tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50524973876263753162024-03-18T14:43:12.753-04:00Indiana QRPFlying Pig QRP Club Field Day at Caesar Creek State Park Ohio - 2006Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-5876265785951318452024-03-17T21:03:00.002-04:002024-03-18T14:42:41.154-04:00Running for the Bacon<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrcsvJz9o9VNgt7T-vY15QKw04y7B6WJ_sSpjyDS72lxAtPmcCngx9lrv1Q8XQ5JVrvVSfnwaNY3b6TkJdVYIgAMbrAjdCZClxr7onSkLf7j5hepoTmlBkJebwUYQ4f2S4Fan2px-W_2FOywOXE3nkeCZ6DJT9auTlsGP22wspCwNT919CCRVy5-PEGY/s1020/FLYING%20PIGS%20QRP-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1020" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrcsvJz9o9VNgt7T-vY15QKw04y7B6WJ_sSpjyDS72lxAtPmcCngx9lrv1Q8XQ5JVrvVSfnwaNY3b6TkJdVYIgAMbrAjdCZClxr7onSkLf7j5hepoTmlBkJebwUYQ4f2S4Fan2px-W_2FOywOXE3nkeCZ6DJT9auTlsGP22wspCwNT919CCRVy5-PEGY/w200-h150/FLYING%20PIGS%20QRP-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today is St.Patrick's Day, and also today we have the "Run for the Bacon" CW sprint. This sprint has been sponsored by the <a href="https://fpqrp.org " target="_blank">Flying Pigs QRP Club International</a> for over 20 years now. In it's heyday there would regularly be over 100 participants. Over the years, participation has slowed down some, mainly due to the club not being as active as it once was. QRP is still very popular and we still have new member requests every week. The club currently has just shy of 4900 members from all over the world. </div><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPrWFkkksEfY6V1I3kE2y7kst-NaRLaJuzOoAjlToNPGOgBsAHcywOLB6_rBA_HZXbKlR6EVC7zAHkhxTeLKb1eQb8v_XVvz1n7CaqZ-pcmJf0SHHudi2Yx-e65b2f8gv4ruU3PtSSVwH5IVy9chtKWkQaM-3NE9z_-USkWVJjv-udlZBDRQAyEgpzs2Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="260" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPrWFkkksEfY6V1I3kE2y7kst-NaRLaJuzOoAjlToNPGOgBsAHcywOLB6_rBA_HZXbKlR6EVC7zAHkhxTeLKb1eQb8v_XVvz1n7CaqZ-pcmJf0SHHudi2Yx-e65b2f8gv4ruU3PtSSVwH5IVy9chtKWkQaM-3NE9z_-USkWVJjv-udlZBDRQAyEgpzs2Q" width="220" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Club Founder Diz W8DIZ</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">We were hit with some very bad news this month when we learned of the passing of Dieter "Diz" Gentzow, the club founder. Diz was a great guy, patient Elmer, designer and purveyor of kits and parts for hams all over the world. He and his beloved wife Nancy owned and operated kitsandparts.com for many years. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">With this news, efforts are being made to revive the club to a more active level, and tonight was the "Run for the Bacon Sprint". I admit this is the first sprint I have participated in for many years, but I had a lot of fun with it, and I plan to make this monthly sprint a "must do" item on my calendar. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'd like to thank Dan Shepherd N8IE, and Jim Sheldon W0EB, for taking the bull by the horns and getting the website and the domain for the Flying Pigs secured. We are all working on the website a little at a time to try and modernize some of the features, as well as stir up more interest in the club and club events. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Check out the Flying Pigs QRP Club International. One of the first virtual clubs on the web!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>1. No Dues</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2. No Rules</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>3. Just Fun</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>If we find something broken, we fix it. </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>72 es OO de KB9BVN</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Brian Murrey FP -57</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-24253353660129590932024-03-13T21:07:00.001-04:002024-03-14T07:14:30.981-04:00Revisit - Brown County State Park<p><span style="text-align: justify;"></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8dTKFXAA2Ji9aorkThLs1YhkItwbSCWh9BPziDjx21ZkH6i5LJ7cfxY3JgeEHnXA7bkAS-YIVpxlEhpNpb1R3Zcv7RIO-QBN40kTUtyODjM2jm6K87Fk20hB9aESKaIS0RBGtuKeh0d2ZBgMoAWsXfB45rQBG1t2YXHmBj3uxbDiZyYJgmrq4UXCj_U/s1202/potaham.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1202" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8dTKFXAA2Ji9aorkThLs1YhkItwbSCWh9BPziDjx21ZkH6i5LJ7cfxY3JgeEHnXA7bkAS-YIVpxlEhpNpb1R3Zcv7RIO-QBN40kTUtyODjM2jm6K87Fk20hB9aESKaIS0RBGtuKeh0d2ZBgMoAWsXfB45rQBG1t2YXHmBj3uxbDiZyYJgmrq4UXCj_U/s320/potaham.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>T<span style="text-align: justify;">oday we set a new record. The record high temperature for March 13 was set in 1995 at 70F degrees. Today, March 13 2024 we hit 76F degrees, smashing an almost 30 year record. Interestingly enough, the coldest March 13 was in 1960 at 0F degrees...man am I glad that record didn't get smashed today! </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So I hadn't been to Brown County State Park since last October, I got off work a little bit early and headed 50 miles south of home to activate this park, known as K-2251. I found a good place to operate from and got setup, and was on the air by 5:15PM. I started out on 20m, running 14.061 Mhz for about a half an hour. Then moved to 40m on 7.065 Mhz for about 15 minutes. I did manage to work Bill K4NYM down in Florida, he was at a park on 17m 18.089 Mhz, for a surprise Park to Park contact. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9i5m8ZEbgs8lN9oPy8vo1sLX7DMUCrNATzEGFuk_MCduZKjSCZsMN0tPF8Cg4Ipdc4cds7Spd7oea8q-jcxqa874soR3ZuIeg4W3TmBj4PD-m-za5KYwhtjTFZcqt4fpey1S8wPdRfHb5vqAPB21-pmrzU5CpV9M67eeUOqt_PZJp41Nk6sLRTjuN-I/s1222/lookout.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1222" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9i5m8ZEbgs8lN9oPy8vo1sLX7DMUCrNATzEGFuk_MCduZKjSCZsMN0tPF8Cg4Ipdc4cds7Spd7oea8q-jcxqa874soR3ZuIeg4W3TmBj4PD-m-za5KYwhtjTFZcqt4fpey1S8wPdRfHb5vqAPB21-pmrzU5CpV9M67eeUOqt_PZJp41Nk6sLRTjuN-I/w640-h330/lookout.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lookout Fort at North Gate- I operated from this area</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/brown-county-state-park/" target="_blank">Brown County State Park</a> is the largest state park in Indiana, it covers a little over 16,000 acres, includes two lakes, campgrounds, a firetower, nature center, swimming pool, horse stable, mountain biking, hiking ranging from mild to rugged, and there is a nice Inn on the property with a sit down restaurant. Located just outside Nashville Indiana off State Road 46. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgso4c5wVwjy5h5DksrMEXkaTiKN42Shsr4fhdcEnV5A7C7EzcE__LbpaLRtnp2Btv7p8UjOoAEXDIM66J25yh-A4fbu3-M38dVOFj1yny59q_4ojVhBJ4Wr_Rez2Ce1fVEKz-6geUcC3m9vVIlWI2Cd4fhNaj29Uo_zTtMCztKky-b-lAmdxnPSmakx1s/s1228/overlook1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="1228" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgso4c5wVwjy5h5DksrMEXkaTiKN42Shsr4fhdcEnV5A7C7EzcE__LbpaLRtnp2Btv7p8UjOoAEXDIM66J25yh-A4fbu3-M38dVOFj1yny59q_4ojVhBJ4Wr_Rez2Ce1fVEKz-6geUcC3m9vVIlWI2Cd4fhNaj29Uo_zTtMCztKky-b-lAmdxnPSmakx1s/w640-h230/overlook1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My view from my operating position - looking north</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zsz1AI3KgV75Kv3Pho3DmNUtqZx7lkQ-imOqkYmBpRhduhKlp7_PXd23qEP2yYSYVjy17k2DG2t4UOllTWGOUzBMWLQrJaAVH2YMJdCtMyxQBxJ07pdDces276R0xUO9EA_dUEWTYK0BnK9QZOSskrGSmDtmD5yfEzCobw-7-7jTjgc6bXLnQXW8JSo/s923/firetower.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="923" data-original-width="401" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zsz1AI3KgV75Kv3Pho3DmNUtqZx7lkQ-imOqkYmBpRhduhKlp7_PXd23qEP2yYSYVjy17k2DG2t4UOllTWGOUzBMWLQrJaAVH2YMJdCtMyxQBxJ07pdDces276R0xUO9EA_dUEWTYK0BnK9QZOSskrGSmDtmD5yfEzCobw-7-7jTjgc6bXLnQXW8JSo/s320/firetower.JPG" width="139" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firetower</td></tr></tbody></table>If you ever get out this way, you'd really enjoy spending a day shopping and sightseeing in Nashville, and visiting the park. The next time I come I will bring some charcoal and grill some burgers and dogs. They have grills and picnic tables all over the park. <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I was on the air about 45 minutes total, managed to log 21 contacts, of which two were other parks. Not a bad afternoon. I wanted to get home before it got dark, so I packed up the POTA mobile and headed north. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I did not get any European or South American DX today, the band seemed a lot weaker than it was yesterday, but I forgot to note the propagation index numbers to compare. I need to try and do that in the future so I can make legitimate comparisons. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The firetower is open to the public, and if you are so inclined you can climb up to the top level and see for miles and miles in all directions. This is the highest point in the park, I think, and the DNR has a lot of antennas up there on top. I did not climb the firetower, I did forty years ago and it was quite a sight. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Here is the map of my contacts tonight. I was running about 8 watts</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqrWItQPV9JSMDO8japwk2BLxxzvnBmtATfKtoXPcpwhSIGZXeqTK4cqS_EUVjNbcckwmyVM3wFsKmSiA-8Oz5Dmp1RYIkR-RDZCao1fQoaIvxcjrNK561SHLiHTnHyX_aMhuI6yFKS2cMhCYVsGThvsnbQ-UhZLoXIGb9posdPujwLoxKjhqu6y4SF0/s1191/QSOMAP.JPG" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="1191" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqrWItQPV9JSMDO8japwk2BLxxzvnBmtATfKtoXPcpwhSIGZXeqTK4cqS_EUVjNbcckwmyVM3wFsKmSiA-8Oz5Dmp1RYIkR-RDZCao1fQoaIvxcjrNK561SHLiHTnHyX_aMhuI6yFKS2cMhCYVsGThvsnbQ-UhZLoXIGb9posdPujwLoxKjhqu6y4SF0/w640-h344/QSOMAP.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My QSO Map from Brown County State Park<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Until next trip! <div>73 de KB9BVN</div><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p></p></div>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-21843326814147776702024-03-12T20:42:00.002-04:002024-03-13T11:19:09.070-04:00Revisit - Stone Arch Lake and Chapel<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc419rB9MXx9IoB_oLj96wTOZWXI9l7AWX8vV4sTSMPBZiEMfW9OC9z65v7_PpUY7F6nV0bjLIHtFSGO-9oKJduQLmDUvG1NXCJ2UlDGgjpcReYE6D0kqJPF-v2vMja_2JXaQcIPugy1UB9Hvr2LXXnKCayT1G2rqVspytCs-vXJ3HjtJxCZX0dvq6AA/s685/kb9bvn.jog.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="685" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc419rB9MXx9IoB_oLj96wTOZWXI9l7AWX8vV4sTSMPBZiEMfW9OC9z65v7_PpUY7F6nV0bjLIHtFSGO-9oKJduQLmDUvG1NXCJ2UlDGgjpcReYE6D0kqJPF-v2vMja_2JXaQcIPugy1UB9Hvr2LXXnKCayT1G2rqVspytCs-vXJ3HjtJxCZX0dvq6AA/w200-h176/kb9bvn.jog.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="text-align: justify;">Wow, another great day for getting outdoors. It didn't make it to 70 today but it got really close. Beautiful sunny, clear sky, and the best part is daylight savings time is in effect now so it is staying lighter later. This is a good thing for after work POTA adventuring. <br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">So this afternoon I head back to Atterbury again, on a week night it is hard to beat since it is just thirty minutes from home. The next closest park for me would be either Morgan Monroe State Forest K-4215, or Brown County State Park K-2251,coming in at 50 minutes each depending on which way the wind is blowing. One way. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I decided to run over to Stone Arch Lake on the south and west end of Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area. I hadn't operated from there in about a year. There was only one fishing boat in the water so I pretty much had the whole place to myself. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAVy0pCmoSzd3CNhVbIQLGWvNgm0Gq3IJDUCSVfc7W1Ugoi9JrMfRDCK88YUHATuIZSmjCPNzGNp2RtPAB0kbpbu7Z7LEK-Wy_vVdsMC_mKDAw5MY1Fir7OGna5IPoPIzCVCntIUOsXhNvy4wf4x5ZBNQS4PCr-jhDeTzpjxfUWAahA80NggVOBidTOk/s1225/stonearchlakesign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="1225" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAVy0pCmoSzd3CNhVbIQLGWvNgm0Gq3IJDUCSVfc7W1Ugoi9JrMfRDCK88YUHATuIZSmjCPNzGNp2RtPAB0kbpbu7Z7LEK-Wy_vVdsMC_mKDAw5MY1Fir7OGna5IPoPIzCVCntIUOsXhNvy4wf4x5ZBNQS4PCr-jhDeTzpjxfUWAahA80NggVOBidTOk/w640-h194/stonearchlakesign.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Stone Arch Lake is the second biggest lake in the Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area, coming in at 25 acres, compared to 63 acres at Pisgah Lake. According to the Indiana DNR stocking database, Stone Arch was last stocked in 2022 with 450 Channel Catfish. It could use some help. It's beautiful, but not sure the fishing is that great. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixcevynaC7sYtXu4U4-R0slKDv4hTL35OpP6WQe87S3vKYxkFWYxM-wq3hvhycMhho7V7IDncWHqUCp6k9155wQpoA8AoLWqWilVvvKAsZuRpwMpaZV6JdT3Pbia35CS-SMR7owsFsM8wAa5BexzTQer5-NucHcQBbaYLykByKealh0UIhRp4efu-CGUs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="141" data-original-width="545" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixcevynaC7sYtXu4U4-R0slKDv4hTL35OpP6WQe87S3vKYxkFWYxM-wq3hvhycMhho7V7IDncWHqUCp6k9155wQpoA8AoLWqWilVvvKAsZuRpwMpaZV6JdT3Pbia35CS-SMR7owsFsM8wAa5BexzTQer5-NucHcQBbaYLykByKealh0UIhRp4efu-CGUs=w640-h166" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJocRYlrIgO_Yq0hlazKbfEDaFE_SxKF7kLJ8FdRHzcRA_kIGbkCtuekdCa3_pzB4-a3jjnnBFWIdNQi_AuVBCyVvNFtLk8bg2FpuZqh_j3tLnSajTQjkj7ZMIKa5fieM_CePZZnY-r9zz7o-gOMDLM0fY1SIXmO1S9n_ZHbIiC8uolhJRB25TB0bqPvU/s1224/biglake.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1224" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJocRYlrIgO_Yq0hlazKbfEDaFE_SxKF7kLJ8FdRHzcRA_kIGbkCtuekdCa3_pzB4-a3jjnnBFWIdNQi_AuVBCyVvNFtLk8bg2FpuZqh_j3tLnSajTQjkj7ZMIKa5fieM_CePZZnY-r9zz7o-gOMDLM0fY1SIXmO1S9n_ZHbIiC8uolhJRB25TB0bqPvU/w640-h480/biglake.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone Arch Lake - looking to the west</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Stone Arch Lake is also next to the POW Chapel. The Chapel was built by Italian POW's during WWII. Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area used to be part of Camp Atterbury, which is still in existence just south of this location. The Camp served as a POW camp for Italian prisoners. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQHBBVqSh_3l-yyE-yedjxc7SAVuAj945Qv0TEumqMQ7YR9SyPw-ujrsYx79JHsNn8RiU4fyBS6saC2FCkueHr7JxjFAfBLAcWTlSd1xMbj2LbOxFnZnmQEu3g045wGpHzv_DqrOvb2R6jvhIXFcu8qAqydmq19xEyObjr-KOiXT9CJBf4vk-S3GJav8/s692/POW%20Chapel.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="692" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQHBBVqSh_3l-yyE-yedjxc7SAVuAj945Qv0TEumqMQ7YR9SyPw-ujrsYx79JHsNn8RiU4fyBS6saC2FCkueHr7JxjFAfBLAcWTlSd1xMbj2LbOxFnZnmQEu3g045wGpHzv_DqrOvb2R6jvhIXFcu8qAqydmq19xEyObjr-KOiXT9CJBf4vk-S3GJav8/w640-h432/POW%20Chapel.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catholic POW Chapel built in 1946 by Italian prisoners</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: justify;">Today instead of the little AX1 antenna, I decided to deploy the Eagle One hitch mounted vertical. This antenna collapses down to about 48 inches, I have been using it for the last three years and it has done a great job. Here's a picture of what the hitch mount looks like. I have two 30 foot radials clipped on the bracket holding the upright. These make tuning on 40 meters, a breeze. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFtJG1LPOyY6ZK7SshD3GEOUlqx_6mWBWvrjkjZokjezy39VJZ5Afyt-URXWx-tsZo4xrpGHaQfSjFzY6300Rv5cRutT3YDDSBAm5ZKTHc8sU7JpfYz11QkHZQv6WXos9ybTKRnTzz7eSMKCwCIJC_hZkwWbiBU5B4su2nGMGCqeqHggDlFcYIphMfMw/s1221/Eagleonehitchmount.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="1221" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFtJG1LPOyY6ZK7SshD3GEOUlqx_6mWBWvrjkjZokjezy39VJZ5Afyt-URXWx-tsZo4xrpGHaQfSjFzY6300Rv5cRutT3YDDSBAm5ZKTHc8sU7JpfYz11QkHZQv6WXos9ybTKRnTzz7eSMKCwCIJC_hZkwWbiBU5B4su2nGMGCqeqHggDlFcYIphMfMw/w640-h322/Eagleonehitchmount.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eagle One Hitch Mounted to the POTA Mobile </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: justify;">I was running the KX-2 at 8 watts, Morse Code, and using the 3d printed paddles I got from Bruce N9DBJ. They are taking a beating and they keep on working! Started out on 20m frequency of 14.060 Mhz and was able to work coast to coast and up in to Canada. Didn't get any European stations this evening. Here is a map of where my signals were heard and worked. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9xgdKEXJzmJHKc1DlLj_QAxZkOd6pSvcaTpFrwgw2x2v7m3vRJwphqaf9wpUMS5s9tZEsgIO5kNFPo-Xvt8mO-UKumL6E6AVoU0gXrZ_l2bgD2YW-Acw_theCJkY9BWmoCY2-eJmHGNyaqrSx-sFEjFjGlwaq49MTUB7Fmg8NoiV9k5PP68O0lJ7ejY/s1201/qsomap.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="1201" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9xgdKEXJzmJHKc1DlLj_QAxZkOd6pSvcaTpFrwgw2x2v7m3vRJwphqaf9wpUMS5s9tZEsgIO5kNFPo-Xvt8mO-UKumL6E6AVoU0gXrZ_l2bgD2YW-Acw_theCJkY9BWmoCY2-eJmHGNyaqrSx-sFEjFjGlwaq49MTUB7Fmg8NoiV9k5PP68O0lJ7ejY/w640-h370/qsomap.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contact Map for this outing - 20 contacts</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So that's about it for today, weather supposed to be great again tomorrow, so I may try to get out and do it again after my work is done. I can hear my grass starting to grow...UGH. Spring is a week from today, can't get here fast enough. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">72 de KB9BVN</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(72 is for low power 73's) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-77978200068099476082024-03-04T20:46:00.003-05:002024-03-13T11:26:23.582-04:00Almost Spring!! <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiF0OyMQUgfKTwVbPZx-lkeAKzEoLfzat3lTMnq6_qlpkHJi-c-Lw2TgLc27EEM-QfmZXkOOywqWky9cwk7njcuqfc1vHEB9jBKnU-ivJe5t32i-pQHZhNhQomteCJ_Thapn_YbaFsN4uxTRkVS2QcWqfEruz1XsA2oLlibadKzSC7n8dDHgA4RHvgcqu8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="1055" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiF0OyMQUgfKTwVbPZx-lkeAKzEoLfzat3lTMnq6_qlpkHJi-c-Lw2TgLc27EEM-QfmZXkOOywqWky9cwk7njcuqfc1vHEB9jBKnU-ivJe5t32i-pQHZhNhQomteCJ_Thapn_YbaFsN4uxTRkVS2QcWqfEruz1XsA2oLlibadKzSC7n8dDHgA4RHvgcqu8=w640-h202" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First good day above 70 degrees in the Hoosier Heartland!! GO POTA! </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span>So here is it Monday,the 4th of March and we're getting a beautiful top notch Spring like day, even though Spring is still fifteen days away. As soon as the workday was over I got in the POTA mobile and headed to Pisgah Lake, located in the Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area, AKA K-4183. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfEu8YPfsUp8WkR6voU1wONSvN91BuhmvZfADOxNr_VGmXfGexdxFJ9P6Up_9oNEREs_3NuuQXdfIfT8Upc3JuQsOfytOmI0kzJJybuNq5quc4jZvLuvmPV6yeWYxTdRwXdYC6wRoAjRS_p65zaC8hQ7Oyr9RMlgAre9OaFJdp3aUB-oUGPDADOTiiqvY" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span><img alt="" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="890" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfEu8YPfsUp8WkR6voU1wONSvN91BuhmvZfADOxNr_VGmXfGexdxFJ9P6Up_9oNEREs_3NuuQXdfIfT8Upc3JuQsOfytOmI0kzJJybuNq5quc4jZvLuvmPV6yeWYxTdRwXdYC6wRoAjRS_p65zaC8hQ7Oyr9RMlgAre9OaFJdp3aUB-oUGPDADOTiiqvY=w400-h275" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>Pisgah Lake - 63 Acres in Atterbury Wildlife Area </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>Pisgah Lake is 63 Acres in size, has a concrete boat ramp and you can access it from the north side or the south side of the lake. At one time a very long time ago there was a bridge that linked the north side to the southside, but it has been gone for at least 50-55 years.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>This lake is stocked by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and you will find Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, and two or three varieties of Bullheads. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTRcoxW7mCjAw4U4qKMSR15tRW18VPu5GwTXR5U1_SWf6kqveKtUsC2-iMj7jx5PIXhGOQu4uECVJLMjdW7KPPGVicNzFyFV8xZevILxn3mCli0h21dRyofWirAN1zwQV3n_JP0Fvs9gfN5s5o4Doj9LMrla1hW9CyXSlsenfKu-3I2FX6KmmUs7IR_Y/s537/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="537" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTRcoxW7mCjAw4U4qKMSR15tRW18VPu5GwTXR5U1_SWf6kqveKtUsC2-iMj7jx5PIXhGOQu4uECVJLMjdW7KPPGVicNzFyFV8xZevILxn3mCli0h21dRyofWirAN1zwQV3n_JP0Fvs9gfN5s5o4Doj9LMrla1hW9CyXSlsenfKu-3I2FX6KmmUs7IR_Y/w640-h210/Capture.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The best time to fish here is in the early spring, by June the weeds are pretty thick and the bugs will carry you off into the woods and chew on you for days. This evening I setup my station in the parking lot next to the boat ramp. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQ9A4oqzikRTdxAW8oQ1dEpaArvLNpZMavx8eph9ZzhCMdVpAGmPMyQElGY8OzY5UIwNE8-EHaCPkjkAyFxehsKQ8_SUyhGI4yTW7fscuhgBscGPvb9yzgCbZbj7kI8JCHgA6MSyJkXr3QsHfLtnrjTqhLZTSbmzmhG_DRkdwRVgQMKPiXTmE-cBFgpF8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="1164" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQ9A4oqzikRTdxAW8oQ1dEpaArvLNpZMavx8eph9ZzhCMdVpAGmPMyQElGY8OzY5UIwNE8-EHaCPkjkAyFxehsKQ8_SUyhGI4yTW7fscuhgBscGPvb9yzgCbZbj7kI8JCHgA6MSyJkXr3QsHfLtnrjTqhLZTSbmzmhG_DRkdwRVgQMKPiXTmE-cBFgpF8=w640-h204" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>Trail through the woods, over to the dam<br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3MHis1PIaL2FHdEWxVbPpgSFbUMySaLWPIlr1FgLQyVD9T4QD0H-X5HqjTyjoPVbqd8gNJ92qBXfpNwbG-5FOJ4KBkI-SXuq7fAajuCfVxuN455JWjbchT8r6mkAokFyJciJlxByp5PzbW82LGnwhacMsAsgjJJUkcGSbTL-jmZ_9HaMKX7j376tTsUk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="884" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3MHis1PIaL2FHdEWxVbPpgSFbUMySaLWPIlr1FgLQyVD9T4QD0H-X5HqjTyjoPVbqd8gNJ92qBXfpNwbG-5FOJ4KBkI-SXuq7fAajuCfVxuN455JWjbchT8r6mkAokFyJciJlxByp5PzbW82LGnwhacMsAsgjJJUkcGSbTL-jmZ_9HaMKX7j376tTsUk=w640-h162" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>The view from my operating position <br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbwDe6pv5N2unW9x0Ijb2c8xttvdJXNY8lpvRg8SYgYvuKImGYKbAGZEpj8yjyQdzGe9KFehxA5OoMjN17wXOn_ltYFQKp8-YlEV0tMa9gGwQqfgntznAxGAtbzc9kZ0tY9qFrJfahQIdZi0RrJzg-y4GfiXDQeUcd-ortN9hWm5mwaDMWshrtbQA3KA8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="1212" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbwDe6pv5N2unW9x0Ijb2c8xttvdJXNY8lpvRg8SYgYvuKImGYKbAGZEpj8yjyQdzGe9KFehxA5OoMjN17wXOn_ltYFQKp8-YlEV0tMa9gGwQqfgntznAxGAtbzc9kZ0tY9qFrJfahQIdZi0RrJzg-y4GfiXDQeUcd-ortN9hWm5mwaDMWshrtbQA3KA8=w640-h214" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>Earth Dam at Pisgah Lake</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><br /><span>Tonight I setup the KX-2 radio and the AX-1 antenna, with a single 14 foot radial draped over the POTA Mobile. Something was not working well as I could not get the antenna to properly tune for the 20m band. So I packed up that antenna and broke out the 33 foot tall portable vertical antenna, the Eagle One. I deployed that with two 35 foot radials made out of 18g speaker wire (zipcord). It was able to tune the radio and antenna just perfectly. I was running 8 watts tonight. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I started out working other parks on 20m, these are called Park to Park contacts, and that means I am in a park and they are in a park. The first of five parks were VA3KOT at a park in Ontario Canada, AB9CA at a park in New Mexico, N9MM at a park in Texas, KL7AC at a park in Arizona, and then KE5AKL at a park in New Mexico. The band was working great to the west.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>About that time a DNR ranger SUV pulled up and two of the park rangers and I chatted about radio and fishing, and how nice the day was for about a half hour. They were surprised when I showed them my gear and explained that I had contacted hams in Europe, the Caribbean, and South America with my little antennas and 8 watts of power. They told me to come by the dispatch office and show them how to do it because they can't hardly talk from one end of the property to the other at times. I explained I was using shortwave frequencies, and they were using VHF or UHF...which is line of site, and doesn't penetrate trees very well. Not sure it sunk in but we had a good chat and then they moved on. I ended up with 10 more contacts, furthest was Washington State. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV3Rd5R6-tnjSFRD7MU0SRHZIluI3W8bOm-_M8POqJJnOm-X3-edkbX2TLztEme29HIn6WGJ7Z1yjSStZtMyvXzvmDcfwZFJFQRnxIrB0BowL2aN68hE-Gyt0bG-gTIyw7G2kh9qplVLWdKntH727Hqdo4by7LpoaDBpaDR6P0gRw501qcZZEoqXwf9gQ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img alt="" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV3Rd5R6-tnjSFRD7MU0SRHZIluI3W8bOm-_M8POqJJnOm-X3-edkbX2TLztEme29HIn6WGJ7Z1yjSStZtMyvXzvmDcfwZFJFQRnxIrB0BowL2aN68hE-Gyt0bG-gTIyw7G2kh9qplVLWdKntH727Hqdo4by7LpoaDBpaDR6P0gRw501qcZZEoqXwf9gQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></span></a><span>This is my first POTA outing of the month. March is always a crapshoot for weather around here. It's March 4th today, Indiana has already had two EF1 tornadoes, one near Gary Indiana this weekend, and one near Jeffersonville Indiana about a week ago. Forecast for tomorrow is everything from light showers, to heavy thunderstorms, with high gusts, and potential for severe weather all afternoon. I hope to have four more parks activated this month, and with daylight savings time returning next weekend, that'll give me more daylight at the end of the day so maybe I can get out and work from some other parks. Atterbury is just super convenient to me, being less than 30 minutes away from home. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>73 de KB9BVN</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-70115996168317422612024-02-23T18:49:00.001-05:002024-02-24T13:45:30.340-05:00RadioActive At K-4183 <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGk65YXYEi8lSCsE4QRJsoBK-kgYGwmFFJiZW9yY4gOXgCP7mP2RhX2pKGJV3_fNIUkpF8oUgkJigbB5fpTapnJ93yZD6086iILd42lN4jqKe4gT23JHa7maHg_ZiVxmj_NUxzi2dWo9-lGJ0mN0z2hsw9024dxCIWaIkxX6QQs0UWrt18UOGYgUgU6c/s320/004.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="320" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGk65YXYEi8lSCsE4QRJsoBK-kgYGwmFFJiZW9yY4gOXgCP7mP2RhX2pKGJV3_fNIUkpF8oUgkJigbB5fpTapnJ93yZD6086iILd42lN4jqKe4gT23JHa7maHg_ZiVxmj_NUxzi2dWo9-lGJ0mN0z2hsw9024dxCIWaIkxX6QQs0UWrt18UOGYgUgU6c/w200-h199/004.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I feel like I am off to a good start so far this year. I just completed my 3rd park activation for the year. All three have been at Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area in central Indiana, just north of Camp Atterbury. My first trip this month was on February 11th when we got a day of unseasonal weather, meaning it was warm and sunny! I was able to setup the KX2 and the AX-1 antenna and I worked 18 contacts, with four of them being Park to Park contacts. This was set up at the Parking Area 11A down by Stone Arch Lake, and it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I got started at about 1PM and pulled stakes and headed back home at about 2PM, as the temperature was starting to drop again. I was even visited by a flock of grouse, that started drumming and startled me pretty good! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-QIJ_FOmfIGD8E0J8bLkhe0ZBC_Zy1cDiCpg7efDdMOJtaPQbMcU_STI3rVcHMPcnmtw4kuAmy7vqaDTja_WWLgWRjLXfcDrdcBsh2kfK2B74khfrkrma4gEs2EQkfoBbjylgm-7k9I46LoIRCvvfgCx7RBl97Tl9P8QvWhBZstreO2JX0dI5q3Di_aU" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1224" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-QIJ_FOmfIGD8E0J8bLkhe0ZBC_Zy1cDiCpg7efDdMOJtaPQbMcU_STI3rVcHMPcnmtw4kuAmy7vqaDTja_WWLgWRjLXfcDrdcBsh2kfK2B74khfrkrma4gEs2EQkfoBbjylgm-7k9I46LoIRCvvfgCx7RBl97Tl9P8QvWhBZstreO2JX0dI5q3Di_aU=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parking Area 11 by Stone Arch Lake</td></tr></tbody></table>My second activation at this location was on February 22, I ran down to the park when I got off work at 4PM. By 5PM I was setup and operating, same setup using the KX2 and the AX-1 antenna. I was able to work 24 stations in about 30 minutes, before it started getting dark. Best DX was Iggy EA2BD calling me from Pamplona Spain!! He gave me a 449 for the report and I was pretty happy to log that one! This was a quick run down and a quick run back home. Didn't see another person the whole time I was down there. It's still pretty chilly and too cold to go fishing, at least for now. My next activation at Atterbury was February 23rd, this evening. Once again I headed down right after work. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHIsjJ_yjFRZRKFhbxTN4dbdxpu_wzkHPnypciboWUlsy0V-NCsbUQKWQFb-udjcWxVgSXzL1tYde64fQ-IrHMynLdPCtVhZXjW2BixkRcO_hjEUBaAsh8WjFFcvxbyD5g_gEiw9GE6bCmziSP60WqRoKvDA-SiApSy1Xe66aux6znS3oqvSfQRV-MDKg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="877" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHIsjJ_yjFRZRKFhbxTN4dbdxpu_wzkHPnypciboWUlsy0V-NCsbUQKWQFb-udjcWxVgSXzL1tYde64fQ-IrHMynLdPCtVhZXjW2BixkRcO_hjEUBaAsh8WjFFcvxbyD5g_gEiw9GE6bCmziSP60WqRoKvDA-SiApSy1Xe66aux6znS3oqvSfQRV-MDKg" width="320" /></a></div>This time I decided to try a new spot, new this year anyway, and I set up at Beaver Bottom Lake. I was also happy to see the Indiana DNR had already dropped the Porta Potty at this location! I was in position in the parking lot, with the KX-2 and the AX-1 antenna once again. The AX-1 Antenna works on 17m and 20m. I have been using it pretty much only on 20m the last few outings. I still like to use my hitch mounted Eagle One vertical but when in a hurry the AX-1 can't be beat for ultra quick set up and tear down. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisTvAnPZ56hVIdp_rFEJWWP1xkKrWi79HQvNLebm5hN8c9QzZtUdBYKnB4DLfNLUAnz-Ur3eVbq1Ad4NxEXt4qxv3zuBd8hrT6UmwtvfkrlnmFW6YVhk1dU6TRFgHjuWLFJdX_IJf-s8EgTf4snV3ePQlnu6AVniYgZx7IivxJJoUTPiS9fd8PtpFvrUM" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1224" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisTvAnPZ56hVIdp_rFEJWWP1xkKrWi79HQvNLebm5hN8c9QzZtUdBYKnB4DLfNLUAnz-Ur3eVbq1Ad4NxEXt4qxv3zuBd8hrT6UmwtvfkrlnmFW6YVhk1dU6TRFgHjuWLFJdX_IJf-s8EgTf4snV3ePQlnu6AVniYgZx7IivxJJoUTPiS9fd8PtpFvrUM=w304-h228" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishing Docks at Beaver Bottom</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHP5gm8--_eLVq0NuCfTbFpV0pZ0GjE4MVrV2Hr9h0upNLcfhkZ95oOAiDBJGiZ3ZBxhCXfJCmnJhFMXyYW5mDv38CdUzC__FmfVLmoAulsZHxonuQ0vyBsV-RXtsPfaDqlr2kWbHcYposU2IyM_hBeMw7OpCA9fgeoa4l5m0zTHkcxWfoJVzEcQxG3Jo" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1224" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHP5gm8--_eLVq0NuCfTbFpV0pZ0GjE4MVrV2Hr9h0upNLcfhkZ95oOAiDBJGiZ3ZBxhCXfJCmnJhFMXyYW5mDv38CdUzC__FmfVLmoAulsZHxonuQ0vyBsV-RXtsPfaDqlr2kWbHcYposU2IyM_hBeMw7OpCA9fgeoa4l5m0zTHkcxWfoJVzEcQxG3Jo=w306-h230" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beaver Bottom Lake at Atterbury<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZFMr_em8r0Z2i2QYpVRGXz5WyI7cGxlS7PsvWs_D02_d6SMjvYHpDS0PffMwYhjGhg3aPEO9oy3wV3mCnvV3-q_o5g5J5lkW-XYSN6QM8VRw0xawe6kUBAiszLFiHYBAomC9y0xDyK4Vdmv5taoidUyt2vlIp-mHFlhAjMBsDtQRuEf7lWqIKfwRGNqs" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-5EBF8ko5BUYMUqF-B51VzkB3dYx-tKqrOQcwukKms0MjFd-KtmGU_5MGvR-luuxc0OgN3F3EtnuT72rBVGWp_Wu6tGaGS0LY-ezj-FNmjxN7GimDKhCIik8oruQpY-0R7LPShW8nQcYzGCN_3oHWdCCtpPaWPiEVzl_XiedqUQXSUMb1zOOpNhQaWFQ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1020" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-5EBF8ko5BUYMUqF-B51VzkB3dYx-tKqrOQcwukKms0MjFd-KtmGU_5MGvR-luuxc0OgN3F3EtnuT72rBVGWp_Wu6tGaGS0LY-ezj-FNmjxN7GimDKhCIik8oruQpY-0R7LPShW8nQcYzGCN_3oHWdCCtpPaWPiEVzl_XiedqUQXSUMb1zOOpNhQaWFQ=w200-h150" width="200" /></a></div>So tonight I operated from about 4:40PM to about 5:10PM, the going was much slower than the day before, best DX was Utah and Arizona. The best contact was with Jay AJ4AY. I met Jay almost 25 years ago, at a Flying Pigs QRP Club Field Day event at Caesar Creek State Park in Ohio. He drove all the way up from Mobile Alabama to hang out with the Flying Pigs that weekend. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br />We had the best time, and I've QSO'd with Jay a few times over the years. It was great to hear his fist, and knowing we were both still above ground, and walking around. One of the coolest things about amateur radio is you never know who you will bump into. Thanks for working me Jay! I loved it!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway that about wraps it up, I ended up with 14 contacts, and the breeze blowing off that lake was cold, so I packed it up until next time. I am shooting for 30 activations this year, will try to do Atterbury one more time before March. Once DST comes back on the 10th of March, I'll have more daylight to work with, and will start going out further to some other parks. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1m7-kusQhuLtLNRvjUSfnuEkBO5O_181-_JN7Ai_53HRLSdMMpMousXo5E_IRX8XoKq0ayYuF-pI6t-ZKDBu9iQItY7J4ZeVC_wi8NXynZF1jEolKxULQuV5hZV8BNUxCt9J_a2kikW-koiB1bXQaNDwU-atOQIz2KqPcYQd8U8FATq6gO_hJ9Th5tvY" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1m7-kusQhuLtLNRvjUSfnuEkBO5O_181-_JN7Ai_53HRLSdMMpMousXo5E_IRX8XoKq0ayYuF-pI6t-ZKDBu9iQItY7J4ZeVC_wi8NXynZF1jEolKxULQuV5hZV8BNUxCt9J_a2kikW-koiB1bXQaNDwU-atOQIz2KqPcYQd8U8FATq6gO_hJ9Th5tvY=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">73 de KB9BVN from K-4183 - Beaver Bottom Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br />BTW I LOVE those little 3D printed paddles that Bruce N9DBJ gave me. They are great in the outdoors and hold up very well. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-41131486511795617952024-02-16T09:51:00.001-05:002024-02-16T09:51:51.564-05:00POTA - I finally got to 1000!!!<p style="text-align: justify;">Well it's been a few months since I blogged and I blame it on the weather, having too many things to get done this winter around the house, and taking care of my wife after her successful surgery. Turned the page on another birthday, hoping to be retired by this time next year, God willing and the creek don't rise. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">This morning I worked my 1000th different park in the Parks on the Air program. The next award is at 1500... which seems like a long long way off. I started in POTA in June of 2020. Last year I had 15 park activations, which means I took my portable station to 15 different parks, and made at least 10 contacts each outing. That brings my total up to 33 activations. My goal this year is to hit 25 parks, and I already knocked one down last weekend. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">My hunting began about a week after my first POTA activation in June 2020. I am not tearing it up or setting the POTA world on fire. POTA has over 43,000 registered radio amateurs out there hunting, and activating. I am BARELY in the top 2500. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I am very happy to hit this milestone. I am ready to start plotting my other 24 park outings for this year. The Elecraft KX-2 with the AX-1 antenna is working out very well. I can now carry my entire setup in a padded Lowe bag and it weighs less than 5 lbs. I can have it setup in less than 5 minutes. The AX-1 only works 17m and 20m bands, so I still have the Eagle One hitch mounted vertical to work the other bands. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioMVOuz7gSyvPYT-mnHD6gOOKT3vmkYIkIWlIo7X4JzYW2WVJG7ZQfBWDEByRc0alZ89UsG-WF3fkB7lWxf77PvFbDzX96Pr2mSGSy1C2Y1vdsgvkO0fYFBlUvpnwul0dfnWrlk1Hi3Dlx6EhnTYPLcGvorluz38NI4mhoFomuD8IWlKXy3rpy5_y_9E0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="912" height="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioMVOuz7gSyvPYT-mnHD6gOOKT3vmkYIkIWlIo7X4JzYW2WVJG7ZQfBWDEByRc0alZ89UsG-WF3fkB7lWxf77PvFbDzX96Pr2mSGSy1C2Y1vdsgvkO0fYFBlUvpnwul0dfnWrlk1Hi3Dlx6EhnTYPLcGvorluz38NI4mhoFomuD8IWlKXy3rpy5_y_9E0=w640-h493" width="640" /></a></div><br />Glad to have that one in the logbook. <p></p><p>73 de KB9BVN</p><p><br /></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-12330821839271035742023-11-06T20:38:00.003-05:002023-11-07T09:43:04.492-05:00Fun with Special Events - Godzilla!!<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij0-OQIHVJSLSuzSLX0AATlg_nOMWzKnkgnR9JSebzQmenPFS89MtKkcFx6-kf5WqQwsZ8NvjshOIuRHo3QayTQ-I1i-paXORNs3yO2HYlUlKNQQOjGYpU_vPWvJRTkJJ5b-K_yAxKvvks48Gb98kUoeFPT8UxKMrGwyUI3jkLvLfuBCy9Rt4VjvXpH2E" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="760" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij0-OQIHVJSLSuzSLX0AATlg_nOMWzKnkgnR9JSebzQmenPFS89MtKkcFx6-kf5WqQwsZ8NvjshOIuRHo3QayTQ-I1i-paXORNs3yO2HYlUlKNQQOjGYpU_vPWvJRTkJJ5b-K_yAxKvvks48Gb98kUoeFPT8UxKMrGwyUI3jkLvLfuBCy9Rt4VjvXpH2E" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">This weekend, from 00:00Z november 4th through 00:00 November 6th is a special event weekend. Yes, we are celebrating the 69th anniversary of the debut of Godzilla on the big screen. So I operated W9G, along with some others like Wayne AC9HP, Bryan K0EMT, Joe N3XLS and Mac KD9GZJ. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.5px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When seventeen vessels blow-up and sink nearby Odo Island, Professor Kyohei Yamane, his daughter Emiko Yamane and the marine Hideto Ogata head to the island to investigate. Soon they witness a giant monster called Gojira by the locals destroying the spot. Meanwhile Emiko meets her boyfriend, the secluded scientist Serizawa, and he makes she promise to keep a secret about his research with oxygen. She agrees and he discloses the lethal weapon Oxygen Destroyer that he had developed. When Gojira threatens Tokyo and other Japanese cities and the army and the navy are incapable to stop the monster, Emiko discloses Serizawa's secret to her lover Ogata. Now they want to convince Serizawa to use the Oxygen Destroyer to stop Gojira</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Godzilla (Gojira originally) was released by Toho Studios in Japan in early 1954. The movie was redubbed in English and renamed Godzilla and released in the United State during the summer of 1954. Toho Studio spent just over $250,000 to make the monster masterpiece and was one of their biggest hit movies with a gross box office of about $575,000 world wide. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was able to rustle up 40 contacts and spent maybe 3 or 4 hours total working on the Special Event. Radio station used was the old K2 and the infamous attic dipole with my trusty, but never rusty, Vibroplex keyer. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi7KPJFdl_o7Pv6oc2pp4_9OkjucnHtMi8jXRd5_TsKKawkSX6ZP79ImsTA97Z2c-LJ6tUFybouNbR9-Ax8ctBDWwK0pCzbkZrJ0_8sG70m3wwZNqMJf0wrGbJWm0jwoa7l7bDO7r-rBzOi567rmXgW6Zm5255Q0wd0wRSbwcVsjcObNQs_z7Zs_qFruI" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1042" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi7KPJFdl_o7Pv6oc2pp4_9OkjucnHtMi8jXRd5_TsKKawkSX6ZP79ImsTA97Z2c-LJ6tUFybouNbR9-Ax8ctBDWwK0pCzbkZrJ0_8sG70m3wwZNqMJf0wrGbJWm0jwoa7l7bDO7r-rBzOi567rmXgW6Zm5255Q0wd0wRSbwcVsjcObNQs_z7Zs_qFruI=w640-h430" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">KB9BVN Running 8 watts CW - 40 Contacts in US and Canada<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />This is my second year to be part of team Godzilla. Next year will be the 70th Anniversary and we're hoping to do a really special and fun event to commemorate the happening. Maybe I'll get a chance to work you! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYA4aXQGjXsx2ijAbLDPBZEB3JXaqjpZiQSwn08EvZtfD768bns350mVzJRllepW2I9iQZkXTIZeT5Qy8l6kq65Tb0E2UjrCGhhW2r8L5DJqxYfiGHKWX7hXHdkcujzHJjUzmCJjbl6oVjiquDoJY-jU1bA_M2K52QSB5fXNueeRHo06cNzwVJjNhZZwI" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="421" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYA4aXQGjXsx2ijAbLDPBZEB3JXaqjpZiQSwn08EvZtfD768bns350mVzJRllepW2I9iQZkXTIZeT5Qy8l6kq65Tb0E2UjrCGhhW2r8L5DJqxYfiGHKWX7hXHdkcujzHJjUzmCJjbl6oVjiquDoJY-jU1bA_M2K52QSB5fXNueeRHo06cNzwVJjNhZZwI=w199-h200" width="199" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />QSL's for this Special Event are only available via email. Trust me they will be suitable for printing and keeping. Designed by QSL Engineer, Wayne Michael AC9HP in his secret imaging laboratory somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. They are keepers! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So the logs have been updated and turned into Godzilla Central. I can't wait to do it again next year. <br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Go Go Godzilla!! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSPX79LB-ZU3-_8BFbTs_8AaFXS5sIpa7w8xWtdBEYZWK6_sv0dIHrINZO2YqFdnQzdrcAZ06RqQUP6mbwX-vIddM3CQQUoRLKpzf5pK4iDh3bELa40J32MIIi70pH3xzGCE9HaDjJtILIjuXoWPiNSaBlNWcYpv7aFWSCDbtvzxy2387spSiJ5PvGUg4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4200" data-original-width="6667" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSPX79LB-ZU3-_8BFbTs_8AaFXS5sIpa7w8xWtdBEYZWK6_sv0dIHrINZO2YqFdnQzdrcAZ06RqQUP6mbwX-vIddM3CQQUoRLKpzf5pK4iDh3bELa40J32MIIi70pH3xzGCE9HaDjJtILIjuXoWPiNSaBlNWcYpv7aFWSCDbtvzxy2387spSiJ5PvGUg4=w640-h404" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">73 de KB9BVN</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-22388207347049256182023-10-27T20:16:00.003-04:002023-10-27T20:18:38.056-04:00Back at Atterbury with the AX-1 Antenna <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8OSzQE_Z6o8szaERzz-TJ26IJXWBl3E17cYye3bZgnZcJr5nWql_sTLjpC82fO64chfvC5gwSxr6GjUPDbeGeECZRbrnrWGbIuroCIsVmp3_Eu9BrUcGorbLCDuFUOw5Qr01CGFL61OmVNb3DsdZ9tfAYUZZXDAqYyznTpnQI165uKsifjWH2tGa-ESE" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1241" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8OSzQE_Z6o8szaERzz-TJ26IJXWBl3E17cYye3bZgnZcJr5nWql_sTLjpC82fO64chfvC5gwSxr6GjUPDbeGeECZRbrnrWGbIuroCIsVmp3_Eu9BrUcGorbLCDuFUOw5Qr01CGFL61OmVNb3DsdZ9tfAYUZZXDAqYyznTpnQI165uKsifjWH2tGa-ESE" width="320" /></a></div>Today was a great day, here it is October 27th, the temperature was ALMOST 80 degrees, with mostly sun all day. I had to work today so it was paining me to inhabit my office while seeing what a glorious day it was outside. 4PM couldn't get here soon enough. <p></p><p>So I packed up the KX2 and accessories and loaded up the SUV and headed 25 miles south to K-4183 Atterbury Fish and Wildlife. I got there and set up my table and chair, deployed the 16 foot radial and installed the AX-1 antenna. </p><p>Once I got comfortable, with pencil, logbook and my 3D printed key I got from Bruce N9DBJ in September, I hit the tune button on the KX2 and like magic the antenna and radio were matched at 1:1 for my frequency. I was running 14057 Khz on 20m this evening. At 4:55PM EST KB5EDR of Texas was the first hunter in the logbook. He gave me a solid 559 RST on the exchange. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcMAoEKShIM7cVreJf9ge-4vcu0Toyoq_-1Ca2yC4zz7mUo-p5Fahz5rgyV6plLf0aGv-oo9jVJQvqWaVts69xmcjsIBGEuwaDAg42bEiUu6iqQ55t1gbLnwRmo4MgHNwi7P6zwgO71WcPup4w1gcHadHjvrmhWE9HGriRxkMSGfG-9f_Z8bxptoc3BMc" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="698" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcMAoEKShIM7cVreJf9ge-4vcu0Toyoq_-1Ca2yC4zz7mUo-p5Fahz5rgyV6plLf0aGv-oo9jVJQvqWaVts69xmcjsIBGEuwaDAg42bEiUu6iqQ55t1gbLnwRmo4MgHNwi7P6zwgO71WcPup4w1gcHadHjvrmhWE9HGriRxkMSGfG-9f_Z8bxptoc3BMc=w150-h200" width="150" /></a></div>By the time I was finished for the night it was only 5:30PM and I had logged 23 contacts, 1 of which was a Park to Park with Ron KC2PSA at K-2049 Marsha P. Johnson State Park in New York, I also bagged a couple of Zombie's, the Zombie Shuffle is a QRP CW event that runs the Friday before Halloween. I happen to be Zombie 916. <p></p><p>Anyway, this is what the map looks like and the reverse beacon report. As usual this was an awesome activation, I got to enjoy nature, saw some deer, some squirrels, and LOTS of bow hunters parked around the area. </p><p>I may try to go out and activate with the little antenna and sideband. Is that crazy sounding or what? </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxbOAM2_imStSYBsE9aKYPChTptZkZusJhBojXHVF2xlZdI8s2auOR7exyu4aiB-W2uuvStCOiAeOn2azy_qXrAcbhTcMdXRTQ4bEdaIL4JtTkMF2FNxoIwtxonPHwEe181MUNTwVkSxFT-g0vKskYgr3kSa_N35oLW8MC-rjy68PeDRzKOzAABMulCa4" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="874" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxbOAM2_imStSYBsE9aKYPChTptZkZusJhBojXHVF2xlZdI8s2auOR7exyu4aiB-W2uuvStCOiAeOn2azy_qXrAcbhTcMdXRTQ4bEdaIL4JtTkMF2FNxoIwtxonPHwEe181MUNTwVkSxFT-g0vKskYgr3kSa_N35oLW8MC-rjy68PeDRzKOzAABMulCa4=w640-h348" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My QSO Map today, K1XD was in Utah. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFn2-nM1krdc373AwWnj1CvlPSJn1Un1RIMMXomcyfrUApXHUXicCERrE3J2o_QxEoD9iNpFQzBuT3VgiMzWP47kQRgiLtsweawS6tHKgYvA4_upOWtBVv5AkVpfANchrvufX_cUpz5v_gjjRowsbXPWEYy0Bv5KMCbFXbV11YrrDKsdylaER2VU7xjpk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="955" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFn2-nM1krdc373AwWnj1CvlPSJn1Un1RIMMXomcyfrUApXHUXicCERrE3J2o_QxEoD9iNpFQzBuT3VgiMzWP47kQRgiLtsweawS6tHKgYvA4_upOWtBVv5AkVpfANchrvufX_cUpz5v_gjjRowsbXPWEYy0Bv5KMCbFXbV11YrrDKsdylaER2VU7xjpk=w640-h340" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here is the Reverse Beacon Report - Not bad for 5 watts</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Thanks for reading, I am having a blast with this little radio and this little antenna. The Solar Cycle is perfect right now for weird and wonderful things to happen with a wet noodle antenna and a few watts of RF. </p><p>73 de KB9BVN</p><p><br /></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-7699100078821156602023-10-24T09:35:00.001-04:002023-10-24T09:41:10.109-04:00QRP Park Activation with AX-1 Antenna<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdzpU6Fp140_AGUQ1GLam-USY_u_I8yShSFNKRXuWbRKCob3jQ4awURyPFx4FxbOFP6STA89zziHa-NlQVdQ3v-HNrJlOdnT3V34c-Hxaq6juHInqnEoJHJgpL6ntEOmWZHZ0jWuAYEOsr4gWJjsh_GlSxcm9XSo3Z1SIgtFRtkuWZbYVTJ5wZrvwyjk/s917/brian%20and%20KX2%20at%20Brown%20County.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="917" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdzpU6Fp140_AGUQ1GLam-USY_u_I8yShSFNKRXuWbRKCob3jQ4awURyPFx4FxbOFP6STA89zziHa-NlQVdQ3v-HNrJlOdnT3V34c-Hxaq6juHInqnEoJHJgpL6ntEOmWZHZ0jWuAYEOsr4gWJjsh_GlSxcm9XSo3Z1SIgtFRtkuWZbYVTJ5wZrvwyjk/s320/brian%20and%20KX2%20at%20Brown%20County.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>When I got off work yesterday afternoon, I noticed the weather was incredible. When I woke up this morning the temperature was a frosty 34F and the ground was covered with the first real frost of the season. I started wondering if my POTA trips were going to be over for the year. <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">My KX-2 was purchased used from a ham friend in Kansas a few months back, he also included the AX1 portable antenna. Tonight I brought the AX-1 with me to the beautiful <a href="https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/brown-county-state-park/" target="_blank">Brown County State Park</a>. I had just watched an excellent <a href="https://youtu.be/6RoHj6A-nwU?si=t-5uxnJ3nDIy9LOm" target="_blank">YouTube video by Tom Witherspoon K4SWL</a> on how to use the AX-1 antenna during a Parks on the Air activation earlier in the day, at lunchtime actually. So I got the bug to give this short whip antenna a try. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">My wife decided to go with me, so we loaded up a couple chairs, some drinks, and headed to Brown County State Park, about an hour away. Normally I would not try this on a weeknight, especially an hour drive away, but I wanted to see if I could have any success with this antenna setup. The seed, or bug, had been planted. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">By the time we got there, found restrooms that were open, and got set up it was about 5:30PM local time. Set up was easy, took the KX2 out of the Lowe carrying case, attached the AX-1 Antenna, and pluggd in one 14 foot radial wire to the ground jack on the KX2. The internal antenna tuner liked it and I had a 1:1 SWR on 14053 Khz. We found a beautiful overlook up high in the park and a conveniently placed picnic table. So I logged in to the POTA spotting page on my phone and spotted myself on 20m (14053 Khz). </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8AZFy_ksrfOIBU554OB7gO7kINHZPDiJvp_qip3_U9DRHqlkNdz3gOLu3mxg05F3M-ruuVv5n9WxdzQtczVVf7qwqbpyDmjVgESunaxr3okrDtkx68EawgoXn5DWc7PZetI69SFYvDkXjy8G9rfdlPGlNoSUPgd9hUHKv5WwRXaYBbkhitnsZQjBcXI/s1241/PXL_20231023_212834304.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1241" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8AZFy_ksrfOIBU554OB7gO7kINHZPDiJvp_qip3_U9DRHqlkNdz3gOLu3mxg05F3M-ruuVv5n9WxdzQtczVVf7qwqbpyDmjVgESunaxr3okrDtkx68EawgoXn5DWc7PZetI69SFYvDkXjy8G9rfdlPGlNoSUPgd9hUHKv5WwRXaYBbkhitnsZQjBcXI/w640-h480/PXL_20231023_212834304.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KX2 and AX1 Antenna at Brown County State Park</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Brown County State Park is in Brown County Indiana, grid EM69vd and is just outside of Nashville Indiana. The park has been called "The little Smoky Mountains" because of the beautiful vistas, and the high rolling hills. Covering almost 17,000 acres, there is plenty of room to spread out. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">I think I had sent out maybe three CQ's and was answered by KC3WOA in Maryland. He sent us a 599 signal report, which made me very happy! Over the next 35 minutes I worked 10 other stations, including AL7KC in North Pole Alaska (339), G4ELZ in England (449), W8TK in Arizona (579) for my furthest stations of the outing. I was STOKED to work England and Alaska on this little low power setup and the AX-1 antenna. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K1v1tw1dAkcDc4KrwVHB9CEasM6PZi9j3nNC2yC8qgUefg7jfFFQa1uFj4lmFdVskZ8MiB8W3sqwzQaEn-6CNN3iba-cw_wFZYXp4j7_QDs-l6shHFsu86v_b9ibFw4fl2KkN9pYUn6Hw-llUtcATOQiyCOL032jkL9qVlcBHmWvK5yCO3JLzHpd2BE/s1034/QSOMAP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1034" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K1v1tw1dAkcDc4KrwVHB9CEasM6PZi9j3nNC2yC8qgUefg7jfFFQa1uFj4lmFdVskZ8MiB8W3sqwzQaEn-6CNN3iba-cw_wFZYXp4j7_QDs-l6shHFsu86v_b9ibFw4fl2KkN9pYUn6Hw-llUtcATOQiyCOL032jkL9qVlcBHmWvK5yCO3JLzHpd2BE/w640-h388/QSOMAP.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">All in all it was a short, but good outing. The park was activated using the KX2 and the little AX-1 antenna. The band conditions were good, and the operators out there hunting me had some really good ears. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFm0jgaPNh7m7vJrx0k5ah8qrB783KEoNt1-g-cP6VAcC8JnUyTtzckIOPegf4DdUDfImPs-Sqgbze-asrRhhBMKLwizGbHhY__KuQoJHuzaPWOskoI3_BKEMwdXAzX5XT2kE9Mm3xOU9NlBCg9u16VmCi3_BQzUji76atjcEgWtf5sRtmPYAVmrixWxk/s672/rev%20beacon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="672" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFm0jgaPNh7m7vJrx0k5ah8qrB783KEoNt1-g-cP6VAcC8JnUyTtzckIOPegf4DdUDfImPs-Sqgbze-asrRhhBMKLwizGbHhY__KuQoJHuzaPWOskoI3_BKEMwdXAzX5XT2kE9Mm3xOU9NlBCg9u16VmCi3_BQzUji76atjcEgWtf5sRtmPYAVmrixWxk/w640-h486/rev%20beacon.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reverse Beacon was picking up my QRP in a lot of places! AX-1 was Getting OUT! </td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">After about 40 minutes or so we packed it up and headed toward home. The sun had started going down and the breezes up there were getting chilly, I had enough contacts to activate the park (my 31st activation) so I was very happy with the outing. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrceHA-fvJkS_QoY4Zy00aTxsu_33Ofrus8L0M8txYMHOYvqF2m44lPoZuxFZybbhyrYCs5bYfbyQxnaqyKtRu2a0xnIa8DPGLBGwKeoUEBpGRrwnp4YecxEK42819jDgdkeW5HkCJeyRywYzZHDsqOotZGJnHD8J2R1kH4r0sXQkSsJePcHlGesAXDU/s1241/PXL_20231023_221627435.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1241" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrceHA-fvJkS_QoY4Zy00aTxsu_33Ofrus8L0M8txYMHOYvqF2m44lPoZuxFZybbhyrYCs5bYfbyQxnaqyKtRu2a0xnIa8DPGLBGwKeoUEBpGRrwnp4YecxEK42819jDgdkeW5HkCJeyRywYzZHDsqOotZGJnHD8J2R1kH4r0sXQkSsJePcHlGesAXDU/w640-h480/PXL_20231023_221627435.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Overlook - Leaves will be peak in about a week. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZhGJXLTjy5VcmkzrUUuiCdPvAuN2uxM9B8uKhoks3BfoTvCdM-TLIwYgHv9XFrkzxU1wuAMAV7DiCr11-Kg7XO6mQmHUTPgncKPars3BiyxyzRY52GIMEEHQRcxYz5SuyvF7xUdt05MAYZhR6jcqro58bpR1AEbbY2sd8HAC2hVbFBast3hNMYR7RMA/s1241/PXL_20231023_215743231.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1241" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZhGJXLTjy5VcmkzrUUuiCdPvAuN2uxM9B8uKhoks3BfoTvCdM-TLIwYgHv9XFrkzxU1wuAMAV7DiCr11-Kg7XO6mQmHUTPgncKPars3BiyxyzRY52GIMEEHQRcxYz5SuyvF7xUdt05MAYZhR6jcqro58bpR1AEbbY2sd8HAC2hVbFBast3hNMYR7RMA/w640-h480/PXL_20231023_215743231.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Vista at Brown County State Park<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUEI1LlhSfobdooObN94sKTa8vLOwGA8CO2ZbduNICoYOVdLB3__Rb3xr4hNfh5aut4Ykrk-IKBqIz8NnbDC0EbvkHSs54Qu5rZmBNxB1Py91yBTeMqzp304nMPEzqni6euP5Oug3H-n-GVqULSQsJv9Kr2EJ-gChqu32-5oWssjnzfihuTSA5JqdgkE/s1241/PXL_20231023_215615534.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1241" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUEI1LlhSfobdooObN94sKTa8vLOwGA8CO2ZbduNICoYOVdLB3__Rb3xr4hNfh5aut4Ykrk-IKBqIz8NnbDC0EbvkHSs54Qu5rZmBNxB1Py91yBTeMqzp304nMPEzqni6euP5Oug3H-n-GVqULSQsJv9Kr2EJ-gChqu32-5oWssjnzfihuTSA5JqdgkE/s320/PXL_20231023_215615534.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">72 de KB9BVN<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-59209314186708674412023-10-21T12:31:00.004-04:002023-10-21T12:31:35.897-04:0030th POTA Activation is in the Books<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga9BSaagAc03cOlHpUMsJ1VZuLCR7_uOJHTg5A8CxHEYcwOhSHCGJCSDqOOYLAEMzU__nMPugZN8suExtEJC5hlfIlwuDfJilhFq4Cpqnd5JChSHwy8kSkrCADc5CUOtO8E6_xSoR45Z-o9ZOytAo-e3sEXfswXGJZiRyizwN6Y9OHTtLTN8C9RP4KqCE" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga9BSaagAc03cOlHpUMsJ1VZuLCR7_uOJHTg5A8CxHEYcwOhSHCGJCSDqOOYLAEMzU__nMPugZN8suExtEJC5hlfIlwuDfJilhFq4Cpqnd5JChSHwy8kSkrCADc5CUOtO8E6_xSoR45Z-o9ZOytAo-e3sEXfswXGJZiRyizwN6Y9OHTtLTN8C9RP4KqCE" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KB9BVN in the Wild</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div style="text-align: justify;">What a glorious October day in Indiana. Got out of the house about 8:30, and headed to K-4183 Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area. I was totally setup next to Stone Arch Lake and on the air by 9:35AM. I started out on 40m this morning and within 10 minutes I already had 10 contacts, 2 of which were operators in other parks. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The band was wide open so I stayed put on 7065Khz and called CQ POTA every so often. I had decent internet coverage so I was able to post my location on the POTA Spotter page, that always helps to bring the contact numbers up. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I stayed an operated the radio for about 45 minutes, the temps were in the mid 40's and it was just a beautiful day to be outdoors. I noticed quite a few deer hunters parked all over the place. This is bow season in Indiana, and also squirrel season. If I make it out again this fall, I will be wearing my hunter orange hat for safety sake. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0ERrW_URc7dpY2OD90TBt8G5LsVyP7bdkk59cr013SUwKTMzYpPuuCpn011QOxW2ocUruZh-PBOYAtqPh2iZaFwRIbbHg61E9YyLA4oZGBykbgU-PkKjBEzZUhooyyVuPhgoWKPLsSol-Cufk8_oR9xazJXzheVKYgrsly9yvqYZR4lC18W2ajJ355gM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0ERrW_URc7dpY2OD90TBt8G5LsVyP7bdkk59cr013SUwKTMzYpPuuCpn011QOxW2ocUruZh-PBOYAtqPh2iZaFwRIbbHg61E9YyLA4oZGBykbgU-PkKjBEzZUhooyyVuPhgoWKPLsSol-Cufk8_oR9xazJXzheVKYgrsly9yvqYZR4lC18W2ajJ355gM=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">POTA Spotting Page on the Web</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Most of my contacts were maybe a couple states away. The furthest today was Rhode Island (N1BS) and Texas (KJ5W). The spotting page shows the mode and the location of the park activator along with the frequency they are operating on. This makes it QUITE easy to find parks and work them as hunters. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">My station today was the venerable Elecraft KX-2, Eagle One Vertical antenna mounted to my trailer hitch, and two 16 foot radial wires laid out north/south. Today I was running 9-10 watts. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, this is now logged and in the books in the vast POTA mainframe. #30 for me, I'm averaging 10 activations per year...definitely not tearing up the record book. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">73 de KB9BVN</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-17439384590012609442023-09-25T16:33:00.000-04:002023-09-25T16:33:20.458-04:00The Year in POTA...so far<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaTy-cNgrphsp8WFDTi2aYkv0tOhGk23DT83X5KST-ara97bN15hgSL-8ayqlW6Tj7epkB6PBd4_tYortpflAQM9EbLXOx0fJecDM-311pARa5lPAGXUayG33_VkGT8loRbL5IDeQGpUQaVCkq2-su4FCxxhoI564WKxuBRIJAipPc8sI8dFpuCObeYE/s320/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="320" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaTy-cNgrphsp8WFDTi2aYkv0tOhGk23DT83X5KST-ara97bN15hgSL-8ayqlW6Tj7epkB6PBd4_tYortpflAQM9EbLXOx0fJecDM-311pARa5lPAGXUayG33_VkGT8loRbL5IDeQGpUQaVCkq2-su4FCxxhoI564WKxuBRIJAipPc8sI8dFpuCObeYE/w152-h151/004.JPG" width="152" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1934" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxKI_TIiVlEKio5gYzVd9S8jkcKSWjErtpVjE6LHU0itREzHdOd3po-MHHWaR-7s0-jc3vFT7rB2rIlJtGNGoBztUwPBfOXDP0SxWVec3_q9UJheJ3jEbTzNSoTeDTgydun7Z4MRZ1KxS6wmxXlN4J76N3JrmVscF_HQXpqpCNbQe3VW0MJNtrjotdAOk=w193-h200" width="193" /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Well here it is...summer is over, autumn has begun here in Central Indiana. Where did the time go. Summer and Fall are my two favorite seasons, I suppose Spring is right up there as well, let's just say my absolute dislike of Winter is a very strong emotion. I could literally do without it. When I was a young whippersnapper I loved winter, we used to camp outside and sleep in tents, on the ground, while it was snowing, blowing, and freezing, and we loved it. As I take more trips around the sun on spaceship Earth, I find my love of winter has waned and ebbed to the point of no return. Give me the sun on my face, 80 degrees, and a slight breeze and I am about as happy as "a pig in a cool mud waller on a hot sunny day". Now that paints a picture.</span><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxKI_TIiVlEKio5gYzVd9S8jkcKSWjErtpVjE6LHU0itREzHdOd3po-MHHWaR-7s0-jc3vFT7rB2rIlJtGNGoBztUwPBfOXDP0SxWVec3_q9UJheJ3jEbTzNSoTeDTgydun7Z4MRZ1KxS6wmxXlN4J76N3JrmVscF_HQXpqpCNbQe3VW0MJNtrjotdAOk" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Speaking of pigs, and by pigs I do mean ham, as most of you know I am a ham radio operator. Yes indeed, I am licensed by the Federal Communications Commission, of these United States of America, to build, repair, operate, and otherwise twiddle with all kinds of radio stuff. My main interest in the hobby, as most of you know, is using Morse Code on the air to communicate with other hams using the same. It's my favorite thing to do in the hobby. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well a few years ago, a group popped up calling themselves Parks on the Air, or POTA for short. I started getting involved with this group in June of 2020...in the dregs of the pandemic. We were working from home those days, and to minimize the amount of exposure to others around me, I started going to the woods to operate portable, usually by myself. POTA has over 5000 registered national parks, state parks, and fish and wildlife areas in their database. Lucky for me, one of the registered locations is a mere 20 minutes from my home. The Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area is known in POTA as site K-4183. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEho_P-RIb3feFXNMLeEe04kWHRHexm5bcsB0giPo5j8ut5j6qEe15C3t15_Lv2UDuQPcUwRhaAmUp842UQLr13XAcoZQ3P8p51WarnuSgCGRT47KuR_ByleyYIm9HNbcTFTXPtfsp_Z3AZ7rb2qjdHYuoyus9ahNdNrcEyiACwDhGBR55JuehuXEnW3lJs" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="891" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEho_P-RIb3feFXNMLeEe04kWHRHexm5bcsB0giPo5j8ut5j6qEe15C3t15_Lv2UDuQPcUwRhaAmUp842UQLr13XAcoZQ3P8p51WarnuSgCGRT47KuR_ByleyYIm9HNbcTFTXPtfsp_Z3AZ7rb2qjdHYuoyus9ahNdNrcEyiACwDhGBR55JuehuXEnW3lJs=w640-h308" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atterbury FIsh and Wildlife Area - K-4183</td></tr></tbody></table><br />My goal in 2023 was to try and get out to the parks and wild life areas at least 12 times, fire up my radio, pitch my antenna, and make at least 10 CW contacts. Today, was my 12th outing of 2023. This year I have activated 6 different parks, made over 200 CW contacts from those parks, and with any luck I hope to go out at least 3 more times before it gets too cold. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAEQCIx34z_CT0wi0UD09zFSWKU74ZUm9glVIU7B1zjqaLucOtl4DBGt5of4FW_L_wmsOtUdLg6rF0JwulYeJ4gv2SblVjnFPPDVwychTpRJYuHDzz5VsNt_K3KrwZA4mrozV5y4SxHRivzMco2uQ_J02QtIQbKfZZyXSilh-w1LtVGYodunZHYAwiIc4" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="945" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAEQCIx34z_CT0wi0UD09zFSWKU74ZUm9glVIU7B1zjqaLucOtl4DBGt5of4FW_L_wmsOtUdLg6rF0JwulYeJ4gv2SblVjnFPPDVwychTpRJYuHDzz5VsNt_K3KrwZA4mrozV5y4SxHRivzMco2uQ_J02QtIQbKfZZyXSilh-w1LtVGYodunZHYAwiIc4=w640-h530" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elecraft KX-2, Logbook, Coffee<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>This is my radio setup. I bought this Elecraft KX-2 transceiver, used, a couple month ago. It is totally self contained. It has an internal lithium battery pack, an internal antenna tuner, can transmit CW, Voice, and a couple of digital data modes. Just add an antenna, the CW paddles are already attached. This radio is capable of outputting 10 watts of RF power to the antenna system. My antenna is a 33 foot tall vertical antenna that collapses down to about 4 feet tall. It's called an Eagle One, and I mounts to the trailer hitch on my SUV. That is all I need to carry to the field now. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Before I got the KX-2, I had to carry all this stuff! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMdlGE6zaTYydSoY76Rpi4blQSW8QN_W85CRNZQvVIHntdFeQMXzVmhw8Uduv2jgHrmPssTTcMg2-Jrj6lzvpbvHI3yKUT84wpcIVc4wPhisa-iVfvfUIDrLCdRNFBUFqrYlVpNV_29Hb6Cyyy-QvrMGGxurZwcIt962KfdYsFcN0teG9P3vGC3W33CGs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="1170" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMdlGE6zaTYydSoY76Rpi4blQSW8QN_W85CRNZQvVIHntdFeQMXzVmhw8Uduv2jgHrmPssTTcMg2-Jrj6lzvpbvHI3yKUT84wpcIVc4wPhisa-iVfvfUIDrLCdRNFBUFqrYlVpNV_29Hb6Cyyy-QvrMGGxurZwcIt962KfdYsFcN0teG9P3vGC3W33CGs=w640-h358" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz43NtnnWCfJ7B4Pp8Yoyb8VqM1QkbK99oo1zLIrhWcz1mLOXQhwB2c9ey_Yx_Js5KobOZooY8RvkrbVYpEDJFKJwR0zyu9q1LH29a5icUGG4y0iXrmi4VOfK0Gzrf1FPz8SoBTcNeh-ae2Uc5icar3HeKRvuZpxW405ByMDNekaw0bbwxEbQE3nxX2Lg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="498" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz43NtnnWCfJ7B4Pp8Yoyb8VqM1QkbK99oo1zLIrhWcz1mLOXQhwB2c9ey_Yx_Js5KobOZooY8RvkrbVYpEDJFKJwR0zyu9q1LH29a5icUGG4y0iXrmi4VOfK0Gzrf1FPz8SoBTcNeh-ae2Uc5icar3HeKRvuZpxW405ByMDNekaw0bbwxEbQE3nxX2Lg=w219-h320" width="219" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eagle One Antenna - Hitch Mount<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The KX-2 is an amazing little radio from a US company called Elecraft, in northern California. I have made contacts with this radio, that antenna, 5 watts of power to stations all over the United States, in South America, Europe, and even Russia. It is very well designed and has become my favorite radio to use, even at home. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So today I went to Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area and set up in what they call parking area 11A. Atterbury is a public hunting area, and throughout the acreage they have made about a dozen crushed rock pull off areas for hunters to park and not be hanging out in the roadways. The area was nice and shaded, I got there about 11:15AM, and by 11:45AM I had the antenna up, radio connected, coffee on the table, log book ready, and a fully charged battery in the KX-2. Lots of dead and dying poison ivy. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBjLHVE6ymU-9idrJWYyr2P0_cA2G2Ecu891QKjQHuLFhgmWhHmSNH9QKRcjTe5ehZ8PwLcMqk2JapoBUWOdzPbioKwnaiNlVukbyrdvMwyOT6tIrTNCtqv-iXvDR3DeswfQ-Tpd0QLoUtrMnezyIQra57un7GO8_MGIwVYQpYwnUhw804nBYmpjpysUU" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="1110" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBjLHVE6ymU-9idrJWYyr2P0_cA2G2Ecu891QKjQHuLFhgmWhHmSNH9QKRcjTe5ehZ8PwLcMqk2JapoBUWOdzPbioKwnaiNlVukbyrdvMwyOT6tIrTNCtqv-iXvDR3DeswfQ-Tpd0QLoUtrMnezyIQra57un7GO8_MGIwVYQpYwnUhw804nBYmpjpysUU=w640-h290" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fabled Parking Area 11A<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixgx4o3rJWWJcbiIhuoMu-tWcYukvvROFLIxG6Fcnh4TQrznixdOiaLamxgc6_YL-dys0GVq4cb3UWwan29H_clArRl-HwTmv4gBHFsPHdl5j7-6FJLwr6hw-7qhKi3_elEyFkHnvvlRPn9e3yHKkv4FdZlIfBE2cLzVKmcFx-X-3FJW3ka9fc9BAXpP8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1241" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixgx4o3rJWWJcbiIhuoMu-tWcYukvvROFLIxG6Fcnh4TQrznixdOiaLamxgc6_YL-dys0GVq4cb3UWwan29H_clArRl-HwTmv4gBHFsPHdl5j7-6FJLwr6hw-7qhKi3_elEyFkHnvvlRPn9e3yHKkv4FdZlIfBE2cLzVKmcFx-X-3FJW3ka9fc9BAXpP8=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ham Radio Truckster, with antenna deployed</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixMe-g8sUAdUrvD4wrm3_OY9dHOeEx6UMXpg368FWP6rLPAMyF_4aQRdh-ynpBDziH_9pzdrfA40VUzWgAil4ZgGQEAAcG41vZvYc7I5hHDhh2r4BdAb8J044Ra5Opl4yZU4qgIx7fMLEUltwlHbg8UdPSQBGgRpogtcuQe6nSOaMzmV2qxTt9bWmjNdQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1241" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixMe-g8sUAdUrvD4wrm3_OY9dHOeEx6UMXpg368FWP6rLPAMyF_4aQRdh-ynpBDziH_9pzdrfA40VUzWgAil4ZgGQEAAcG41vZvYc7I5hHDhh2r4BdAb8J044Ra5Opl4yZU4qgIx7fMLEUltwlHbg8UdPSQBGgRpogtcuQe6nSOaMzmV2qxTt9bWmjNdQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dead and dying Poison Ivy - The only good thing about Winter coming<br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And of course, this is I, the happy Ham-ster getting ready to flood the world with 10 watts of radio power. I started at 11:45AM and it took an hour and 5 minutes to make the 10th contact in the logbook. The bands were very quiet this morning, didn't seem to have much bounce and that is how radio waves make it around the world, we have to have some atmospheric bounce for radio wave propagation to work well. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="551" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlVcD1J_c7Ekh7IEmXVXFe-8-Y2tLwfHwho0GVHuQKM6VH0My0nEgZoD7H2JJZz10oFrXLjXSaoe2LjDt9-vXBv_sMtCBZJ8DIdXBaK21vBq_EzNdRQa-l8l49c7L0xJxCxQP3y1st11N4c5PAQgSZnz7q61PZOGtNDPE5eVcM7FxrwOTM1U_Siu5PSmY" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="197" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Happy Ham-ster KB9BVN<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">By about 1:45PM I had a mere 24 contacts in my logbook, but I had made contact with operators in California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, New Mexico, Vermont, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, and Canada. So my 12th activation of 2023 was in the books and has been logged with POTA. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Atterbury is a cool place, they have 5 or 6 fishing lakes, acres and acres of woods and prairie, great for rabbits, squirrel, coyotes, deer, raccoons, and possums. Before the military took the area over pre-WWII, there was a small rural community here. This is one of the old cemeteries left from those days. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCaszA3a2bGjWOluHnp6x2ZrV7g9uooaZkjnYJl5ev9gpHeLlTQMqpSCQ8O7SIeSO8Wrgl7dremSqe9kwqxlUAyPSxz-eTpC3gccLQp4Nw7OtI6dbIorYlJj4RT0nTLKZa4REX9otRehHtIcwzxCJntyW9w7FfporN7Rm3AOGV0Gkespc7gDsjo25aNLo" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1241" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCaszA3a2bGjWOluHnp6x2ZrV7g9uooaZkjnYJl5ev9gpHeLlTQMqpSCQ8O7SIeSO8Wrgl7dremSqe9kwqxlUAyPSxz-eTpC3gccLQp4Nw7OtI6dbIorYlJj4RT0nTLKZa4REX9otRehHtIcwzxCJntyW9w7FfporN7Rm3AOGV0Gkespc7gDsjo25aNLo=w640-h479" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Cemetery at Atterbury<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj55jWcLhyXxxPKEQiAvsRZHmW6Ygl4GGPI5fDLHLOH0t72Vh7B7X-j_eJ5sxALAcEMAHAh2pZeSQGrF_qg6Sau37vzS-mXdFDfeKr0_kvH_K0vt1I1bxvpV6wtfU4MaG0ASSSEptz6DqIbbvb6LW2gSH3__MhQNSt4pkTy5Hy_qoQerzW4lOB9ZuWVt80" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1241" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj55jWcLhyXxxPKEQiAvsRZHmW6Ygl4GGPI5fDLHLOH0t72Vh7B7X-j_eJ5sxALAcEMAHAh2pZeSQGrF_qg6Sau37vzS-mXdFDfeKr0_kvH_K0vt1I1bxvpV6wtfU4MaG0ASSSEptz6DqIbbvb6LW2gSH3__MhQNSt4pkTy5Hy_qoQerzW4lOB9ZuWVt80=w640-h482" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Cemetery<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGzpqIysfZVPR51it0Aj7zaajEBFOIl50J1mrUejepS7RSKWX2ce01t7zsQmTkEVr-bDdZjWW78Xe93GVossaIHtUvNT1taJ8JYOGDZFqcPqYthId465sqmWWa6Qv9CfZNpMRABNeMETBLtfttmvb3PywKS5KXzJScCuQ7gHLK3pTvGK_gpJDPaceCrjE" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1241" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGzpqIysfZVPR51it0Aj7zaajEBFOIl50J1mrUejepS7RSKWX2ce01t7zsQmTkEVr-bDdZjWW78Xe93GVossaIHtUvNT1taJ8JYOGDZFqcPqYthId465sqmWWa6Qv9CfZNpMRABNeMETBLtfttmvb3PywKS5KXzJScCuQ7gHLK3pTvGK_gpJDPaceCrjE=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Iron Bridge Leading out of the hunting Area</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><p></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-39186600286118483502023-04-16T09:53:00.005-04:002023-04-16T09:59:53.018-04:00A Week of Vacation Comes to an End<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc51PL7WJ80QxHTo26dKn_l11mFK2Kt_-vCPJDKWN1JWF3-QU91Ye1wQoPi1Laul_PrdL_LaHhryYZ8riAUII_il8zinVa13ggsL-Xa5Qbp9Hl0nMGKGSAMUnpFQJxFNSnREplnTIetMg8RqvysZyn2XvNBOaDo0nWbSyA7IlCweBvaOd2HttegZZo/s320/004.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="320" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc51PL7WJ80QxHTo26dKn_l11mFK2Kt_-vCPJDKWN1JWF3-QU91Ye1wQoPi1Laul_PrdL_LaHhryYZ8riAUII_il8zinVa13ggsL-Xa5Qbp9Hl0nMGKGSAMUnpFQJxFNSnREplnTIetMg8RqvysZyn2XvNBOaDo0nWbSyA7IlCweBvaOd2HttegZZo/w200-h199/004.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have been on paid time off since Good Friday (PTO). Old timers like me used to call it vacation. I could not have asked for better weather either. It's been sunny and in the 70's and lower 80's all week. For Indiana this time of year, that is very unusual. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Never mind the fact my town was hit by multiple tornadoes on the 31st of March. THAT was something else. Fortunately our home was completely spared. My wife and I were huddled in the walk in closet clutching flashlights, and my 2m radio, listening to the severe weather net, the tornado sirens, and our cell phones sounding alarms, many prayers were being said and thank God many were answered. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmjy_dCDxjPy3YrytVbrZ7rzZuAT7OZbla1_VABEPvqW7X1EJACEKXEz02aLfJo1o7MMT6DhuUOprXKeCGlL4dR8ooSL07Ynv9tv8RLiJSIUvl7VF-7VvvHpxgebOjvug5Z54CglxJj-4BuqhzL98sWmuTGIaEeooQiTGiPaGnxtTSmOF3e0OeKPdj" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmjy_dCDxjPy3YrytVbrZ7rzZuAT7OZbla1_VABEPvqW7X1EJACEKXEz02aLfJo1o7MMT6DhuUOprXKeCGlL4dR8ooSL07Ynv9tv8RLiJSIUvl7VF-7VvvHpxgebOjvug5Z54CglxJj-4BuqhzL98sWmuTGIaEeooQiTGiPaGnxtTSmOF3e0OeKPdj=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whiteland Indiana - Morning of April 1st 2023<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">We felt the house shake for a couple minutes and then it was all over except for the torrents of rain and flashes of lightning. No damage anywhere. Our neighbors to the east were not so lucky. Whiteland Indiana and most of Johnson County was without power for 24-72 hours. We lost 47 utility poles, estimated 28 homes, and a 25,000 sq foot warehouse just disintegrated and was spread over 10 square miles. No lives were lost. THAT was a miracle. NWS says we had a EF3 tornado rip through our little burg. We hope we never have to experience that again. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So with Easter weekend upon us, we were very busy with family gatherings, church, and feasting on grilled and roasted goodies. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Wednesday April 12th, I headed to Atterbury Fish and Wildlife to activate K-4183 again. This would be my 17th time here, you get an award for 20 so that's my goal. I was using the K1 and the Eagle One antenna and a set of plastic paddles a friend of mine made on his 3D printer. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYcP7_YrflW-qKHXxWUs9eAS7vwYAAuZjwxHz_s6Y3C1bx3eYCEbHUI11i92BiU1EMIJMm6GOXgH2Wog-Zj_bBJh4HHHUBeXib03Hb-Ppg5X1mwvcQ7yf6ME5tNbifwxmhqKYO62KF5MjGEdoGe_LwGJbrtU7gkUSucTQNuAV7_Aj4tad13mNB497T" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1249" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYcP7_YrflW-qKHXxWUs9eAS7vwYAAuZjwxHz_s6Y3C1bx3eYCEbHUI11i92BiU1EMIJMm6GOXgH2Wog-Zj_bBJh4HHHUBeXib03Hb-Ppg5X1mwvcQ7yf6ME5tNbifwxmhqKYO62KF5MjGEdoGe_LwGJbrtU7gkUSucTQNuAV7_Aj4tad13mNB497T=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elecraft K1 Radio at 5 watts</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I made a quick 18 contacts in about an hour, most of them on 40m. Not bad for the first outing of the year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-4kwxSLT8Yi5pFcV5aqTIKShIv2VwflaXoVFc4_m73iAmibmTTqM4QZH_qYsn6QFzvYLc6AQMCSpCPKueilGIFB3UzUUo0ipn1963dyQ2YiDuNxUGq73tcnLqZSKnGE-yQZevrNYEUNbaNs3XG_cNjOWEqCCt_e5zOFPlE4L6E5RGr1xP0SyrIFoz" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1249" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-4kwxSLT8Yi5pFcV5aqTIKShIv2VwflaXoVFc4_m73iAmibmTTqM4QZH_qYsn6QFzvYLc6AQMCSpCPKueilGIFB3UzUUo0ipn1963dyQ2YiDuNxUGq73tcnLqZSKnGE-yQZevrNYEUNbaNs3XG_cNjOWEqCCt_e5zOFPlE4L6E5RGr1xP0SyrIFoz=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Campers </td></tr></tbody></table>On Thursday April 13th, my wife and I took off for Brown County State Park K-2155 - it was a GLORIOUS day. Sunny, 80's, redbud trees blooming, just perfect. We had a great day! I setup on the highest hill I could find and using the K1 and Eagle One, I managed to make 12 contacts in about 35 minutes. We packed up the station and headed to the park office to buy fishing licenses.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was my second activation of the year, and it was successful. It took almost one hour but I logged twelve CW stations of which seven were Park to Park contacts. Ten were on 20m and two were on 30m. Managed to get a couple of "hard to get" states, Vermont from W2RON, and South Dakota from KC0MYW, both on 20m. We had a great time visiting the Nature Center at the park, they have a really nice setup, a bird watching room, and displays of snakes, turtles, and many other animals. When I was a boy, some fifty years ago, this nature center even had a black bear cub for observing. All in all a great day! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then on Saturday April 15th, I headed back to K-4183 Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area for my 18th activation of this park entity. This time I setup my station at the Mink Meadow Marsh. The morning was bright and sunny, with temperatures in the low 60's and a slight breeze. I did a little mushroom hunting but came up empty...we've had four great warm and sunny days, the mushrooms ought to be popping up any minute now. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt2lkMmkzmssoWeQC8gcfWIqe2i5sajO3MQvDXojd3VxAhtmzLsRPUhDhvHQTkRhmEV_i2-y54ij68GidhKbGVNGNPz9b9sQBzna830LZgn-f3QY6y_DF8LjzBElVUBYK81oWsl9VtAtqLBCayXHtWyvbrjy_e3onsgqv9BGRYv5GFrY8dfLnwyxTp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1249" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt2lkMmkzmssoWeQC8gcfWIqe2i5sajO3MQvDXojd3VxAhtmzLsRPUhDhvHQTkRhmEV_i2-y54ij68GidhKbGVNGNPz9b9sQBzna830LZgn-f3QY6y_DF8LjzBElVUBYK81oWsl9VtAtqLBCayXHtWyvbrjy_e3onsgqv9BGRYv5GFrY8dfLnwyxTp=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area - Franklin Indiana</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Once again I deployed my Elecraft K1, Eagle One vertical, and those little plastic paddles. This was the first day of the "Support Your Parks" event so I knew there would be hundreds of parks on the air. I had my first ten contacts in about 15 minutes. Operating QRP at 5 watts and all CW, I managed to be heard in IL, Ontario, NJ, VA, WV, MI, NC, PA and TN during the first 15 minutes. I was operating on 7067 Khz. I ended up with a total of 20 contacts in about 50 minutes. Of the 20 contacts made, four of them were "Park to Park" contacts. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjpcygSlRmIECBqaIQ20BIfr8kbs4_BkvAi_y_g2WY6jW9BU67ZZLxcRxGoss6o4n2Z-_IY-DougLz7WFn8b2a1d2Nx3xIOytRh25cvXVp6qLQjPT5aqImx_jtqQU598Q8r5VS70yJjCiaS3l6uOyi3KKctosENknFGqDNS6JevDjcCgYNyiB96K0A" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="703" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjpcygSlRmIECBqaIQ20BIfr8kbs4_BkvAi_y_g2WY6jW9BU67ZZLxcRxGoss6o4n2Z-_IY-DougLz7WFn8b2a1d2Nx3xIOytRh25cvXVp6qLQjPT5aqImx_jtqQU598Q8r5VS70yJjCiaS3l6uOyi3KKctosENknFGqDNS6JevDjcCgYNyiB96K0A=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SUV Antenna Mount - POTA at K-4183</td></tr></tbody></table>I woke up this morning, Sunday April 16th, with intentions to head out again today and activate another park, but it was 60 degrees and starting to rain. Weather forecast is calling for possible snow showers by evening with temperatures dropping steadily throughout the day. Plus we are now in a high wind warning until some time tomorrow. Not what I call weather fit for radio from the park. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So we're staying home today and doing some chores around the home front. I have been off work for ten days, and LOVED every minute of it. I could not have asked for better weather. Monday is a workday and I feel like I am ready for it. <grin> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I may do some POTA hunting this afternoon. This is the last day of the "Support Your Parks" event weekend, so there are tons of stations out there operating from the great outdoors. I still need just Alaska and Hawaii contacts to complete my "Worked All States" for POTA. Maybe today I'll finally nail those those two down. No easy feat at 5 watts. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">So until the next time, 73 and here's to good DX! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">73 de KB9BVN</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-64749260999833540302023-03-02T19:25:00.004-05:002023-03-02T19:26:52.793-05:00Where did the time go<p>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. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JO4QyVNz7NWbrCbFDaEuC1mA719PXLd9ZrMPg5aa3fJF2HdEDyF-p_IcFHQTftmEdUex0KQK9D-Yw6VmtOBMenvQdirxsBoDkK0trV-foqLbrScfPLl2K4EUmro282JQN36IT553NHAr4CIM7TWdZEAAIT4xBX-DisZ0EQLhuAn_SECcvZZdQUHj/s1024/700%20Award.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1024" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JO4QyVNz7NWbrCbFDaEuC1mA719PXLd9ZrMPg5aa3fJF2HdEDyF-p_IcFHQTftmEdUex0KQK9D-Yw6VmtOBMenvQdirxsBoDkK0trV-foqLbrScfPLl2K4EUmro282JQN36IT553NHAr4CIM7TWdZEAAIT4xBX-DisZ0EQLhuAn_SECcvZZdQUHj/w640-h490/700%20Award.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So far I successfully hunted at least one park every day this year. The weather around here is going to be breaking soon and I can not wait to get back in the Activator chair. As of today, March 2 2023, I am at 762 unique parks worked. I expect to hit over 800 by the end of the month. These have all been QRP CW from my attic dipole...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Also this winter I bought a GMRS license. I know I know...but the local VHF scene around here is pretty dead, and the GMRS repeaters seem to be fairly lively. I bought my first GMRS radio and I have been having fun learning about GMRS, repeaters, and all the different radios. You have Baofeng, Btech, Wouzon, Tiradio, Radioddity, Midland, Motorola $$$, and a few other lesser known brands to look over. Luckily Youtube to the rescue. Look up a Youtuber named NotARubicon. He's a ham out in southern California that does radio reviews. ALL kinds...ham, FRS, GMRS, shortwave receivers, and a lot more. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I got interested in the Radioddity GM-30, cheap enough at $39.99 from Amazon. This little HT is 5w, can be charged via USB-C, receives VHF, and transmits on FRS and GMRS frequencies, comes programmed with the 30 GMRS channels, including 8 channels for GMRS repeaters. It's been fun to play with. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnAjtEAF_ROLGWPOKcW25g3sRXG6vs7A4vnC7breSPC35yowCdcZUpIIK7OOakzzp8LOkE3jTkcggT1fjrZz8SvHSIjwdYhKpgQzHOGm-ja4T9SHgBa_55TvtWKVoxQleRqlNFQ2BUDpTvyFXDkG1cZNELojA5BRfSgWTXHw0ijNvaMOg3MdeRUiA9" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="196" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnAjtEAF_ROLGWPOKcW25g3sRXG6vs7A4vnC7breSPC35yowCdcZUpIIK7OOakzzp8LOkE3jTkcggT1fjrZz8SvHSIjwdYhKpgQzHOGm-ja4T9SHgBa_55TvtWKVoxQleRqlNFQ2BUDpTvyFXDkG1cZNELojA5BRfSgWTXHw0ijNvaMOg3MdeRUiA9=w94-h320" width="94" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Setting it up was pretty easy, the programming software is a freebie from the Radioddity website at https://radioddity.com just download that and get a program cable (RD-201) and you are off and running. It can be programmed via the keypad but there is no fun in that. I also bought the higher gain antenna (RD-332) and it made a big difference in reaching out and touching a repeater. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am in Central Indiana and within the footprint of the Indy 600 repeater on 462.600 Mhz. This repeater is part of the Midwest GMRS network of linked repeaters. So at any given time I can talk with other operators in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and occasionally operators from Long Island New York, and Iowa. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They have a family net every two weeks, and a regional net every two weeks. They get so many checkins on the regional net it takes about three hours to get through it all. It's been fun learning about this radio service, but I have NOT gone to the dark side and some of my ham buddies think. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well that is it for now, hoping to get back to the parks this month sometime, depending on weather. I look forward to posting my adventures here as they unfold. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">73 de KB9BVN</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-20565503852358267802022-05-18T08:16:00.004-04:002022-05-18T08:21:06.554-04:00McCormick's Creek State Park - POTA! <p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-QKSbTQ_gdLlBIVKK_xQhcUQeNjKdkkCsnXhcIN0ABNwM5ocOfh3lc7v8W1jA_N1KF7eGX_eJCOSuQUvjnWk6rDNNs-ySR2a6GjZXguzzYSaeqdigBetwtFfIVv4GflpvtnGX3PBg60j9vKQWInVS_OEYg4GiGhV_Tmlj1HjF4dQ89A0Tb0PZ5BQ/s636/park%20entrance.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="636" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-QKSbTQ_gdLlBIVKK_xQhcUQeNjKdkkCsnXhcIN0ABNwM5ocOfh3lc7v8W1jA_N1KF7eGX_eJCOSuQUvjnWk6rDNNs-ySR2a6GjZXguzzYSaeqdigBetwtFfIVv4GflpvtnGX3PBg60j9vKQWInVS_OEYg4GiGhV_Tmlj1HjF4dQ89A0Tb0PZ5BQ/s320/park%20entrance.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last weekend Wayne AC9HP and I got up early on Sunday morning and headed to McCormick's Creek State Park to do a POTA park activation. The day was perfect, sunny, clear, slight breeze and temperatures in the mid to upper 70's. This park is about an hour and twenty minutes from my home QTH, and is one of the most popular state parks in Indiana. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">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. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWmscNY9C75G2JUAe-ER3PliBRlM0Poxjyefd70YilAuvzD-K5iEFCEazfiw_0M8oTysMlKjt_mmPD_eScAvCJluX9ZfQw8jj19OxZdThLvLQwWaf3449ZttUMtYyjGZUmRCqvEtgYhUx5X2FspvaqDKoPimD1T4rVrHMFvdPUz490rgIscbFoW9E3" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="985" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWmscNY9C75G2JUAe-ER3PliBRlM0Poxjyefd70YilAuvzD-K5iEFCEazfiw_0M8oTysMlKjt_mmPD_eScAvCJluX9ZfQw8jj19OxZdThLvLQwWaf3449ZttUMtYyjGZUmRCqvEtgYhUx5X2FspvaqDKoPimD1T4rVrHMFvdPUz490rgIscbFoW9E3=w640-h429" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Park Entrance, Pay Here $7 for Hoosiers, $8 for out of state<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>We arrived at about 9AM and stopped at the Canyon Inn for breakfast. Let me warn you in advance about the Canyon Inn. This is the Inn that is in the state park. The state subcontracts the management and services of the Inn. The Inn used to be a Sanitarium that folks would come visit and stay for the mineral waters, springs, and fresh air. So the rooms are very small. The prices are very high. <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUXZpNuBL-eDaXiaKSffh7QcVq-f_8KWo_DBm9e7VzUIF0IoUd6xzmFD6KorzPFYZPZnt5BP5FOxPXQRqOOK6H62eoRX7agfq2Zsga158zLPLaYTyUIW1N6o2t5lgE_Aa-fHIbl-VG6KXbuQZR37GHhuE9ui1Lek8z-6hW2g7zvujdDFn9PW0f_LSw" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="382" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUXZpNuBL-eDaXiaKSffh7QcVq-f_8KWo_DBm9e7VzUIF0IoUd6xzmFD6KorzPFYZPZnt5BP5FOxPXQRqOOK6H62eoRX7agfq2Zsga158zLPLaYTyUIW1N6o2t5lgE_Aa-fHIbl-VG6KXbuQZR37GHhuE9ui1Lek8z-6hW2g7zvujdDFn9PW0f_LSw" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">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. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">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. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtdFKRlzrOQStbyBG5_96e1eZAG3kS8wizMnHEV0NQhBFs5eTW4rrC3N8muT2BpvWRvBGWrP8yaDTPc6twPqg243FoErrrFDBgKeLBoVUgp-yHdKHfxTGSy5XYxTElwu5Fw5j6JEPH_0_poCdA7Po03-XZYRKTak8aJhkioaEMdWqY-X2cKo2HKFXO" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="774" height="557" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtdFKRlzrOQStbyBG5_96e1eZAG3kS8wizMnHEV0NQhBFs5eTW4rrC3N8muT2BpvWRvBGWrP8yaDTPc6twPqg243FoErrrFDBgKeLBoVUgp-yHdKHfxTGSy5XYxTElwu5Fw5j6JEPH_0_poCdA7Po03-XZYRKTak8aJhkioaEMdWqY-X2cKo2HKFXO=w640-h557" width="640" /></a></div><br />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. <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Best 73 de KB9BVN</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Brian</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-48465157666279091552022-04-10T19:24:00.002-04:002022-04-10T19:24:32.403-04:00Just hanging around...<p>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. </p><p>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. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9TnOJf14I9yJaFUitym8aFncDKaCZn_1ygUtLE-EoGINizRP7muUsKkMEzSqMKZ2BXe3B6FdUVCaC8ysK7iJqMvlQ7VjNJtoRnuWWn9_b9NI433wiIXv_LT6y5kX3GMGrTCisJrX8qj86U4bbrGeGZuiNwyvVhqbVm47uu-KVjrfM3mH7WwGw2ZV/s1249/K1%20and%20Vibrokeyer%20APril%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1249" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9TnOJf14I9yJaFUitym8aFncDKaCZn_1ygUtLE-EoGINizRP7muUsKkMEzSqMKZ2BXe3B6FdUVCaC8ysK7iJqMvlQ7VjNJtoRnuWWn9_b9NI433wiIXv_LT6y5kX3GMGrTCisJrX8qj86U4bbrGeGZuiNwyvVhqbVm47uu-KVjrfM3mH7WwGw2ZV/w640-h480/K1%20and%20Vibrokeyer%20APril%202022.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Elecraft K1 and the Vibrokeyer SN 216228, made in 1960</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>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 <a href="mailto:daleputnam@hotmail.com">daleputnam@hotmail.com</a> </p><p>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. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvevZSsgmpvJoZDvAnzMJvmTOO00sBK7wpQhPExZhIxW1ntmqzO9XzFojwqkGFgTPzzZlMYmwGecgPTDY2uffqvkw4ikQAoC83EPImYi8ZYPSPgoJaYGhk_2lKaMMxfWH2a4LAO_95xdeV7tcEmSuGd_0adpsm2EQVlV1oRM1ubfu0b_4FNV7awyLv" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="917" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvevZSsgmpvJoZDvAnzMJvmTOO00sBK7wpQhPExZhIxW1ntmqzO9XzFojwqkGFgTPzzZlMYmwGecgPTDY2uffqvkw4ikQAoC83EPImYi8ZYPSPgoJaYGhk_2lKaMMxfWH2a4LAO_95xdeV7tcEmSuGd_0adpsm2EQVlV1oRM1ubfu0b_4FNV7awyLv=w640-h491" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">POTA Award for hunting 400 different Parks </td></tr></tbody></table><br />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. </p><p>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. </p><p>Happy Easter to you all! </p><p>de KB9BVN</p><p><br /></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-49072559315763121212022-04-03T20:52:00.007-04:002022-04-03T22:20:09.628-04:00Stone Arch Lake - POTA <p></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJco_GY-PVHxb0Ymg_yC2MEAAX7Xw75C9-eaEh4srQFrd-gC8hNjI8yZLYZbtszn6_OPa7eTQbmfBcisKwpESab5Y2zuBVQulaylzTTI1-g_49o0BQn7bFzRvKcwfTr1Lo-bmJbuSE7T8kcrzWRpKzPREzyZ0UberpkUZVTrhOED2wfRrFLFeWsYAj/s1174/atterbury%20check%20in%20booth.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1174" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJco_GY-PVHxb0Ymg_yC2MEAAX7Xw75C9-eaEh4srQFrd-gC8hNjI8yZLYZbtszn6_OPa7eTQbmfBcisKwpESab5Y2zuBVQulaylzTTI1-g_49o0BQn7bFzRvKcwfTr1Lo-bmJbuSE7T8kcrzWRpKzPREzyZ0UberpkUZVTrhOED2wfRrFLFeWsYAj/w320-h240/atterbury%20check%20in%20booth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seen here is the new check in booth at Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area, also known as K-4183 in POTA parlance. Sun was out today and the temperature was a balmy 52F so I net up with Wayne AC9HP at the site and we played radio most of the afternoon. Today my setup started out with the venerable Elecraft K1. I just got this back from Dale Putnam WC7S out in Cheyenne Wyoming. I had a issue with it not being on the frequency that was being displayed. I can't cry about it much as I built this radio 20 years ago. Dale did a fantastic job getting tuned up for me, also replaced a bad headphone jack and thanks to the United States Postal Service, the coax jack had to be replaced as well as it had been smashed in shipping. Good thing I bought the $8.00 shipping insurance huh? Nope. The insurance they sell isn't worth the paper it's written on . The repair cost for the postal damage was about $80.00, so I took pictures, lots of pictures, and filed my claim. About 10 days later I got a letter from the guys at USPS.COM and my claim had been accepted BUT for $25 instead of the $80. So I send it back to Dale, he fixes it. sends it back. The day it gets back I get another letter saying I have 2 weeks to take the broken radio and all the packing to the local post office so it can be inspected, or I will get no payment. Well it's hard to do that now that it is fixed, and I was told the pictures would be good enough. So I'm getting stiffed. Lesson learned. I'll use another shipper next time. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufd66pxEmL6GMA6yJQedlscf3Wy2kQbNCxf8g9sEiKsfU09pi2H-_D5CIpCY3JxZbSpzkTr0s4vH8dxei4rl9iWab_m3j5SuTSTtAgtiMsYNbrNrIfcjCsvvGwt-ryMRlm6oLXkeVXaeZ0Bmv_ZCM0eJ60-d97GHNN8MlcJLwpXtUbgt9Eja3jF-l/s1024/PXL_20220314_192910862.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufd66pxEmL6GMA6yJQedlscf3Wy2kQbNCxf8g9sEiKsfU09pi2H-_D5CIpCY3JxZbSpzkTr0s4vH8dxei4rl9iWab_m3j5SuTSTtAgtiMsYNbrNrIfcjCsvvGwt-ryMRlm6oLXkeVXaeZ0Bmv_ZCM0eJ60-d97GHNN8MlcJLwpXtUbgt9Eja3jF-l/w293-h219/PXL_20220314_192910862.jpg" width="293" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJob97ZXkyipnuoShRlwqlvHo8hKNon-jgzYbQ9eARfgisRCzUozgUu2WDGHjGwcrOgo9azzWU-mtxEPmOuUYHqkT8BjGv90_aTETmICWSBdBvrB1yThRd78p6MCioMPaBhXn8TL_NhM-dBW4ozo-mWQzVTD9QfLfF3wukh6DNJ8xJJDOK09ZkA8Bf/s1024/PXL_20220314_192717898.MP.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJob97ZXkyipnuoShRlwqlvHo8hKNon-jgzYbQ9eARfgisRCzUozgUu2WDGHjGwcrOgo9azzWU-mtxEPmOuUYHqkT8BjGv90_aTETmICWSBdBvrB1yThRd78p6MCioMPaBhXn8TL_NhM-dBW4ozo-mWQzVTD9QfLfF3wukh6DNJ8xJJDOK09ZkA8Bf/w292-h219/PXL_20220314_192717898.MP.jpg" width="292" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So back to POTA and having some radio fun. So I got there about 2PM local time and started setting my station up. Today I went with the K1 at 5W, the Eagle One hitch mounted vertical, a couple LiFePo4 batteries and my usual set of paddles. And root beer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WKbSL_mA9u2IMdJ9__D4Epg_ZeRvloW7IdCzZ4YIl61ooh2PNcZB8ktXNnlqjd-Z1FRqo_7EMr_A7xFOBk5fWmzf0EferW1sCmTcg8ImybDB33n9bDGvBRjkNkRiX06IY7L7T7spxYI-nvqQV3R9hkkynV7WChM4TV19lsA6n276UU7JZ-Z0Ewj9/s1174/K1%20setup%20for%20today.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1174" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WKbSL_mA9u2IMdJ9__D4Epg_ZeRvloW7IdCzZ4YIl61ooh2PNcZB8ktXNnlqjd-Z1FRqo_7EMr_A7xFOBk5fWmzf0EferW1sCmTcg8ImybDB33n9bDGvBRjkNkRiX06IY7L7T7spxYI-nvqQV3R9hkkynV7WChM4TV19lsA6n276UU7JZ-Z0Ewj9/w640-h480/K1%20setup%20for%20today.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLXgetPYnfvdvUaKMnV7vkUK0Njm3nKUnIlyzrmyYwQXrzYSIWkTuF3WpW3U1j0ggkyT3hUi-FCI7X3bALc0nWv8-FTCxxcLYHa5Vi92GRfcOsFwJyFRhoigbxdMnID8VItzOGnwuwuQxr7cXbgCHcjntv_XMikUnhOt-P69HE5c0phMdXXPabN2w/s880/POTa%20Mobile%20with%20antenna.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLXgetPYnfvdvUaKMnV7vkUK0Njm3nKUnIlyzrmyYwQXrzYSIWkTuF3WpW3U1j0ggkyT3hUi-FCI7X3bALc0nWv8-FTCxxcLYHa5Vi92GRfcOsFwJyFRhoigbxdMnID8VItzOGnwuwuQxr7cXbgCHcjntv_XMikUnhOt-P69HE5c0phMdXXPabN2w/s320/POTa%20Mobile%20with%20antenna.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wayne AC9HP showed up with this sons and while the kids played, Wayne and I got busy trying to make some contacts from the park. I was getting a little frustrated because I was hearing nothing...then Wayne noticed I had not connected the antenna to the tuner...which was connected to the K1. DOHT! So once we rectified that situation, I started making contacts. Now I need to tell you that Wayne and I had decided to run nothing but 5w radios today to just see what we could get worked out. I ran 10 contacts on 40 and 30 CW in about an hour. Those contacts covered Oklahoma to the Carolinas, and Michigan down to Georgia. The band was very flaky but it started smoothing out. QSB was ferocious at times. Wayne had brought an assortment of cheap Chinese radios for HF, and we gave them a try on SSB. The first one is a Chinese 8 bander capable of 5 watts maximum. So we set it up on 7213 and I started calling CQ....you can see this on a <a href="https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdutfQpE/" target="_blank">Tik Tok video</a> that Wayne posted. This little rig had a tiny red button on the bottom that you pushed in to talk, and you talked into the front of the radio. I found it to be very much fun and I was amazed at how well it was working. We were getting answered from all over the southeast and midwest, with reports from 45 to 59. I was hesitant to tell the contacts we were QRP at 5w SSB...but I did and some were amazed at the reach of 5 measly watts. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxNv9-8ON8sjnEYshMR3cyb6eunx5yO1l_cMWlBw3Hlog4FvBqQDjlD-BojpnrK4OBul94TjJ-5WNfa4anlNZehati0LOXhs1O130ncfuHrvck20GhT-_PV0U2Hpo6M1RAQS9xvaUNbu5e_0k1rG2Z2fkN6tTu1byqmlewe8EyJaLewSd0slqOV_h/s1174/Chinese%208%20band%20transceiver%20CW%20and%20SSB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1174" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxNv9-8ON8sjnEYshMR3cyb6eunx5yO1l_cMWlBw3Hlog4FvBqQDjlD-BojpnrK4OBul94TjJ-5WNfa4anlNZehati0LOXhs1O130ncfuHrvck20GhT-_PV0U2Hpo6M1RAQS9xvaUNbu5e_0k1rG2Z2fkN6tTu1byqmlewe8EyJaLewSd0slqOV_h/w640-h480/Chinese%208%20band%20transceiver%20CW%20and%20SSB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I made 14 more contacts with the little SSB rig. I was done, so it was Wayne's turn, he setup his IC-705 and started out on 20m CW. He had a pile up going in no time. The 5W and the Eagle One were doing a bang up job. One thing new this trip, Wayne brought me a set of two radials that just clip on the Eagle One. I usually just use the SUV as my counterpoise, along with the coax on the ground. This made a very noticeable difference in what I think I could hear. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPEJJybrG7ZjVC2WmW5-AeZGvRTeUhwYlQSLqPL0LPbTCsESTbABqVVk18lHbAdPO2lkxtE_rpxZCZJPAXF_wqlaRsMyAgNb07GOppWeSL1y07k1nQNSKF9x7zJXDEcpP6hm7mtPsgf9jbkgE2j3pX3QNZzVKxMtF2IY5yKDq58QOu97SJSCeRC9u/s968/Wayne%20at%20POTA%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="968" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPEJJybrG7ZjVC2WmW5-AeZGvRTeUhwYlQSLqPL0LPbTCsESTbABqVVk18lHbAdPO2lkxtE_rpxZCZJPAXF_wqlaRsMyAgNb07GOppWeSL1y07k1nQNSKF9x7zJXDEcpP6hm7mtPsgf9jbkgE2j3pX3QNZzVKxMtF2IY5yKDq58QOu97SJSCeRC9u/w640-h420/Wayne%20at%20POTA%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wayne AC9HP working the IC-705 POTA pile up on 20m</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Red is SSB and Green is CW </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjx1bf-4LyYASk0gMqWMZrV_SPR85fkoGDqYsO_n3g8_k2YRQbxBKDu6zDhXMf1NNxQ1DdlIQxpDCtmDFo7fJHi6Xes4Z66GzgMit2oAHh2x2GbO98-GJ3bIbabJyML--s3KwOL95-GSdMgIuFCWzkfDaI2yI-raxEI14_pTqMD15C7TkzkDznBbY6K" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="872" height="521" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjx1bf-4LyYASk0gMqWMZrV_SPR85fkoGDqYsO_n3g8_k2YRQbxBKDu6zDhXMf1NNxQ1DdlIQxpDCtmDFo7fJHi6Xes4Z66GzgMit2oAHh2x2GbO98-GJ3bIbabJyML--s3KwOL95-GSdMgIuFCWzkfDaI2yI-raxEI14_pTqMD15C7TkzkDznBbY6K=w640-h521" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All in all it was just a great day. Good day to be outside. POTA activation 16 is in the books. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Best 73 de KB9BVN</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-45888046578715865432022-03-14T21:29:00.000-04:002022-03-14T21:29:15.215-04:00Mink Meadow POTA activation<p style="text-align: justify;">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. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">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. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsPgNUEZpTfxD7excxxygK71kzHXydSBnHHt3egML2ZSKiNYu4c2aYxYQ4RT5X1x_mirgaNQIYqkAGMoU-iXFvFh3so4DE2RbmZZk_zgrXlUk3KGWYA6bUbo2oerNW4eFG3-dhzIu01Ai97xr1ssPzkvFdOSlA6-SzcTmFRxkFw3Hst_xkOXXnuYM3=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsPgNUEZpTfxD7excxxygK71kzHXydSBnHHt3egML2ZSKiNYu4c2aYxYQ4RT5X1x_mirgaNQIYqkAGMoU-iXFvFh3so4DE2RbmZZk_zgrXlUk3KGWYA6bUbo2oerNW4eFG3-dhzIu01Ai97xr1ssPzkvFdOSlA6-SzcTmFRxkFw3Hst_xkOXXnuYM3=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I had the parking area to myself so I set up my table and chair, raised the Eagle One vertical and connected the power to the K2 and started calling CQ POTA. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I worked my first contact on 17m, WD5AFR out in New Mexico. Tried 17m for about 10 minutes and decided to move to 20m (14059 Khz). I worked about 9 or 10 more there but I was getting tons and tons of QRN from the military base across the road. So I moved to 40m (7065 Khz) and ended up with a total of 35 contacts in about 50 minutes. The wind never let up, I had to push my vertical back up in the middle of a 40m pile up. Then my paddles started coming apart...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEha5pS8sWb2n7jfPfnEl9bbP58IQWl58a17bcJl4DZ3iF7_vhh4qz6by8XdV7M7vl0ItRyNaFRy9yOfumN9NssDFnYEYMaJdTU6VpyDLl2tT5tySix3PNweOxBL1LX1FmAFyvY5lw-xmyuUp4bdJDR0CwJfEY3Q13oqLw577sBX0wO7y_Rvffs_qxWj=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEha5pS8sWb2n7jfPfnEl9bbP58IQWl58a17bcJl4DZ3iF7_vhh4qz6by8XdV7M7vl0ItRyNaFRy9yOfumN9NssDFnYEYMaJdTU6VpyDLl2tT5tySix3PNweOxBL1LX1FmAFyvY5lw-xmyuUp4bdJDR0CwJfEY3Q13oqLw577sBX0wO7y_Rvffs_qxWj=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I got home a little after 23:00Z and copied my paper log into N3FJP and sent the ADIF file off to the Region 9 log processing center, which is run by Sean Pyne W4BKR, and he does a fantastic job for us Region 9 activators. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Here's what RBN looked like for me tonight: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEja327NH3Jk4Wz7LhhZS_ceQ1nMCFOwG-SSafagEBLFK3RAw9AOEez5zD6hmtoFb0bYVZdJjGGXXLeLxE9c1uyqtffTbG2KTtJdy1F514aQpaUyjawm1pd47rfmOLk0rIhGNdBejemj3wJprLq9ZOUk-pwpUbuqSrbk5tzLdbbVgPD1MPx6pTJkr1Uw=s584" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="584" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEja327NH3Jk4Wz7LhhZS_ceQ1nMCFOwG-SSafagEBLFK3RAw9AOEez5zD6hmtoFb0bYVZdJjGGXXLeLxE9c1uyqtffTbG2KTtJdy1F514aQpaUyjawm1pd47rfmOLk0rIhGNdBejemj3wJprLq9ZOUk-pwpUbuqSrbk5tzLdbbVgPD1MPx6pTJkr1Uw=w400-h379" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And here is what my QSO MAP looked like: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzTgA6jU7QrakO3fjYpA_U12XTe9h5aaUxUoChd6jFUnf_LjdLckNprInf_Y1lI11mvH2OOVWd7DPMMbYO2_9iMzjJ8whhIBu9ZZI_wheCa8NwqEXIuk_Rc8NHCGF5vT2m-d9ToZ12457mmsywTRg9SNREVrbevKBVxyroGdTPtblEiDmOb0g9N-ol=s697" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="697" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzTgA6jU7QrakO3fjYpA_U12XTe9h5aaUxUoChd6jFUnf_LjdLckNprInf_Y1lI11mvH2OOVWd7DPMMbYO2_9iMzjJ8whhIBu9ZZI_wheCa8NwqEXIuk_Rc8NHCGF5vT2m-d9ToZ12457mmsywTRg9SNREVrbevKBVxyroGdTPtblEiDmOb0g9N-ol=w640-h456" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Best 73 and great DX to you all</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Until next time</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">de KB9BVN</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-75109207357091780582022-02-28T19:15:00.000-05:002022-02-28T19:15:59.159-05:00Good to be back! POTA ON!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSEJUS7tmSYiLskefSC2lWJmGg0Zq8CvnHWHwxZgUphMZH644UXpe1sX2ooqIsMeV59QawtoFJXqVpvlrYCo7ABnaUtg2bRlijrxB8sFArZQDTanm4_l6y6_w22KB1v7-rF78OFBSt-ieAf_UuOgSzf4XsTk8m87SE9Gv0xkf7NQcao7Hnu-LwI9FF=s1249" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1249" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSEJUS7tmSYiLskefSC2lWJmGg0Zq8CvnHWHwxZgUphMZH644UXpe1sX2ooqIsMeV59QawtoFJXqVpvlrYCo7ABnaUtg2bRlijrxB8sFArZQDTanm4_l6y6_w22KB1v7-rF78OFBSt-ieAf_UuOgSzf4XsTk8m87SE9Gv0xkf7NQcao7Hnu-LwI9FF=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here it is the last day of February, and I have been dreaming of warmer days and longer days and the arrival of Spring time in Indiana. At about 3PM I looked down at my computer screen and saw the temperature outside was 52F, AND the sun was shining. I get off work at 4PM, I haven't operated from a park since last November. I was running this through my mind and wondering if I should make a run for the wilderness of Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area and make some QSO's. I kept telling myself that I was out of practice and I would surely forget some crucial part of my portable park station gear...so I got out my handy checklist and started checking things out. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had purchased a 5 gallon bucket and lid from one of the big box stores last fall, and I had packed it full of most of my POTA accessories like coax cable for the Eagle One antenna, my hitch mount fit nicely in the container, along with headphones, and other items I might need (first aid kit, 2 miles of paracord for some reason, and a sock hat). Even though I had the checklist I FORGOT my powered external speaker. My hearing is pretty good but when outdoors that little speaker does wonders for my ability to copy weak signals. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is a representation of my station setup today...the only difference is the grass is all dead, that external speaker is missing, and I am using a 20aH Miady LiFePO4 battery instead of the little 5aH battery and gel cell depicted here. I was running the radio at 10w, and the LDG antenna tuner off the Miady battery. No issue at all. I think I could run this way for days. Antenna as usual is the Eagle One hitch mounted vertical. My SUV is the radial and I use a 50 foot coaxial feed line. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPE94XPJSQL_EvSWLQKkDbuIfUqjb4HmOHfER8w8vhnUwSfVxxbKR3ZCQl7fx_NBcl-L4F-CI8l_IutQErDtoIIl9LatjUmFuLP6cFRuBquCfnLyUsWzQQbCe23d4dCN2AiGEosx0fObJn7G2aQzK8t-twrl8HTk0pwHPFIPajsJAM4n5t1bKQqGhm=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPE94XPJSQL_EvSWLQKkDbuIfUqjb4HmOHfER8w8vhnUwSfVxxbKR3ZCQl7fx_NBcl-L4F-CI8l_IutQErDtoIIl9LatjUmFuLP6cFRuBquCfnLyUsWzQQbCe23d4dCN2AiGEosx0fObJn7G2aQzK8t-twrl8HTk0pwHPFIPajsJAM4n5t1bKQqGhm=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So, I got to the site and all setup by 21:40Z (4:40PM local time), spotted myself and started calling CQ. I think I CQ'd maybe three times and then the hunters were on to me. I was only running 16 wpm this time and I was asking for QRP stations not long after starting up. K1RO came in with a fantastic 599 signal from NH, followed by most of New England. I worked CT, MA, MD, NY, RI, DE and GA, FL, and Dominican Republic remote station HI3AA to the east of me. To the west I worked CA, OR, WA CO, OK and ALASKA!!! I haven't worked Alaska in a long time...I told Paul my face was grinning ear to ear. So I am getting REAL close to POTA WAS. Here's a look at the Reverse Beacon Network. I was on the site for about 30 minutes, working 20 mins. The wind was blowing across Honker Haven Lake right into my back, so I made 18 contacts and went QRT due to fingers getting cold and the sun was starting to set at about 22:05Z (5:05PM Local). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWhyd-rEXwOaQmYGxTvvZ0weE4B3atVIt0fn5iDgSZLmhZWx9vOa1_dEet5RFvylUKLT8EdUR1DTynz_wU7FHGWLiqXT87liW9ZYtZXst9nzr6BwEV1Yixkei9QHCCKCK1jgr8DyP_5ZqqVcnYRQVqUGfRzomunK4pG7pGlopw_q670eohbLDVh40I=s591" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="591" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWhyd-rEXwOaQmYGxTvvZ0weE4B3atVIt0fn5iDgSZLmhZWx9vOa1_dEet5RFvylUKLT8EdUR1DTynz_wU7FHGWLiqXT87liW9ZYtZXst9nzr6BwEV1Yixkei9QHCCKCK1jgr8DyP_5ZqqVcnYRQVqUGfRzomunK4pG7pGlopw_q670eohbLDVh40I=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">20m was working pretty well for me today, BIG thanks to the hunters for pulling my QRPish signal out of the ether and giving me a shout! I now have my first activation of 2022 in the books. My goal is to activate 5 or 6 parks this year and shooting for a total of 20 activations. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's my obligatory QSO Map...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghTwfP8Q3gsV2vnbMlnhtGfK7aO7_sqwat7p66_3gc1qjFOZt2mSZNYNleafFZPci1ZCLol7w0P-vNhZqrqOvRKLy22L4DWgBCY_IH3-LuSH5I9xk_AtnAqJKdFuw9ZU2PzLo6i21gk1uWr71wAQ-x1LFW0Q7LY4PHVdVNRwXR1xFsGCf9PuVuchPx=s771" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="771" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghTwfP8Q3gsV2vnbMlnhtGfK7aO7_sqwat7p66_3gc1qjFOZt2mSZNYNleafFZPci1ZCLol7w0P-vNhZqrqOvRKLy22L4DWgBCY_IH3-LuSH5I9xk_AtnAqJKdFuw9ZU2PzLo6i21gk1uWr71wAQ-x1LFW0Q7LY4PHVdVNRwXR1xFsGCf9PuVuchPx=w640-h472" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRWRowTONCGtm_Fz1d6zG2R20fXny-Xtgk7_-ilhWmH-CZIvkGPiW668GCnR5lS8nwfCtBaU0_j0EECIeidcoJ4vPGkTQBxtxfw5U-Tuva1Sqp8dBDaLh_zP0CmHzZdN9TXkFhbVuCnVTPUZMajulNxdD6Khmz5o1YQeA-pYPp2qNwXVmYxHjc-J6U=s716" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="56" data-original-width="716" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRWRowTONCGtm_Fz1d6zG2R20fXny-Xtgk7_-ilhWmH-CZIvkGPiW668GCnR5lS8nwfCtBaU0_j0EECIeidcoJ4vPGkTQBxtxfw5U-Tuva1Sqp8dBDaLh_zP0CmHzZdN9TXkFhbVuCnVTPUZMajulNxdD6Khmz5o1YQeA-pYPp2qNwXVmYxHjc-J6U=w640-h50" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Thanks again every body, I appreciate the attention! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">best 73 de KB9BVN</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-10373373267923811552021-11-07T18:19:00.000-05:002021-11-07T18:19:27.371-05:00Beautiful Day in the Hinterlands!!<div style="text-align: justify;">The last few mornings, we've seen temperatures in the upper 20's, the trees are
about a week past prime autumn colors, and the bugs are just about all gone
until spring. So today I had some free time and made a quick trip down to
Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area, also know as K-4183 in WWFF and POTA lingo.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today I decided to try setting up at Honker Haven, this is the parking area next to the protected game bird habitat. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0XESs8I7yxGbeCUkOdnMQ-iaZ_OvzHI6rlgR62LvQx79gGamCULX4eBwm-M-vGc3cqS2_Y9dDUKUD_TuEW6hXw8CGujoz-NJgyUMa4Ia6gDjx64qZhGDWS1j706zvSIxAUgm1gvFKZk/s2048/PXL_20211107_203402850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0XESs8I7yxGbeCUkOdnMQ-iaZ_OvzHI6rlgR62LvQx79gGamCULX4eBwm-M-vGc3cqS2_Y9dDUKUD_TuEW6hXw8CGujoz-NJgyUMa4Ia6gDjx64qZhGDWS1j706zvSIxAUgm1gvFKZk/s320/PXL_20211107_203402850.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It took me about 20 minutes to get everything set up, today I was using my Elecraft K2 at about 7-10 watts into my hitch mounted Eagle One vertical antenna. I started out on 40m and the band was in great shape.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">I checked the numbers and saw this: SSN:41 SFI:88 A:8 K:1, this indicated that sunspots were present, and the SFI was coming up a bit. We'd all love to see it over 100 any time now. Seems like Solar Cycle 25 is well underway and things are indeed looking up. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyuVwDFk0L9p8Devtq8q9mF2NdwTBrbAxFRmRKEpGfSPa7uSCTv1FQkIHeNRf5t9g8SJN5K24Z9Gp7oJZketXD4eZh5-1wBBwJoFmc6EWAdkyQ811AzTJ7jNzWf4i4OM_5rL7bdjqYDs/s2048/PXL_20211107_194740658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyuVwDFk0L9p8Devtq8q9mF2NdwTBrbAxFRmRKEpGfSPa7uSCTv1FQkIHeNRf5t9g8SJN5K24Z9Gp7oJZketXD4eZh5-1wBBwJoFmc6EWAdkyQ811AzTJ7jNzWf4i4OM_5rL7bdjqYDs/w640-h480/PXL_20211107_194740658.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So at 19:28 UTC I got on the air, posted a self spot on the POTA spotting network, and started calling CQ. It was less than one minute before they, the hunters, found me. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z1IbN5GXF9aaMKYI4s_rVDSqzTKgzlMIf5iwn757TXYd2KVfg3_7rKG-q971LcNdimv65dUm-mTX4-aEkqueWUhxrvzqYtOafrqAA3LIwuXNPQbCgU044RqIm0m8Aryz66HUhiT3Yis/s2048/PXL_20211107_194731853.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z1IbN5GXF9aaMKYI4s_rVDSqzTKgzlMIf5iwn757TXYd2KVfg3_7rKG-q971LcNdimv65dUm-mTX4-aEkqueWUhxrvzqYtOafrqAA3LIwuXNPQbCgU044RqIm0m8Aryz66HUhiT3Yis/s320/PXL_20211107_194731853.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I stayed on the air for just a few minutes under an hour, the ARRL CW Sweeps are this weekend and 20m was packed wall to wall with contesters, so I stayed put on 40m for the duration. At about 20:20z 40m started to fill up with contesters, and me with my QRP signals decided to call it a day, pack up, and head toward the QTH. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I managed to work hunters as far as Maine, Rhode Island, and tons of Carolinians, out to Oklahoma and Kansas. You can check out my QSO Map below here for the splatter layout. Note the hunter orange sock hat....it's deer season here, archery only right now, but you can't be too careful when the hunters are itchin' to shoot a trophy buck. I'm a deer hunter as well, I prefer gun season but it doesn't start for another week. I need to get a nice one so I can replenish the venison jerky stash, I've been out for months. Well that's about it for this outing, it makes my 13th activation from the same park. Gasoline has almost doubled in price since last year so I tend to try and stay close to home. This park is about 35 minutes from the front door my QTH. I look forward to hitting it again this week, the weather forecast is looking very nice. Might actually see 70 F one day this week. Thanks for reading! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhvzYxR8PKpuG8BeTqCysmntWu5o5RmN3uZKq6fvhdU3iBHh10THpfYtsE9ds13RNKqvKeUe3IuQYntE48R3OcPDGee5IvSizRh-lWB7yO1Zs3WFI6dJN7tQ_bXXW841V15QLRvFSlp0/s981/QSOMAP-NOV072021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="981" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhvzYxR8PKpuG8BeTqCysmntWu5o5RmN3uZKq6fvhdU3iBHh10THpfYtsE9ds13RNKqvKeUe3IuQYntE48R3OcPDGee5IvSizRh-lWB7yO1Zs3WFI6dJN7tQ_bXXW841V15QLRvFSlp0/w640-h454/QSOMAP-NOV072021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Autumn at Atterbury is my favorite time of the year. Lots to look at, mushrooms to forage for, this place is known to be loaded with Chicken of the Tree and Han of the Woods fungi...plus the fish seem to be hungrier too. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzj6p2sU2UA8BVU8VvgCHkiGFUHWzejBcBMkREef9r-62cIHdvgRke5d2a3sTT2VcjzwbfakmJz-roTk8HYotoTKwFphudjrFG-og1EA_5tMLi3Uxp-HjQBT7LVahYIDjAbgyuZh2HHl8/s2048/PXL_20211107_203042224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzj6p2sU2UA8BVU8VvgCHkiGFUHWzejBcBMkREef9r-62cIHdvgRke5d2a3sTT2VcjzwbfakmJz-roTk8HYotoTKwFphudjrFG-og1EA_5tMLi3Uxp-HjQBT7LVahYIDjAbgyuZh2HHl8/w400-h300/PXL_20211107_203042224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3NTr_3sjRgR4EM-sa54Gv0CimKpyTXhnz8dtURPxwvSgcqsR4YgeNQJeKcBNTRHqaohQuqzhgbBjEdZkrdguFtaNrv6WXDF_fOfiGFMdtu1pI7YYKxTe8I9jFRr9Yd14aC7gg9HdEp0/s2048/PXL_20211107_203048723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3NTr_3sjRgR4EM-sa54Gv0CimKpyTXhnz8dtURPxwvSgcqsR4YgeNQJeKcBNTRHqaohQuqzhgbBjEdZkrdguFtaNrv6WXDF_fOfiGFMdtu1pI7YYKxTe8I9jFRr9Yd14aC7gg9HdEp0/w400-h300/PXL_20211107_203048723.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQwwrQcaEGrwC7lgARYiX5iY4rHTp2hHaByqI1TUsHO3bdXaMGT0VYGQj-HGN7XkjJpqPONV-a7BU8tSx8p3aFTN-KnNxUvgYKZs_e7fvVOvOzd17SCY1lyIcFAW3hB77LIQcDF66o0I/s2048/PXL_20211107_203057285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQwwrQcaEGrwC7lgARYiX5iY4rHTp2hHaByqI1TUsHO3bdXaMGT0VYGQj-HGN7XkjJpqPONV-a7BU8tSx8p3aFTN-KnNxUvgYKZs_e7fvVOvOzd17SCY1lyIcFAW3hB77LIQcDF66o0I/w400-h300/PXL_20211107_203057285.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AFQtre5usqc8Ja51zmy-lgiN4yhGSJtuL6K5ZbeDKXoW7Zf0VRQtPnga1ozkE-TjqbaiqkP7anJ0PoYGkjSM5UtPeB0QB8AM-vfcPGvBOqnvjA6EQbmCByYnTl7dnYz59w1JOMhA_rs/s2048/PXL_20211107_203145472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AFQtre5usqc8Ja51zmy-lgiN4yhGSJtuL6K5ZbeDKXoW7Zf0VRQtPnga1ozkE-TjqbaiqkP7anJ0PoYGkjSM5UtPeB0QB8AM-vfcPGvBOqnvjA6EQbmCByYnTl7dnYz59w1JOMhA_rs/w400-h300/PXL_20211107_203145472.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Thanks for reading! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Best 73 de KB9BVN</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-21293841875214883892021-09-16T20:15:00.002-04:002021-09-16T22:44:22.224-04:00POTA Activation #12<p style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviUwfu6nnXjn8OWS2sZ9JvD4eE1VWSkUAQWcjBPIOvRb9-jCCvyiuL2S91VYr4xPFyyCGdRNl0iL2Jw3jy9UC8NzPUvqc6Pe2HkYo1U8mXx6FPhqY7NHfcsCtqGyWTbYIeNUUKwSZWIA/s880/kb9bvn+in+action.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="660" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviUwfu6nnXjn8OWS2sZ9JvD4eE1VWSkUAQWcjBPIOvRb9-jCCvyiuL2S91VYr4xPFyyCGdRNl0iL2Jw3jy9UC8NzPUvqc6Pe2HkYo1U8mXx6FPhqY7NHfcsCtqGyWTbYIeNUUKwSZWIA/w300-h400/kb9bvn+in+action.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KB9BVN doing POTA<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div style="text-align: justify;">It has been since March 8th 2021 since I have had a successful activation for Parks on the Air. I figured out my coax was shorted in about three places, so I had to throw it away. It was a fine 50 footer with nice soldered on PL-259's, it had served me well for about 12 years but I think it got wound up one too many times. Old age and kinks took it out. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway the new coax arrived from Amazon this week and I finally got a chance to try it out this evening. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a very nice 79F with bright almost Fall sun beating down on my operating position, it was nice to be at the site and getting ready to work some POTA contacts. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">When I arrived the place was all mine, so I had no worries about bothering anyone trying or wanting to go fishing. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It didn't stay that way for very long, but that's OK. I'll be back here again soon. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">POTA ON!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Also I have been working like crazy, and the fishing bug bit me so I have been spending most free evenings trying my hand at catching some fish, as well as teaching some youngsters the joy of landing a big one...but here I am. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsLtbQb0cPd72qUwsFMaakHAGIRlntY6k_i4eWCxrzJGO8TwSXoxYvyFwglUK9PWqzvrc24JB9omErC5DqkCss4FUYhOuc-M5NFwHcwMjS_YgV8A1Z4wskaVIZFjj7QqGMTeZAr5YOOQ/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="231" data-original-width="550" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsLtbQb0cPd72qUwsFMaakHAGIRlntY6k_i4eWCxrzJGO8TwSXoxYvyFwglUK9PWqzvrc24JB9omErC5DqkCss4FUYhOuc-M5NFwHcwMjS_YgV8A1Z4wskaVIZFjj7QqGMTeZAr5YOOQ/w640-h269/image.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandkids and a Nephew - Catching the fishing bug!</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This evening I had just about an hour to operate, as you know you need 10 contacts to have a successful validation, tonight I got eleven contacts in just about 60 minutes. I decided to run down to K-4183 (<a href="https://stateparks.com/atterbury_state_fish_and_wildlife_area_in_indiana.html" target="_blank">Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area</a>) and set up near the Italian POW chapel and Stone Arch Lake. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhuhFt0nD8Kw6F61NxSR9AERcnZ9JH0DYO2SHvhEJl0PAF-6UOXUSOfr7PpwWMQYfl6N7SSCw4rQGZJaukmOr91rXaqs5z_lDbbm3xhri5ptmEq6tKPHEUwwFZYAGiZu8rvDxBqluXvs/s1174/chapel+and+flag2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1174" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhuhFt0nD8Kw6F61NxSR9AERcnZ9JH0DYO2SHvhEJl0PAF-6UOXUSOfr7PpwWMQYfl6N7SSCw4rQGZJaukmOr91rXaqs5z_lDbbm3xhri5ptmEq6tKPHEUwwFZYAGiZu8rvDxBqluXvs/w640-h480/chapel+and+flag2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chapel Built By WWII Italian POW's held at Camp Atterbury</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxj2f3r9CbTSAHH_7qBJRKsQaB9KrP4QoaI8jr_BXDNLpp8T566pzEtQUUMUT0v90lABLwpdWUA3mMfhi6YHuAyOeyveZfqyE5UN5-al6a-e95d4I_vw3la5P-Zp_qt9fQm-ZsTyFx0Y/s885/Stne+Arch+Lake+Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="885" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxj2f3r9CbTSAHH_7qBJRKsQaB9KrP4QoaI8jr_BXDNLpp8T566pzEtQUUMUT0v90lABLwpdWUA3mMfhi6YHuAyOeyveZfqyE5UN5-al6a-e95d4I_vw3la5P-Zp_qt9fQm-ZsTyFx0Y/w640-h350/Stne+Arch+Lake+Sign.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Stone Arch Lake - Free Green Hamshack <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">My first contact was EA1AF, David over in Spain. I was tickled to death to work his 599 signal. Tonight I was running with the K2 at 10w and my Eagle One vertical deployed on the trailer hitch of my ham mobile. The next contacts were NQ7R in AZ, K7ULM in MT, and W7MMG in AZ, so the Eagle was definitely getting out on 20m. Then it got quiet...so I moved to 30m. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbZPigV3I8LRf0hS_mUvTkQy9TMORhFtUvCKNjbbVGhWna1Oh1zixCqXznzrldkz1K4gS3vvXRN6RbjOeJlrgxCEHTz4FGaTL8OcTBKBzqcJHpQ_01Q8BNPMdN8XdtyE7cCADZAX2ENo/s1174/k2+on+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1174" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbZPigV3I8LRf0hS_mUvTkQy9TMORhFtUvCKNjbbVGhWna1Oh1zixCqXznzrldkz1K4gS3vvXRN6RbjOeJlrgxCEHTz4FGaTL8OcTBKBzqcJHpQ_01Q8BNPMdN8XdtyE7cCADZAX2ENo/w400-h300/k2+on+20.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">K2 on 20m - About 10w to the Eagle One Vertical</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After moving to 30m, I re-spotted myself on the POTA spotting site, and it didn't take long to get the next seven contacts. Signals were heard from NY, FL(2), VT, QC, TX, and MS. I was going to drop down to 40m and stay about another half hour but several carloads of young guns showed up and they were wanting to fish, so I decided to pull anchor and head back to the ranch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">At least I know my setup is working again. I look forward to activating more sites in K-4183. They have at least a dozen different lakes, ponds, remote hunting areas, and places to check out. It's not uncommon to see deer, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, and according to the Indiana DNR the Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area is home to over 150 species of birds...not to mention the snakes...which are everywhere. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">DE KB9BVN</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Best 73! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-23552948553681018762021-08-04T13:32:00.003-04:002021-08-04T13:32:46.601-04:00Curses!! Foiled Again! <p style="text-align: justify;">So I made another trip down to K-4183, the Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area, and got all set up at a new much shadier site called Beaver Bottom. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6bH0ch97QkWSSllNrWTf45ONx2SsL_XPbADHFIKmPr5z2u_2QB7prKGP-NanaB_XcryhMeKggEfSPFNuyyz5ZslreMxaJISnu5Tzu8i_-tRm24js5VC1eczfu2C3M6P4jGiniV8SnQQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1249" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6bH0ch97QkWSSllNrWTf45ONx2SsL_XPbADHFIKmPr5z2u_2QB7prKGP-NanaB_XcryhMeKggEfSPFNuyyz5ZslreMxaJISnu5Tzu8i_-tRm24js5VC1eczfu2C3M6P4jGiniV8SnQQ/w640-h480/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Beaver Bottom is a nice place next to a 5 or 6 acre lake. I need to come back and fish here because I looked in the state fish stocking database and this lake has been stocked with 8 inch channel cats to the tune of about 500 per year since 2017, plus bluegill and a few others. </div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3yKF8oV4ca-UVFlJtkVQF5SX74pobt9W7P2ek-uPifJsQWQOUV_ARjK4vEOIpwnTGcmoedCS1HAgQ5B7RW23E4DpgIHRQP2Zagr5151IuGeHfBc8nXHrczKyDUT29Ifji9WtdukFLao/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="1250" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3yKF8oV4ca-UVFlJtkVQF5SX74pobt9W7P2ek-uPifJsQWQOUV_ARjK4vEOIpwnTGcmoedCS1HAgQ5B7RW23E4DpgIHRQP2Zagr5151IuGeHfBc8nXHrczKyDUT29Ifji9WtdukFLao/w400-h153/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">First I set up the Eagle One vertical on the back of my SUV, set up my table, got the radio all connected and very carefully laid out the coax. I was having some trouble getting it to tune so I inspected the connectors on both ends of the coax, and they seemed to be in good shape. Yay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipW8bGi_rTnyarEzj9L9cSxo-pRgVTv6kGVohAsOzE7ATeBdscVAapr7Kdp8rK6KAbtYiMk8wDixx9yPvk9bxb2ZLZF9JAMualcZ_95ZC3GjnWyrow_1j-S_vWs8CrlN9mMHV_dPIIW6w/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="1248" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipW8bGi_rTnyarEzj9L9cSxo-pRgVTv6kGVohAsOzE7ATeBdscVAapr7Kdp8rK6KAbtYiMk8wDixx9yPvk9bxb2ZLZF9JAMualcZ_95ZC3GjnWyrow_1j-S_vWs8CrlN9mMHV_dPIIW6w/w360-h157/image.png" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then I hit the tune button again and got a green light on my old LDG Z11 autotuner. Great...now to spot myself on the POTA spotting page, and I was in luck, as I had three bars of cell service. I got spotted and starting calling CQ. Nothing. I was on 7061, my usual spot, and I was not hearing anything anywhere on the entire band. I moved to 20m and tried calling, nothing. </div><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXiL1Jp2VrpRiF5OF3_wZscKhmbubkCgKCfDhiM6djaS10oTKJYR1hhAqY4YzP-fk9K4JYTwT099Nfqvn0PFLHNQPKvk3V5ir2OcJ6ubzw36gqYCyOQeXZIjtdbIkF2R8RHXPD1fZYWg/" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="687" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXiL1Jp2VrpRiF5OF3_wZscKhmbubkCgKCfDhiM6djaS10oTKJYR1hhAqY4YzP-fk9K4JYTwT099Nfqvn0PFLHNQPKvk3V5ir2OcJ6ubzw36gqYCyOQeXZIjtdbIkF2R8RHXPD1fZYWg/w251-h259/image.png" width="251" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So I started thinking about what could be wrong and I got up and started checking my coax feedline foot by foot. I bought this feedline maybe 15 years ago, and I have used it and rolled it up and unrolled it and rolled it up again about 100 or so times that I could almost remember. Sure enough, somewhere along the way the braid or the center conductor got damaged, by kinking, or too much rolling up, or something. I found three suspicious "lumps" in the feedline. Curse you Red Baron!! I know knew how Snoopy felt. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Of course I did not bring a spare feedline for the vertical. I was dejected but it was still a good outing, I was outside, it was flat gorgeous, and I saw a couple heron's, some squirrels, a few rabbits, and a gigantic Red Tailed Hawk. So I stayed and just soaked it in for a bit before tearing down and heading back to the ranch, a mere 25 miles away. This site even had a Rumpke Office.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPSx9BF0pM6Oc2dfZ_5G6emzIia8l-Dn4Yle5JE0ikWoFjm8OQKYrf7zm1oBSUEgzxzMD0SLk59ytBR_iL92_5qguLN3jm9L549N-BlW3eS459hi-haeKWmZE0iGhymu8odHW0ng6lO4/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="1237" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPSx9BF0pM6Oc2dfZ_5G6emzIia8l-Dn4Yle5JE0ikWoFjm8OQKYrf7zm1oBSUEgzxzMD0SLk59ytBR_iL92_5qguLN3jm9L549N-BlW3eS459hi-haeKWmZE0iGhymu8odHW0ng6lO4/w640-h282/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />The day wasn't a total loss, no logs to submit, since I worked no one. I have ordered a new feedline and will maybe try my Alex Loop the next time. I forgot I even had it in the truck with me. It normally does fine on 12m-40m <p></p><p>Until the next adventure! </p><p>OH!! Congratulations to Joe Taylor K1JT and Peter Parker VK3YE on being selected for induction to the QRP-ARCI QRP Hall of Fame! Their contributions to the art and science of QRP radio have been felt worldwide. </p><p>73 de KB9BVN</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-62534376911021956872021-07-08T13:14:00.006-04:002021-07-12T08:22:26.422-04:00New Rules at Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area<p style="text-align: justify;">It's been a few months since I have been able to get out and activate a park for the POTA program, but I was able to head out this weekend of July 4th. I was surprised to find that the Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area has made some changes about people using the site. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZinAmJkVelhHtzOJKH5F-WTlg_g6c7FZB1Uk78oLG8qLIGtSTXxdpaqSSJBNK9CmVqWatPSPQssWl_SUte4QqBbFC7mGEaB6QB2gAvs297fEVBaqhiBRcQqHQCcPZUeythEQxmY46s6w/s2048/PXL_20210705_171312271.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZinAmJkVelhHtzOJKH5F-WTlg_g6c7FZB1Uk78oLG8qLIGtSTXxdpaqSSJBNK9CmVqWatPSPQssWl_SUte4QqBbFC7mGEaB6QB2gAvs297fEVBaqhiBRcQqHQCcPZUeythEQxmY46s6w/w640-h480/PXL_20210705_171312271.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">First of all it is now required, that you sign in at the self serve kiosk. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjPPkMn-mpXSoeHjhY17MUnM_H-4hMxtznXYuPHn9vB7kk0ktJtLoJH8wX71SjEdN796fbsRwza3YQeh_Y3mI91mT_xiGydveEBFs9wL23h56HGynn2a61ay_wn8pFB8il6CsNFiXzi4/s2048/PXL_20210705_171329706.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjPPkMn-mpXSoeHjhY17MUnM_H-4hMxtznXYuPHn9vB7kk0ktJtLoJH8wX71SjEdN796fbsRwza3YQeh_Y3mI91mT_xiGydveEBFs9wL23h56HGynn2a61ay_wn8pFB8il6CsNFiXzi4/w400-h300/PXL_20210705_171329706.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The kiosk I found was at the north entrance to the area, at School House Road and Co Rd 550S. It looks like a half shed and it contains the sign in forms, maps, Fishing Guides, Hunting Guides, and park rules and regulations. I thought it was a pretty neat setup. </div><p>So I stopped at the shack and did the self service thing by filling out my card and signing the log book. I am not sure how long this has been in effect, I have not been here since March 8th of this year, but the log book only had one page filed up and I was the third person to sign in on page two. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-pbq92X6GqH2JxmRJXY_uqbXroMYQmzjiR50fUl661_JwoVaG-z063QQ7aEJ0LFTznd-zMK9mpe1l86jPBTvyECgy-WN00JgxTYaT7dpeRTL6pMFQPYtH3TmQJSm0YIXHhNo3v8NTzM/s2048/PXL_20210705_171321974.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-pbq92X6GqH2JxmRJXY_uqbXroMYQmzjiR50fUl661_JwoVaG-z063QQ7aEJ0LFTznd-zMK9mpe1l86jPBTvyECgy-WN00JgxTYaT7dpeRTL6pMFQPYtH3TmQJSm0YIXHhNo3v8NTzM/w640-h480/PXL_20210705_171321974.jpg" title="Sign In Shed At Attterbury Fish and Wildlife Area" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sign In Shed at Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">So as you can see they have a logbook for Turkey hunters, night hunters, small game hunters, deer hunters, water fowl enthusiasts, and good old miscellaneous (which is POTA). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Here is what the card looks like, you fill this out and put it in the dash of your vehicle. Where it asks for your visitor number, you put the line number of the logbook page. In my case that was the number three. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJykBcSMZJPpz5Z6DyAnGx782Q4noqlh-Qg2DpyZiyG0DBUqueb2fviwSlZFET9Fp6rwWIKxV-3S8_4YnPaBnn39qTygKN9Defi7pEesV6een6Vv4tW2C7WFc0C8i90ah4PEoxLHIUIZ0/s2048/PXL_20210705_171457462.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJykBcSMZJPpz5Z6DyAnGx782Q4noqlh-Qg2DpyZiyG0DBUqueb2fviwSlZFET9Fp6rwWIKxV-3S8_4YnPaBnn39qTygKN9Defi7pEesV6een6Vv4tW2C7WFc0C8i90ah4PEoxLHIUIZ0/w300-h400/PXL_20210705_171457462.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So when you get done for the day, they have receptacles for you to insert your permit as you leave the area. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I checked Sight Seeing, Hiking, and Other. I wrote in Parks on the Air.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After this was completed, I place the permit on the dash and headed in to the area to scope out an operating location. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Based on the new map, the marsh area called "Honker Haven" is within the AFWA boundaries, so I decided to setup there. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It became clear immediately that I was going to need shade, but there was none to be had. I decided to go for it anyway and setup my K2 and the Eagle One hitch mounted vertical and got tuned up. Since it was mid day I decided to start out on 20m instead of my usual spot on 40m. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had no internet service on my phone so I sent a text to my friend Wayne AC9HP, who happened to be on vacation in Missouri. He was kind enough to spot me on the POTA page and I started calling CQ POTA on 14056 Khz. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1EzhVxwrw9-vs8fXKcnZL-IvEdUKJ7J5Q2qMU7Wumo_ikQQ9SJ6bH5FHcRgoXO7pIWCmTMQ5jJImrx0-jkOzCyP3R2ciM4E0jq0J9Us8VIxiUP7uTobnOudzMImoiwcpWNVb6QPNE3k/s2048/PXL_20210705_172927132.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1785" data-original-width="2048" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1EzhVxwrw9-vs8fXKcnZL-IvEdUKJ7J5Q2qMU7Wumo_ikQQ9SJ6bH5FHcRgoXO7pIWCmTMQ5jJImrx0-jkOzCyP3R2ciM4E0jq0J9Us8VIxiUP7uTobnOudzMImoiwcpWNVb6QPNE3k/w640-h558/PXL_20210705_172927132.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">I was immediately answered by Eli in Hungary HA9RE, he gave me a 449 and I sent him a 579 for report. I was excited to work DX on the first contact. Did I mention it was 89 degrees and I was setup in the sun? On a white table. In the sun. Not in the shade. Humidity was about 93%? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4876y9lrSi83nTtiG27xgGLlp36eooZfDBEQjCBpO43WDbGsgGFlkC86UoAscfVCEdNw65QGagbGVxtCSHbGhP1S22rgxDBitgePq3JijHVlBSuDLqvwuQyaKNGgNgUZ9Ym5iZQyDVk/s2048/PXL_20210705_175432027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4876y9lrSi83nTtiG27xgGLlp36eooZfDBEQjCBpO43WDbGsgGFlkC86UoAscfVCEdNw65QGagbGVxtCSHbGhP1S22rgxDBitgePq3JijHVlBSuDLqvwuQyaKNGgNgUZ9Ym5iZQyDVk/w640-h480/PXL_20210705_175432027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I made a total of 8 contacts, failing to activate, because my radio was starting to flake out due to it being so hot. I had to QRT and pack it in. I did bring water so I had plenty to keep me hydrated. I gave it a total of 30 mins on the air, maybe, and left. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhej1Q9HjiR6cAQyomhyphenhyphenMeKPS4rx1AFfoSJ70sEIRyevNL0gkUAVrym8qoBuHt90EnbDfipMnDB7RJsNsp9JLQ9gYXhaG7dIP_YZe4DlqcHFYcNgc5-XaxWFCXgdFKpfLuORPxMFJNtP-o/s1201/atterbury+map.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1201" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhej1Q9HjiR6cAQyomhyphenhyphenMeKPS4rx1AFfoSJ70sEIRyevNL0gkUAVrym8qoBuHt90EnbDfipMnDB7RJsNsp9JLQ9gYXhaG7dIP_YZe4DlqcHFYcNgc5-XaxWFCXgdFKpfLuORPxMFJNtP-o/w640-h410/atterbury+map.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area - Johnson County Indiana</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lesson learned: </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Find a shady spot to setup in the middle of the day in the middle of summer. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Best 73 de KB9BVN</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Brian Murrey</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-80710546303164567862021-04-17T18:17:00.002-04:002021-04-17T18:17:15.619-04:00Virtual Four Days In May Update! <p> </p>vFDIM is Saturday May 22, 2021
<br />
<br /><b>QRP-ARCI is excited to announce that the grand prize drawing will be for
a brand new Icom IC-705 transceiver.</b> Also we have added another
speaker/presenter, Will Jourdain AA4WJ. He will be having a presentation
about the IC-705. You do not have to be present to win but you need to
be registered. Also, QA sessions will run from 7PM CDT to 9PM CDT on May
22nd, the day of vFDIM.
<br />
<br />Registration is at <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://qrparci.org/">https://qrparci.org</a> on the main page.
<br />Registration will close at MIDNIGHT CDT on MAY 15th, 2021.
<br />Almost 300 have registered at this point, don't get left out.
<br />
<br />Registration is $10.00, then one week before the event you will receive
a link to the event
<br />and a link to a PDF of the Proceedings Book. Please register as soon as
you can so we
<br />have some idea of headcount.
<br />
<br />We are excited about vFDIM, and we hope you are too. It's is shaping up
to be a great event.
<br />
<br />Printed copies of the Proceedings Book will be sold through the QRP-ARCI
Toystore
<br />for $15 a copy. If you can not attend, the book is a great way to catch
up on the
<br />presentations from this Virtual FDIM.
<br />
<br />"Book sales to US Customers Only, DX customers purchase through the Toy
Store after 5/20/21."
<br />
<br />Best 73
<br />de KB9BVN
<br />QRP-ARCI Webguy
<br />Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-36682487667476134712021-03-11T08:15:00.002-05:002021-03-11T08:15:35.141-05:00Four Days in May is Virtual and Taking Registrations Now! <p><b>Come one! Come All! Virtual FDIM is Saturday May 22, 2021</b></p><p>It's time to register for FDIM 2021, you do not want to miss out on our first ever virtual FDIM. Registration Link is found by going to <a href="https://qrparci.org">https://qrparci.org</a> on the front page. </p><p>The line up this year includes:</p><p><i><b>Jerry Wolczanski KI4IO - Making an Antenna Coupler</b></i></p><p><i><b>Dr. Jack Purdum W8TEE - How to Select a Microcontroller for a QRP Project</b></i></p><p><i><b>Dave Benson K1SWL - Anatomy of a Transceiver; Building a Better Mousetrap</b></i></p><p><i><b>Han Summers G0UPL - Reach for the Skies: Extreme QRP at 35,000 Feet</b></i></p><p><i><b>Dino Papas KL0S - Bench Setup Using Inexpensive Test Equipment</b></i></p><p><i><b>Tim Snodgrass KC0DN - Breaking Free of the Sunspot Cycle</b></i></p><p><i><b>Ashhar Farhan VU2ESE - sBITX - An Open Source SDR that YOU can hack!</b></i></p><p>There will also be evening sessions with the authors, and vendors. Registration is $10.00, then one week before the event you will receive a link to the event and a link to a PDF of the Proceedings Book. Please register as soon as you can so we have some idea of headcount. Also, registrants will be eligible to win fabulous and certainly valuable door prizes, like always! You do not need to be present to win but you DO need to be registered.</p><p>Printed copies of the Proceedings Book will be sold through the QRP-ARCI Toystore for $15 a copy. If you can not attend, the book is a great way to catch up on the presentations from this Virtual FDIM. </p><p><b>Book sales to US Customers Only, DX customers purchase through the Toy Store after 5/20/21.</b></p><p>David W. Cripe, NM0S - President QRP-ARCI</p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5052497387626375316.post-52267265594768947152021-03-08T20:15:00.003-05:002021-03-08T20:21:20.049-05:00So GOOD to be back in the Park! <p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzO6gGIVbyWgipIwdF_YsZWHPZIojekc8WfOyQWQBHC9AG1L4OyCiN9U-qoilYm-K-aLvJKd3c6wK1CSfHTPUQ2u-YNJKoiNXY30syvY1MrYUUcKaYmTb8xtfxor57ryrOM6YEozIWJg/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img data-original-height="349" data-original-width="731" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzO6gGIVbyWgipIwdF_YsZWHPZIojekc8WfOyQWQBHC9AG1L4OyCiN9U-qoilYm-K-aLvJKd3c6wK1CSfHTPUQ2u-YNJKoiNXY30syvY1MrYUUcKaYmTb8xtfxor57ryrOM6YEozIWJg/w320-h163/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Here it is the 8th of March, our first day when the temperature broke 60F. Hard to believe that just over two weeks ago we had ten inches of snow on the ground and temperatures hovering near zero. So as soon as I got off work I headed to the Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area in southern Johnson County. <p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">I arrived at the AFWA around 4:15PM, and it took me about fifteen minutes to get the Eagle One up in the air, the coax run, and my K2 setup for POTA activation. I setup two memories in the radio. One that sends CQ POTA DE KB9BVN, and one that sends CQ POTA K4183 DE KB9BVN. When I am calling CQ I try tio send the one with the pak number in it at least every 4 or 5 CQs. I also spotted myself on the POTA spotting page from my smartphone. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Luckily there is a state DNR office on the property so they have pretty good internet access in most of the place. I decided to start out on 20m, so I tuned to 14062 and started calling CQ. On the first round I was answered by AB6QM from California, which made me very happy and hopeful 20m might be open to other far away places like Alaska and Hawaii, especially since I still need those two for my latest WAS efforts. Alas he was my only 20m contact tonight. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I moved down to 30m on 10121 and 10123 and managed about 4 more contacts in about 20 minutes. Things were not moving at a very fast pace. I then moved to 40m, 7059, and that was the secret place. I managed another 18 or 19 in about 25 mins and then it just stopped. So I packed up and headed home. </div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHWNIOWVTEzJC6vwB04FWljkf2mZ9PmjUiielbdHx8RTRtnSx5D7NDmAHl4_FdSQuSoA4tbetgRLm2d1PtQCz1utYdTc0xbJsN4dq4cLTdzXn1FpR7GJOHpgYecugfOoE-PZhFpyZuSQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="992" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHWNIOWVTEzJC6vwB04FWljkf2mZ9PmjUiielbdHx8RTRtnSx5D7NDmAHl4_FdSQuSoA4tbetgRLm2d1PtQCz1utYdTc0xbJsN4dq4cLTdzXn1FpR7GJOHpgYecugfOoE-PZhFpyZuSQ/w640-h394/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Since it was a bit early, I went through the area and did a bit of sight seeing. Camp Atterbury is an Army Camp located next to the AFWA property, generally south of the park. Back during WWII Camp Atterbury was a thriving city, with it's own hospital, grocery stores, movie theaters, and lots of barracks. During WWII this Camp was used for several functions, one being a training camp for the infantry headed to the European theater, another was the Camp served as an internment camp, or POW camp where we housed Italian and German prisoners of war. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkNOzgr0xVhLadWX3iFRAhlWwfJfS_Bl4wi8-dv0VachWk8gAM2Fw7VLwFKAEkT678Fyo2LoLhLWtB4q-H9Xtm0CvinXijTJ7USbrSC_ewBR9tPThOqstzezoieLhl42y_6irz_poHLQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="1119" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkNOzgr0xVhLadWX3iFRAhlWwfJfS_Bl4wi8-dv0VachWk8gAM2Fw7VLwFKAEkT678Fyo2LoLhLWtB4q-H9Xtm0CvinXijTJ7USbrSC_ewBR9tPThOqstzezoieLhl42y_6irz_poHLQ/w640-h397/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />Today the DNR was doing measured burns of a lot of the grassy fields in the AFWA, so the smell of smoke was everywhere, this was another reason I decided to cut out a little early. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the features of the AFWA area, is the Italian POW Chapel that was built by Italian POW's during their stay at Camp Atterbury. The chapel was totally restored in the 1980's and is used by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis several times a year for memorial Mass, and other celebrations. The POW's created hand painted fresco art on the interior walls and the ceiling of the chapel. One story says they used their own blood mixed with certain paints to get the right reds and browns. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7d555uQXU3LmrNrNDSGrm9i6kqjpnCdEpexa1InZxertfMJyyoiY2i0p4Fa8nHaoNUb9ysgPQw3jQFvVpkCERxd8_XEQ26_Eqt6OZBCpIBA8XZzuBaeMjBsG941T-FGBzqxi2NDqsQs/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1020" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7d555uQXU3LmrNrNDSGrm9i6kqjpnCdEpexa1InZxertfMJyyoiY2i0p4Fa8nHaoNUb9ysgPQw3jQFvVpkCERxd8_XEQ26_Eqt6OZBCpIBA8XZzuBaeMjBsG941T-FGBzqxi2NDqsQs/w640-h476/image.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Italian POW Chapel located near Stone Arch Lake in the AFWA</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The chapel is normally locked up unless there is a Mass scheduled, this had to be done because of vandals that have tried to destroy this place. The pictures below give you some idea of what is inside. It's a very quiet and peaceful place. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwmeflaoqJqGaUM4768KqyLeaxipE1ssutCULq8n4ZkZB_14xMeBk_juSdATa61R2ASBT_nTPnW6Xj1UHgv42TQhJVDxrd5vb_3l-vXsbqfoqCNM4015GNRad9JPDgxmsIDUsVry0cvY/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="770" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwmeflaoqJqGaUM4768KqyLeaxipE1ssutCULq8n4ZkZB_14xMeBk_juSdATa61R2ASBT_nTPnW6Xj1UHgv42TQhJVDxrd5vb_3l-vXsbqfoqCNM4015GNRad9JPDgxmsIDUsVry0cvY/w640-h530/image.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue of The Blessed Virgin - Mater Dei</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvpHjaFv2i0fVrDkLDOyd1VluVyB1mq8VYhYhYgOXvsXTTxIi3KOk2YCIReowBBJ7N7iSUQC__fF2aWRwkSfNrpnN1OiX0JblO0aEfzMCdDaYrw4mP9dAJ79W4RzvMcPVOFigBNsFBSU/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1183" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvpHjaFv2i0fVrDkLDOyd1VluVyB1mq8VYhYhYgOXvsXTTxIi3KOk2YCIReowBBJ7N7iSUQC__fF2aWRwkSfNrpnN1OiX0JblO0aEfzMCdDaYrw4mP9dAJ79W4RzvMcPVOFigBNsFBSU/w640-h410/image.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Altar inside the Italian POW Chapel, and other artworks that were restored in 1988.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5LNAZD4KUWyeTjGGrh6jARA0Ra-XJ3CHcud8eB35eqpziIDmOT-8Ey0b3pgSnND1cOjwUzMSh5Ogll4U7a60DvrefTaj-oGtBlf_001ePfCVVBGLA-hIG8LLD2e7gsFbuwFnFh4_SR8/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="652" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5LNAZD4KUWyeTjGGrh6jARA0Ra-XJ3CHcud8eB35eqpziIDmOT-8Ey0b3pgSnND1cOjwUzMSh5Ogll4U7a60DvrefTaj-oGtBlf_001ePfCVVBGLA-hIG8LLD2e7gsFbuwFnFh4_SR8/w491-h640/image.png" width="491" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>It is really a very neat place to visit and see for yourself. If you ever get a chance to visit the Atterbury Fish and Wildlife area, don't miss seeing this. It's just across the road from Stone Arch Lake, pictured below. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACBpP1iS6aXHw_Nf6etm61X8NbCpGIf-pc9DiPpmCYXqto47U7vJvgv8XQ4OdqPSrPeFc2iXB4u2YJdw7R8JQSuxnFrHv38_qJpP1IIhkbrrIgxtOBuNGP-Z3gOpVdwrEgmsmZOSAlgE/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="1180" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACBpP1iS6aXHw_Nf6etm61X8NbCpGIf-pc9DiPpmCYXqto47U7vJvgv8XQ4OdqPSrPeFc2iXB4u2YJdw7R8JQSuxnFrHv38_qJpP1IIhkbrrIgxtOBuNGP-Z3gOpVdwrEgmsmZOSAlgE/w640-h300/image.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone Arch Lake - Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area - Franklin Indiana</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Well I can't wait to get out there again! Weather looks great all week so maybe Wednesday or Thursday night. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Best 73! </div><div style="text-align: justify;">de KB9BVN</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Brian KB9BVNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09894996713821585595noreply@blogger.com2