Cikana State Fish Hatchery Part Deux

Today was the first really nice day we've had in a week.  So after work I grabbed my POTA station in a carrying case and headed out to play radio in the outdoors. 

I had originally planned on heading down to US-4183 Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area but I've been there so much I decided to drive out a little further and try another Parks on the Air entity.  It just so happens the Cikana State Fish Hatchery is only about 7 or 8 minutes further than going to Atterbury, so that's where I headed! 

It was pretty much a straight shot south on I-69 (or State Road 37 as we Hoosiers know it) to State Route 44 near the city of Martinsville.  I visited here briefly about a month ago.

I arrived at my spot at 4:40PM and by the time I got setup and on the air it was right at 5:00PM.  Today I was going to go out on a limb and try something new with antennas.  I almost ALWAYS use my 10m tall, collapsible, trailer hitch mounted, venerable Eagle One vertical, but today I wanted to try something different with my Elecraft AX1 antenna and a new way of mounting it.  One of my buddies used his 3D printer and made me a puck looking thing that the antenna mounts in to, then you screw in a set of legs and attach the coax and you're off to the races! 

Elecraft AX-1 Antenna set for 20 meters 

The AX-1 antenna from Elecraft is not much more than 4 maybe 5 feet in length when full extended. The coil I am using here today will work on 17 meters, and 20 meters.  There is another coil you can buy that will allow the little antenna to tune up on 40 meters as well.  The wire coming off the puck to the right, over the top of my truck, is a single radial I clipped on that is about 30 feet in length...the wrong size for 20m I know...but hey...it was what I had on hand.  The auto tuner in my KX-2 had NO problem getting a 1:1 match...BUT would it radiate? 

Elecraft KX-2 set for 8 watts, connected to Antenna and CW paddles - Empty Log

I started out on the air today at 20:57Z (4:57PM), called CQ POTA a few times and my first contact of the day was Joe WA2SPL up in Vermont.  So I guess it's working. By the time I left I had 13 contacts, ranging from Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, and Louisiana. I was really happy with the way this worked out.  It was so much easier than setting up the big antenna.  

The Cikana State Fish Hatchery is great place to birdwatch, and they have a few relatively mild hiking trails, and a few picnic tables hanging around just waiting for an impromptu pitch in lunch or dinner.  Just click the link to learn more about it. 

Three of the 16 fish ponds for Indiana DNR to raise hatchlings

Map of today's contacts - W8APS was in Florida 
Using 8 Watts and the Elecraft AX-1 on 20 Meters

Well that's the report from today in the wilderness.  Until next time! 

73 de KB9BVN

Brian