On Friday afternoon (August 16, 2024), after dropping off one daughter at her volunteer job and the opposite at Shakespeare class, my spouse and I had about 90 minutes of free time earlier than the following scheduled exercise.
We opted to go to the Sycamore Flats Picnic Space in Pisgah Nationwide Forest (US-4510) in order that I may slot in a POTA activation whereas my spouse caught up on a challenge she’d been engaged on.
The picnic space was bustling with exercise–the busiest I’d seen it shortly. Little question, everybody was out having fun with the attractive climate and the final hurrah earlier than many native children head again to highschool. However, we discovered a pleasant picnic desk to arrange and play radio.
I didn’t have all of my digicam gear with me, so opted to not movie this activation with my telephone.
Since there’d be no video, it meant that I may function with earphones and a minimal quantity of additional gear. It’s good to do that occasionally!
On the way in which out the door, earlier that day, I grabbed my Mountain Topper MTR-3B subject equipment. The purpose was to place it on the air because it had been just a few months since I final used it. I like rotating out radios repeatedly so I don’t neglect nuances of working them whereas within the subject.
The day gone by, I additionally charged the two Li-Ion rechargeable batteries [affiliate link] which are saved within the MTR-3B Pelican case. At the least I believed I charged them!
After I checked the batteries, they have been each fully useless. Seems, the USB charging station I’d linked them to the day past was not plugged into an AC outlet. Doh!
This offered a bit of drawback as a result of the one different battery I had in my GR1 rucksack was a 3Ah LiFePo4 battery which doubtless pushed about 13.2VDC. The MTR-3B doesn’t take care of voltages a lot increased than 12VDC–at the least, if you’re increased than 12V, it’s worthwhile to make darn positive you’ve received an ideal SWR match.
I used to be a bit bummed as a result of I hadn’t packed a backup radio within the GR1 and I wasn’t driving the Subaru which has a Venus SW3B headrest subject equipment.
Hold on…
Then it hit me…I’ve received my EDC (On a regular basis Carry) radio with me: the Elecraft KH1! Woo hoo!
I went again to the automobile and grabbed my Trakke EDC bag.
Then pulled out the KH1 packed in my Tufteln-modified Pelican Micro M40 watertight case.
It’s such a luxurious to have a small, light-weight, and versatile radio all the time on the prepared within the backpack I carry with me in every single place.
Since I’d already deployed my K6ARK 40 meter counterpoise-less end-fed half-wave [affiliate link], this was the antenna I linked to the KH1.
I additionally grabbed the Bamakey TP-III from my GR1 pack and the 3×5 Ceremony within the Rain Pad and Zebra mechanical pencil [again, affiliate links] from the MTR-3B equipment (don’t fear, I returned these to their respective kits post-activation!).
I had introduced this activation on the POTA web site, so hypothetically, the RBN ought to auto-spot me.
I turned on the KH1, moved to the 20 meter band, and was tuning round in search of a transparent frequency once I heard a station calling CQ POTA.
It was Jeff (VE7EFF) with an ideal sign–floating between 539-559 (QSB was heavy Friday).
Circumstances have been so poor as of late, I assumed that he should have been touring and activating a park within the jap a part of Canada.
I despatched my callsign and he replied instantly.
Seems, Jeff was activating Okanagan Lake Provincial Park (CA-3921) in British Columbia. Wow! Put up activation, he contacted me thanking me for the Park-To-Park and famous:
“It was a pleasure to lastly POTA QSO with you yesterday from Okanagan Lake Prov. Pk CA-3921, right here in Southern BC. I used to be working with KX3 at 10W right into a 20m dipole at ~30ft utilizing a telescopic mast.
[…]You have been my third contact of the morning. Off to an excellent begin for me, then nothing for some time, then later I received a name from SM3NRY in Sweden!
In whole, I had 29 contacts yesterday, most on 20m, and 5 have been on 17m. Nothing for me on 30m or 15m bands. It was pouring down rain all day. So, I operated from inside my SUV.”
Thanks a lot, Jeff, for reaching out post-activation. It’s a real pleasure to see the station on the opposite facet of the QSO! That drive-on mast mount and dipole have been serving you brilliantly!
Subsequent, I discovered a transparent frequency and beginning calling CQ POTA. Inside a minute, I used to be logging hunters! Aside from the steep QSB–which, at occasions, required three or 4 callbacks to complete the contact–the bands felt alive.
I additionally labored my buddy Mike (N7CCD) in Washington State which proved that little opening to the northwest was nonetheless viable.
This activation wasn’t rushed in any respect, so after logging a complete of 16 contacts in 18 minutes, I believed I’d give the upper bands a go.
On the whole, I discover that if 20 meters has heavy QSB, it’s extra profound on the upper bands. Nonetheless, I had one other half-hour to play radio and beloved the thought of fishing out a little bit of DX on the upper bands if in any respect attainable.
I moved to 17 meters and used the KH1’s inner ATU to discover a match since a 40M EFHW isn’t resonant on 17.
After calling CQ POTA for some time I had no replies, so I moved as much as the 15 meter band.
Once more, 15 meters was very quiet, however I used to be decided to work at the least one station!
After some time N7CCD got here again to me with a stronger sign than he had on 20 meters. I swear Mike has some particular association to so constantly discover these paths to the southeast! Thanks, Mike!
Then, instantly after ending the contact with Mike, I received a name from Norberto (KP4GR) in Puerto Rico. His sign was stable and I used to be satisfied so as to add one other 15 meter contact to the logs! Thanks, Norberto!
Lastly, I acquired a textual content from Vlado (N3CZ) and he advised me to maneuver to 40M so he may work me on floor wave from his QTH. His sign was so robust, it appeared like he was within the park with me!
All in all, I labored a complete of 19 contacts with the KH1 throughout this informal activation.
Right here’s the QSO Map:
For enjoyable, right here’s the QSO Map with the space in miles famous for every contact (click on picture to enlarge):
I couldn’t have requested for a extra enjoyable and fulfilling afternoon on the park with my spouse.
I need to admit: whereas I love filming activations, it’s additionally good to get pleasure from some quiet park time with my spouse and function with earphones as a substitute of a speaker. Plus, when working CW with earphones, it’s so darn quiet and stealthy!
Subsequent activation, although, I’ll carry the digicam!
I hope you loved this subject report as a lot as I loved writing it!
After all, I’d additionally wish to ship a particular because of these of you who’ve been supporting the positioning and channel by way of Patreon, and the Espresso Fund. Whereas not a requirement, as my content material will all the time be free, I actually respect the help.
Have an incredible Sunday and radio-active week forward!
Cheers & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL)
