Once I reached 1,000 parks hunted the activity started to take on new meaning to me. Running a compromise station getting others to hear me can be a challenge. I noticed many of the same parks were being activated by the same station over and over again. I get it, an activation is an activation so go where it is easiest. But why get in a pileup to work the same station in the same park for the twentieth time? So now I view my POTA hunting as follows:
- If I have a park in the POTA site’s log I will not get in a pileup to work it again.
- If the activator appears not to be getting calls, I will call no matter how many times he is in the log. My contact may be needed for the ten (probably not).
- I like using my one to five watt radios to call parks so I will call any park at all with those radios even if I worked it 100 times.
Some other POTA related items.
- At the time of this posting the POTA site’s log shows that I have 1,236 parks hunted.
- I would like to activate a park at some point.
- I watch too many Ham Radio YouTube videos. At times they add to the activity’s appeal, but at times I think they detract from it. (Just my opinion.)
A real QSO!
After 25 marginal contacts with my portable setup the 26th was the charm. A station in Indiana answered my CQ and we had a real chat. Great CW and conversation and by all accounts the other station copied my little five watts just fine. Also, this success provided the necessary push to keep me going with my portable setup and make improvements.
My new Wolf River Coil TIA was put to the test on a trip to Florida. Using my Penntek TR-25 (five watt 40 and 20 meter transceiver) I operated from a small backyard moving around to find a shady spot. Below are assumptions and conclusions from my adventure.
a – Operating with five watts and a compromise antenna without garnering the attention provided by POTA or SOTA knowingly proved to be difficult.
b – The 102′ whip is too short even for 20 meters and proved to be nothing but a dummy load on 40 meters. I knew this going in, but foolishly moved forward anyway.
c – Using the MFJ-259B the antenna was not difficult to tune. I used the supplied three radials.
d – It was assumed that with the 13 Colonies event, POTA and contests (every weekend) many/good contacts were inevitable. Also, a short rag chew would have been nice. Although I had 18 contacts in the log all were poor with repeats and with difficult copy on the other end.
e – This outing brought to light just how well my attic doublet performs at the home QTH. I have had many respectable contacts with the same radio using my attic antenna, but the results were far different in the field. On the bright side, the N3ZN paddle and Bioenio Battery worked very well. I still do not like the keyer in the TR-25. At the home QTH I use a bug key with my QRP radios so the built-in keyer is not an issue. However, a small paddle travels better than the much larger bug key.
It has been decided to hold off on any mods to the HW-8. Yes, it is not the smoothest operating radio, but that is part of the draw. It is not my main rig and old school has its place in my Ham Radio activity.
As mentioned below in this blog the earphones I am using are far from comfortable. Also, in low light conditions it is hard to read the dial. To modify or not? I would not do anything that could not be reversed (at least at this point). However, the use of the HW-8 would be greatly enhanced with certain mods such as improved audio and being able to read the dial and know the radio is powered up in all light conditions.
The once temporary operating position for my QRP radios has become permanent as it is really the only place available (for now). The bug fits nicely behind the small keyboard. My other QRP radio (Penntek TR-25) is standing by at the ready.
I have had several great rag chews over the last two weeks on 40 me
ters during the daylight hours using just two watts output. These QSO’s have been in the 150 to 350 mile range. I have also found that my old Lafeyette Radio bug works better than I remember. I guess over 50 years on the shelf brought out its good side.
Yes, two watts is useable with an attic antenna for a nice QSO. A little rig like the NorCal 40B goes very nicely for a long rag chew when things are just right (band conditions, time of day and distance). I had just such a QSO with a station about 340 miles away during the daytime hours. Great chat until my fist decided it was time.
This is my temporary QRP r
adio setup. The keyboard normally resides on the pullout shelf. (One screw still to be put in the top cover -hi hi.) Behind the radio is my Elecraft W1 Power Meter and the bug is a Lafayette Radio MS-435 circa the early 1960’s.
Well – the NorCal 40B works. I aimed for short contacts to test the little radio and it works. A SOTA contact, three POTA contacts and an SKCC contact, and the thing works. It is running ~2 watts and due to user error the first contact (SOTA in KY) was made at ~.3 watts.
I did mess up the case a bit. It is a clever way to make a case, but a bit cheesy. That is no excuse for the small mistake I made in assembling it.
I had a few contacts during this year’s ARRL Straight Key Night or in my case Straight Key Day. I used my FT-897D and the straight key side of my Brown Bros. CLT-B Combo Key.
This morning I looked at the POTA online log and saw something very disturbing and makes me strongly doubt the number of parks I have been given credit for. I worked an activator yesterday but found two contacts from two different parks in the log. A further review of the log found that I recorded two parks in my log with this station on two separate dates. However, the POTA online log for those same two dates shows a total five parks worked. So sad!
