Well I have been working and just doing what we do when we get real busy. I have not been to a POTA park since November 2022. I have been hunting pretty hard all winter and finally hit the 700 parks hunted the first week of February.
Indiana QRP
Flying Pig QRP Club Field Day at Caesar Creek State Park Ohio - 2006
Thursday, March 2, 2023
Where did the time go
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
McCormick's Creek State Park - POTA!
Founded in 1916, this is Indiana's first state park, and it is rich in geological treasures. This part of the state was at one time part of an ancient shallow sea, and the stopping spot for glaciers that brought down granite from Canada. There are several caves on the property, as well as sink holes, and fossils to be examined by the park visitors. The most notable feature in the park is the waterfall on McCormick's Creek as it races toward the west fork of the White River.
Park Entrance, Pay Here $7 for Hoosiers, $8 for out of state |
We had breakfast in the dining room, mainly because it was convenient. Two eggs, one biscuit, two slices of bacon, and about a half cup of French fried potatoes (they tried to pass the fries off as potatoes O'Brien), and no coffee cost almost $13.00, being a tight fisted ham, notorious for being cheap, I was aghast...but we ate it, it was good, it was hot, and the waitress was very nice. When the state ran things here 25 years ago, you could stay here for about $35 a night, now it's more like $170 a night. We did not stay here, we were just visiting for the day.
I sat up my operations from the parking lot of the Deer Run shelter area. I had enough coax with me to mount the Eagle One antenna to my SUV and then run the cabling over to a conveniently located picnic table, in the shade. It was a very peaceful location, virtually no drive by traffic, and no other folks within earshot or eyesight. Wayne sat up his operation about 100 yards away, he was using his IC-705 and end fed antenna. We both operate QRP.
The bands were mostly up and down and the QSB on 20m was slow and steady. Florida stations would be booming in and then within 10 minutes, they'd be gone...then 10 more minutes they'd be back. It was a little frustrating. My K2 was pushing about 10 watts to the vertical, and I was able to get my first 10 contacts in about 35 minutes. 20m was doing well at first and then it fizzled a bit so I finished up on 40m. KC4HCH was at a park down in Alabama, so he was my only Park to Park contact on this outing.
This is only my second park to activate, and it was great fun. I bought an annual pass at the entrance gate. $50 a year and it gets you in to all the Indiana State Parks for the year. I hope to get out more now that the weather is a little more predictable and hit as many of the Indiana State Parks as I can.
Best 73 de KB9BVN
Brian
Sunday, April 10, 2022
Just hanging around...
This weekend has been a mixed bag of weather. Saturday (yesterday) it was snowing and sleeting in the morning and today it was sunny and almost 65F. I had too much to do today so I didn't get to got out and play POTA today. I did manage to get one of my Vibrokeyers working again, I have another one sent to Vibroplex for clean up and repair currently. A few months ago I accidentally knocked them off the desk and messed them both up.
Here's a look at the one I have working now, pictured here with my Elecraft K1 (SN 1205), I built the K1 20 years ago after buying it from Wayne Burdick N6KR at the 2002 Dayton Hamvention.
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My Elecraft K1 and the Vibrokeyer SN 216228, made in 1960 |
As I had previously noted, my K1 needed some technical care beyond my ability, so I sent it to Dale Putnam WC7S of Quality Electronics in Cheyenne Wyoming. He did a great job getting the filters set just right, the offset just right, and put a good alignment on it for me. Very reasonable fee too. If you have a K1 or even a K2 that needs checked out, send it to Dale. You can always contact Dale at this email address daleputnam@hotmail.com
One other thing of note, I was issued the following award from Parks on the Air this week. I got the certificate today. This is for HUNTING 400 different Parks or references. It took me about 2 years of very casual hunting to get that many in the log book.
POTA Award for hunting 400 different Parks |
I am currently at 412 different parks hunted, with 533 total hunted contacts, 40 states, with 401 contacts on 40m, 28 on 30m, 102 on 20m, 9 on 17m, and one each on 15m and 12m. These are all QRP contacts from my home with the K2, or K1, or Hilltopper rigs.
Looks like the weather is going to start getting better later this week, once Easter weekend is over I will be doing more activating from the parks in Indiana, and maybe a few in Ohio and Kentucky.
Happy Easter to you all!
de KB9BVN
Sunday, April 3, 2022
Stone Arch Lake - POTA
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Wayne AC9HP working the IC-705 POTA pile up on 20m |
Monday, March 14, 2022
Mink Meadow POTA activation
Daylight Savings Time has arrived, and it was sunny and 65F here in central Indiana today. Considering we woke up to 12F on Saturday morning, this is cause for celebration. Spring is less than a week away, and this POTA guy is ready for it to get here.
Tonight I tried a new location at K-4183 Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area. I got there about 21:00Z and was on the air by about 21:25Z.