On Tuesday morning, Might 14, 2024, I hopped in my automotive and headed north to Athens, Ohio. It was in Athens, again in 1997, that my ham radio journey really started, and the place I met my pals Eric (WD8RIF) and Mike (K8RAT).
For over 14 years, Eric, his son Miles (KD8KNC), and I’ve made the annual pilgrimage to Hamvention and FDIM, with few interruptions. My routine is to drive to Athens, meet up with Eric and his spouse, Vickie, keep in a single day, after which head to Dayton the subsequent day with Eric and Miles. I take pleasure in this as a result of it breaks up my travels and often permits for some POTA activating alongside the best way.
This Wednesday morning, Eric had an appointment and a gathering, so our plan was to depart for Dayton round midday. This gave me the morning free to play radio!
I left the home round 8:00 AM with the purpose of activating Strouds Run State Park, conveniently positioned close to downtown Athens. However first, breakfast!
I attempt to keep away from chain eating places when touring, preferring native spots. I used to be delighted to find that Miller’s Hen, an Athens establishment, served breakfast. I had no thought!
Miller’s Hen holds fond reminiscences for me. When my spouse was a graduate pupil at Ohio College, for a quick time period, she lived inside strolling distance and we regularly ate there. She even acted in a pupil movie shot on the restaurant!
Strolling in, I spotted it had been 23+ years since my final go to. I ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit with espresso as a bunch of scholars left, leaving me with the place nearly to myself.
I arrived on the park round 9:15 AM. It had been raining all morning, so I sought cowl underneath a picnic Shelter. Eric, a frequent activator of Strouds Run, had informed me the place to search out all of Strouds’ shelters.
Try Eric’s standing on the park’s POTA web page:
You may as well learn all of Eric’s tons of of area stories on his web site.
I discovered an empty shelter by the lakeshore (no shock given the climate). I introduced a number of radios with me on the Dayton journey: my Elecraft KX2, KH1, Index Labs QRP Plus, Venus SW-3B (at all times within the automotive), and my Yaesu FT-818.
Propagation has been a sizzling mess recently. I figured 40 meters and 20 meters could be the most effective bands to attempt, and the EFHW is resonant on each, eliminating the necessity for an antenna tuner.
Setup was simple, with bushes close to the shelter offering ultimate suspension factors for the EFHW.
(Observe about audio: As I ready this activation video, I found that my wi-fi mic wasn’t related, so that you gained’t hear me after I stroll away from the digital camera. My apologies! There’s additionally extra wind noise than ordinary. Nevertheless, you’ll hear loads of waterfowl and different birds having fun with the park.)
Solely a few days prior, I obtained a Jeweler’s Bench Block that I bought on Amazon.com (affiliate hyperlink). A number of pals had beneficial I choose up one to pair with my light-weight, moveable keys which have embedded rare-earth magnets.
The important thing I paired with it was my BamaKey TP-III. You’ll hear me rave about this combo within the activation video.
It weighs 13.7 ounces and has a silicon base: I discovered that with the TP-III (which has a light-weight motion), it was rock-solid on the picnic desk.
I want I might have bought considered one of these ages in the past!
Observe: All Amazon, CW Morse, ABR, Chelegance, eBay, and Radioddity hyperlinks are affiliate hyperlinks that assist QRPer.com for gratis to you.
I began calling CQ and, thankfully, hunters began replying!
I labored my first ten stations in seven minutes! With the best way propagation had been, I definitely wasn’t anticipating that!
I continued working stations on 40 meters till I’d logged a complete of 28 hunters all inside 27 minutes.
Subsequent, I QSY’d to the 20 meter band and it, too, was in fairly good condition.
I logged a further 11 contacts in about 9 minutes.
I additionally tried calling CQ POTA on 10 meters, however as I suspected, it was utterly lifeless.
Earlier than calling QRT, I checked the spots and was in a position to hunt KY4DF at Clifton Gorge State Nature Protect (US-7848).
Good to get you within the logs, Andy!
Right here’s what this five-watt activation appeared like when plotted out on a QSO Map:
Right here’s my real-time, real-life video of your entire activation. As with all of my movies, I don’t edit out any elements of the on-air activation time. As well as, I’ve monetization turned off on YouTube, though that doesn’t cease them from inserting adverts earlier than and after my movies.
Observe that Patreon supporters can watch and even obtain this video 100% ad-free by means of Vimeo on my Patreon web page:
Click on right here to view on YouTube.
It had been the higher a part of 26 years since I’d final set foot in Strouds Run State Park. My spouse and I used to go to often once we lived in Athens County, because it was virtually on our method dwelling. I’d forgotten simply how lovely it’s.
This was additionally my first time activating it for POTA. Normally, on our Hamvention journeys, I don’t have a full morning to spend in Athens, so this was a uncommon deal with.
Submit-activation, I made my method again to QTH WD8RIF, the place Eric, Miles, and I packed the Subaru with our gear. We hit one park en path to Dayton, however as you’ll discover out within the subsequent area report, we weren’t as fortunate with propagation. Nowadays, you may’t assume propagation will stay regular all through the day!
Nonetheless, it’s all good radio enjoyable!
Thanks for becoming a member of me throughout this activation!
I hope you loved the sphere report and my activation video as a lot as I loved creating them!
I’ve actually loved re-living this specific one as a result of I keep in mind hanging with pals and my anticipation main as much as the wonderful 2024 FDIM and Hamvention occasions. I’m nonetheless recovering from all of that exercise! Price each second.
In fact, I’d additionally wish to ship a particular because of these of you who’ve been supporting the positioning and channel by means of Patreon, and the Espresso Fund. Whereas not a requirement, as my content material will at all times be free, I actually recognize the assist.
As I discussed earlier than, the Patreon platform related to Vimeo makes it potential for me to share movies that aren’t solely 100% ad-free but in addition downloadable for offline viewing. The Vimeo account additionally serves as a 3rd backup for my video information.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me! Have an incredible day!
Cheers & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL)
