20Set%20UP.JPG" width="236" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greg N4KGL's set up in Solomon Park in Dothan, Alabama</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1bq9zuSDp5A" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-35164787954946422842022-03-09T11:03:00.000-06:002022-03-09T11:03:49.398-06:00RaDAR: Get Ready to be Challenged!<p><b>The next RaDAR Challenge is April 2nd, 2022 UTC.</b> RaDAR is Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio fostered by Eddie Leighton ZS6BNE. The RaDAR “Challenge” is a unique event aimed at promoting the use of Rapidly Deployable Amateur Radio stations. RaDAR is a step up from how you have been operating portable. Also, there is no limitation on your outdoor venue. Please give it a go, the more participants we have, the more fun it will be. Chasers are very helpful and now a RaDAR category. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYBqujQzAQocUVxfx2dE4o1Vs1-427QpjdoFSEPZb-wiPx8uOtb3tPc_YIlBmZ7RSjCdaad76GDNPBXBWNkrjFla5iTOuOSdjJ3gdmLfY6c2odeLNd1johKuWZghWw7_OYdVY40Tr4D5XWrop0uPhv3i0_cdBh8fi-S3IKbpKiGgaGS4zHvBC1rKj0=s659" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="659" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYBqujQzAQocUVxfx2dE4o1Vs1-427QpjdoFSEPZb-wiPx8uOtb3tPc_YIlBmZ7RSjCdaad76GDNPBXBWNkrjFla5iTOuOSdjJ3gdmLfY6c2odeLNd1johKuWZghWw7_OYdVY40Tr4D5XWrop0uPhv3i0_cdBh8fi-S3IKbpKiGgaGS4zHvBC1rKj0=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The rules have been refined after some new ideas were tested in the November 2021 Challenge. Be sure to give <a href="http://radarops.co.za/index.php/radar-rules/" target="_blank">the rules</a> a careful read. Also, please see the <a href="https://zs6bne.wordpress.com/2022/02/26/the-radar-challenge-how-to/" target="_blank">How-To for RaDAR Online Logging</a> </p><p>Here are some highlights from the rules:</p><p><b>There are four categories:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Category A – A FULL twenty-four-hour RaDAR Challenge.</li><li>Category B – The standard RaDAR challenge. It’s up to each individual to plan his / her MAXIMUM, SINGLE PERIOD, FOUR HOUR ops.</li><li>Category C – A 2-hour RaDAR Sport sprint, starting time 14:00 LOCAL TIME. This is a physically demanding challenge.</li><li>Category D – A RaDAR Chaser station. Without these stations, RaDAR operators will find difficulty in maintaining quick QSOs per deployment.</li></ul><p></p><p><b>There are multipliers based on your portable situation:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>x 1 – RaDAR Fixed station (in a building away from home)</li><li>x 2 – RaDAR Field station (camping)</li><li>x 3 – Moving RaDAR station – see modes of transport below.</li></ul><p></p><p>Options (Fixed, Field, or Moving) may be changed at any time during the challenges.</p><p><b>The Moving category has specified transition distances:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Bicycles – 2 km.</li><li>On foot and paddle canoes – 1 km.</li><li>Wheelchairs – 500 m (The four-hour challenge only).</li><li>Vehicles, motorcycles, and motorboats (motorized transport) – 6 km.</li></ul><p></p><p>Aeronautical mobile stations are considered moving stations and can communicate at any convenient time.</p><p>Note: Motorized transport is only allowed for the twenty-four and four-hour challenges and not for the two-hour RaDAR Sport sprint. The RaDAR Sport sprint is more of a physical challenge.</p><p><b>Moving RaDAR stations need to make at least five QSOs before moving to the next deployment point.</b> Thereafter they are required to move to their next destination. The move needs to cover the required distance before further contacts can be made. This requirement tests the ability to rapidly and successfully re-deploy your amateur radio station. </p><p><b>Exchange: </b></p><p>Callsign, Name, RS (T) report, and Grid locator. <b>The grid locator of six characters is acceptable but should preferably be accurate to 8 or 10 characters</b></p><p>Logging may be done online during the course of the event. Logging by all participants is encouraged because matching QSOs will receive a bonus point.</p><p>Good Luck and stay safe,</p><p>Greg N4KGL</p>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-37338831044239131302022-02-09T12:32:00.002-06:002022-02-09T12:32:45.070-06:00Riding the Classic Exchange Time Machine<p>I had a great ride on the Winter CW <a href="http://www.classicexchange.org/" target="_blank">Classic Exchange (CX).</a>Time Machine. As a Novice in 1967, we were limited to crystal control CW transmitters and 75 watts max. The Drake 2-C was my Novice receiver. If I had been ham in the 50s, I might have started out with the Hallicrafters S-38. They were famous broadcast and shortwave receivers but not the best for ham radio because of the wide bandwidth. The Ameco AC-1 two tube crystal controlled transmitter would be similar to the homebrew transmitters the early hams started with. The CX Exchange has a multiplier equal to the total age of the gear you use. I had to get at least three contacts to count the radio's age in the multiplier. Transceivers count double their age. My equipment totaled up to 336 years.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipmOtwwQ8-PhIdDApI--fx3hK9hId3UAjOxUyE3B_oyR-YtecUMCPmp5ttVd5fG-WZErSqgFjEtIO6otVG_J5JfpUFie2fOhQllT6HuWuemDuR-88zZC25V1YVdA1UjEAnKLgGDR-sX6nKJposr_ypdhFn4YRx290e-zlTQVH_TFJ103IdQKeBlbYT=s3935" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2217" data-original-width="3935" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipmOtwwQ8-PhIdDApI--fx3hK9hId3UAjOxUyE3B_oyR-YtecUMCPmp5ttVd5fG-WZErSqgFjEtIO6otVG_J5JfpUFie2fOhQllT6HuWuemDuR-88zZC25V1YVdA1UjEAnKLgGDR-sX6nKJposr_ypdhFn4YRx290e-zlTQVH_TFJ103IdQKeBlbYT=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Classics Operating Position</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The bands were kind to me for the QRP contacts with the Ameco AC-1 and the Heathkit HW-8. I got some 589 reports, and QRPers were calling me back. Crystal control is a challenge, too, since I have a limited number of crystals. I can't match their frequency unless someone lands on my spot. So I called CQ or hoped they would hear me. The most exciting part was using the Hallicrafters S-38C with the Ameco AC-1. That is the oldest combination. I listened to a dozen stations in the bandwidth, and I had to pick out which ones talking to me. Thanks to Bobby AK4JA for my third AC-1/S-38C contact.</p><div dir="auto"><div>So the CX time machine took me back to my teenage ham days and even before my time as a ham. I definitely got a kick out of it, as did all those who participated. No SDRs were used in this event. I like to say the ionosphere does not care how old your gear is. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am looking forward to the <a href="http://novicerigroundup.org/" target="_blank">Novice Rig Roundup</a> from March 5th to March 13th. </div><div><br /></div><div>73, Greg N4KGL </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfNx0p6hswXuZ3YMXKOSxp3929H38j6ndp-RAchCC6ksRWs5Ey0v2MoQojr6INZWWKZBsRBWquhWqHd-EM31e3Xy_cAGp3WvH3OZfYQf0f_JczeGb08D3UaS3sza1hbO4r55c8l_uVrOfyNNXPJ6cZ8B8FQ2jaIW5OE507oQVKgtZWT_p4Iu2Bw3Fo=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1898" data-original-width="3024" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfNx0p6hswXuZ3YMXKOSxp3929H38j6ndp-RAchCC6ksRWs5Ey0v2MoQojr6INZWWKZBsRBWquhWqHd-EM31e3Xy_cAGp3WvH3OZfYQf0f_JczeGb08D3UaS3sza1hbO4r55c8l_uVrOfyNNXPJ6cZ8B8FQ2jaIW5OE507oQVKgtZWT_p4Iu2Bw3Fo=w400-h251" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hallicrafter S-38C, I estimate 70 years old. It works well</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaCv2zL0TotG89HOKImn7i0pgbrgetmolIYqAI_lO2bPi1XvWXTRgbVT-fKu14xonn8GNhX1YTytQ3r3CKm07FPKm6Kggu3nYMM4RDBlDEvA4HawZHtJwctQ0gOTv1dFhiQFZWHJ6gOjn9jTp-cLZSlJYtFxwkBJZUhGm1AxC1geGDp6xRs3qNw6_D=s2052" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1777" data-original-width="2052" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaCv2zL0TotG89HOKImn7i0pgbrgetmolIYqAI_lO2bPi1XvWXTRgbVT-fKu14xonn8GNhX1YTytQ3r3CKm07FPKm6Kggu3nYMM4RDBlDEvA4HawZHtJwctQ0gOTv1dFhiQFZWHJ6gOjn9jTp-cLZSlJYtFxwkBJZUhGm1AxC1geGDp6xRs3qNw6_D=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ameco AC-1, I estimate 52 years od.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Heathkit HW-8 Transceiver 2-3 watts 39 years X 2 = 78 years<div dir="auto">Drake 2-NT Transmitter, 75 watts Crystal, Controlled 55 years</div><div dir="auto">Drake 2-C Reciever 55 years</div><div dir="auto">Ameco AC-1 Transmitter Crystal Controlled 3 watts 52 years</div><div dir="auto">Icom 703 Transceiver 10 watts 13 years X 2 = 26 years</div><div dir="auto">Hallicrafters S-38C Reciever 70 years</div><div>Multiplier Total Years = 336</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div>Drake 2-NT and Drake 2-C 5 contacts</div><div>Heathkit HW-8 Transceiver 5 contacts</div><div>Ameco AC-1 and Drake 2-C 3 Contacts</div><div>Ameco AC-1 and Hallicrafters S-38C 3 contacts</div><div>Icom 703 Transceiver 4 Contacts</div><div>Total contacts = 20</div><div>Bonus = 500 points for using Ameco gear</div><div>Score = 336 years X 20 contacts + 500 point bonus = 7220 </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div></div></div>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317784633879757071.post-53452847322087672142021-11-08T07:54:00.002-06:002021-11-08T08:07:08.631-06:00Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio (RaDAR) Challenge November 2021<p>I used a dog cart to ferry my gear for this challenge. This was a choice among many ways to carry my gear. The dog cart does minimize the packing and unpacking and the weight of the gear was not an issue. I packed the Icom 7100, LDG IT-100 tuner, and a 40 AH Bioenno Battery. So you could say it was Field Day on wheels. I used the SOTABeams 40-30-20 link dipole on two stops and a Chameleon vertical whip on the other stop. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eJSw7HvMlfE/YYklbGQz05I/AAAAAAABJoY/1_aF7-Nmg_c1O31QEis4nvS9X63HszDogCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/20211106_155207.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eJSw7HvMlfE/YYklbGQz05I/AAAAAAABJoY/1_aF7-Nmg_c1O31QEis4nvS9X63HszDogCPcBGAsYHg/w300-h400/20211106_155207.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RaDAR Rover</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Eddie ZS6BNE has done an excellent job of creating online real-time logging for RaDAR. This gives everyone a clue of who is doing RaDAR and where they are on the bands. Chasing RaDAR ops is indeed a challenge as is operating in the field. I absolutely love the Panasonic CF-19 Toughbook because I can read it easily in full sunlight, unlike my phone. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZggPs7UIV2Y/YYkltJxjlpI/AAAAAAABJog/1-uj5iHcCOweSzWkutpdQiPy9u98xoj8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1864/RaDAR%2BLog%2BSnip.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1864" height="161" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZggPs7UIV2Y/YYkltJxjlpI/AAAAAAABJog/1-uj5iHcCOweSzWkutpdQiPy9u98xoj8QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h161/RaDAR%2BLog%2BSnip.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A snip from the online <a href="http://www.radarops.co.za/radarsport/RaDAR_Sport.html" target="_blank">RaDAR logging System</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Through the planning process, I discovered Forever Wild Trails in Dothan, Alabama. It has bike/hiking trails. However, I took advantage of the open area at the Beaver Flats area. That was best for the cart idea. I think it is a nice area nearby for portable ops in general.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVdZMa2g7ys/YYkm7X3Wd5I/AAAAAAABJos/D7bPjCgFL74q6e51kI4SGlchL_VxUSxmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1124/Forever%2BWild.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1124" height="231" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVdZMa2g7ys/YYkm7X3Wd5I/AAAAAAABJos/D7bPjCgFL74q6e51kI4SGlchL_VxUSxmwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h231/Forever%2BWild.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my one-kilometer transitions at Forever Wild Trails in Dothan, Alabama</td></tr></tbody></table><p>There are not as many chasers for RaDAR as for SOTA and POTA. Therefore it helps to recruit friends to look out for you. I was helped out by Tom WD0HBR, Al N4IDH, Doug WB4JPG, and Bobby K4AGR. Ken KB4XT in Enterprise, AL also looked for me. Likewise, it was nice to have contacts with Florida friends Jack N1HQ and Bob KK4DIV. They were operating RaDAR from the field. I also enjoyed RaDAR to RaDAR with Mickey N2MC who was doing POTA/RaDAR from New York State.</p><div><br /></div><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fb47Ens2ZPk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p>The weather was nice for being outdoors, cool and sunny. Suzy soaked up the sun on the stops. However, she is always ready to make a transition. She ran into some admirers along the way.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-awYElpZNeM0/YYkolijImQI/AAAAAAABJo0/-8hWaSrzn7Y01PxjQvvOI6KJ2B2D6xuygCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/20211106_155223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-awYElpZNeM0/YYkolijImQI/AAAAAAABJo0/-8hWaSrzn7Y01PxjQvvOI6KJ2B2D6xuygCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h300/20211106_155223.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Eddie ZS6BNE has enhanced the rules with new categories for doing RaDAR like a two-hour sprint. I stuck with the four-hour challenge I have been doing for years. I see an uptick in interest this time. You may want to check out the <a href="https://zs6bne.wordpress.com/2021/10/11/the-new-radar/" target="_blank">RaDAR Group</a> for more reports.<p></p><p><br /></p>N4KGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080919142229262832noreply@blogger.com