by Teri (KO4WFP)
Okay. Y’all haven’t heard a lot from me these days and could also be questioning, “What the heck is the POTA Babe as much as?” Truly, loads!
Earlier this yr, I requested QRPer readers for ideas as to parks to go to for a summer season POTA journey to both North Carolina and/or Virginia. I recognize all of the ideas I obtained. In evaluating the time I’ve and that I’ll be driving on my own, I’ve opted to go to North Carolina. I’ll be on the highway for eight days mid-July tenting with Daisy. I hope to activate ten to eleven parks in addition to efficiently full 4 SOTA activations. It’s a lot to chunk off however then I take pleasure in being challenged.
I initially deliberate for a twelve-day journey however determined to nix the second week close to the Charlotte space because of obligations at house. I’m bummed at lacking out on these parks. (Thanks Bob K4RLC for the suggestions in that space.) Nevertheless, now I’ll have these parks to activate on a future journey.
Getting ready for this journey is not any slap-dash endeavor. At the very least not for this POTA Babe. As I discussed within the articles of my final journey to southwest Georgia, I’m tweaking my tenting tools in addition to how I set up and entry these objects.
An merchandise I’ve added is a fan as a result of tenting in July is perhaps a bit toasty, even in western North Carolina. My accomplice Glenn W4YES got here throughout a useful video on the CheapRVLiving Youtube Channel discussing USB-charged gadgets. The Koonie 8” rechargeable fan was talked about. Because it obtained favorable evaluations on Amazon and I can cost it utilizing my Jackery, it’s now in my arsenal for summer season tenting.
[Note: all Amazon.com links are affiliate and support QRPer.com at no cost to you! Thank you!]
I additionally added an ultralight shelter I’ll use on a summit or for POTA basically. Whereas researching summits to activate, I got here throughout an image on the SOTlas web site and reached out to that op as to details about the tarp he was utilizing for shade. Patrick WW4D launched me to Mountain Laurel Designs, an organization that makes ultralight shelters (tarps and tents). They aren’t cheap, however then I’ve realized to buy good high quality the place I can. In a shelter, good high quality counts.
I bought the Trailstar. It may be used as a tent or a shelter. Earlier than the journey, I must seal the seams. What I didn’t notice till the opposite day is that I can even want to chop the guylines in addition to work out what knots to make use of in securing the guylines to the stakes included. Then I’ve to learn to set it up utilizing my mountain climbing poles. The educational by no means ends, does it?
I couldn’t consider how mild the Trailstar is having by no means skilled a shelter prefer it. Will probably be a welcome addition to my SOTA backpack because it weighs hardly something.
I’ve additionally undertaken re-waterproofing my tent. Sierra Designs despatched me directions and details about the merchandise they advocate which I ordered. I assumed to myself “how exhausting might it’s to re-waterproof a tent?” These of you who’ve accomplished this know it’s a time-consuming course of! You must take away the outdated waterproofing substances earlier than making use of the brand new ones. The substances used for waterproofing cloth are supposed to not come off simply, particularly after being on there for 30 years (the age of my tent). I’ve spent extra time within the bathtub scrubbing and smelling rubbing alcohol than I care to confess. Nevertheless, when this course of is completed, my tent and its rainfly can be clear and good to go for one more eight years or so.
I’m additionally researching how one can do a SOTA activation. I’ve discovered fairly just a few useful movies on Youtube and plan to reference them in a future article. For my pack, I’m utilizing a Six Moons Designs ultralight pack (the Flight 30 Extremely) I bought about 4 years in the past. Because it was not getting used, I’ve been using it as my POTA pack for a number of months now. Given I’ll be mountain climbing to activate summits, I must rethink what I’ll take within the pack since, along with ham gear, I’ll want emergency provides one ought to take when mountain climbing.
Whereas getting ready for this journey, I’ve had a brand new addition to my shack that’s sharing my focus as of late. Almost two years in the past, I ordered a Frattini Magnetic Evolution bug. I didn’t hear something additional for the longest time and figured it wouldn’t ever arrive. Then, about 4 weeks in the past, Alberto Frattini despatched me an electronic mail the important thing was prepared and, oh by the way in which, was I nonetheless taken with it? You wager I used to be! “The Frattini” (as I name it) is now in my shack and I’m resuming my pursuit of the Straight Key Century Membership’s (SKCC) Triple Key Award. (After I’m not scrubbing the tent, thoughts you.) My fist is a piece in progress however what an awesome problem!
My objective is to run at three speeds finally – 16, 20, and 25 wpm. Proper now I’m concentrating on 16 wpm as that may be a good pace for SKCC QSOs. At that pace, I’m extra relaxed and the extra relaxed I’m, the higher I can deal with making my characters accurately with good spacing. My objective with the Frattini is that the dits and dahs be proportional and timed effectively sufficient it doesn’t sound like I’m utilizing a bug. With continued follow on and off the air, I’ll finally get there.
One factor I’ve discovered that helps is having both Phrase Record Coach up and working or my Morserino within the shack. Similar to a choir conductor will play a notice on a pitch pipe for a choir, I’ll play the letter “o” at 16 wpm to get that dah cadence in my head earlier than I get on the air. Ultimately, I’ll fall into that rhythm naturally at that pace however within the meantime, I discover that trick extraordinarily useful with my timing of the dahs.
In case you’d like to listen to my bug fist (a piece in progress, thoughts you), click on on the video hyperlink right here to entry it on Youtube. Additionally, when you’d prefer to comply with my progress on incomes bug QSOs for the Triple Key award, try the targets part on my QRZ web page.
Nicely, there you could have it – my ham radio associated doings since my southwest Georgia POTA journey. For these taken with searching me whereas I’m in North Carolina, I cannot launch my itinerary prematurely for security causes. Nevertheless, Glenn or I’ll schedule my activations every morning so maintain an eye fixed out on the POTA and SOTA Watch pages starting July 14 in case you are eager to work me and assist the journey.
I’m slightly nervous concerning the journey. I’m going to be out of my consolation zone and positive to make errors. Nevertheless, that is how we study – making errors. This is part of ham radio and such a visit – the unknown! Who is aware of what I’ll study and uncover alongside the way in which. I hope to work lots of you that week and sit up for sharing with you these adventures on QRPer.com after my return. However earlier than I go away subsequent Sunday, I plan a POTA activation Monday, July 8 to get my head again within the sport. What park will I decide? Keep tuned…
