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Today Hanz, W1JSB, and I hiked on Johnson Road and setup next to each other. We worked Italy, Russia, the Netherlands, and Florida. Before packing up we each called CQ and compared received signals on the Reverse Beacon Net. The results were surprising.

For these experiments we used nearly identical rigs. Hanz had the HB-1A, and I had the HB-1B. Both roughly 4 watts with similar power supplies.

The Antennas

Hanz ran the Par Electronics half-wave end fed wire straight up to a branch. It was perfectly vertical. This is the antenna that I’ve been running for almost 5 years. I thought it was probably the best portable DXer I could use. Perhaps I was wrong.

I ran a 66 foot wire configured as an inverted Vee with a 33 foot counterpoise and an Elecraft T-1 tuner. Here’s a rough diagram of the antenna that I used. It’s supported at the apex by a tree branch. The ends are a few inches above ground level.

I am sitting at the spot marked “X” on the above diagram.

The QSOs

We each worked the same stations on 20 meters. First we worked N4KXG, Pete in Florida. I received a 589 and Hanz received a 579. I expected that my antenna might be better than Hanz’s for relatively near stations. I was correct. We got a hint of something unpredicted with the next QSO.

We worked RA6CA in Russia. Pavel gave both Hanz and me a 589. I would have expected Hanz to be stronger with the vertical. Of course this is subjective. Next we worked IZ2UE in Italy. Andrea gave me a 559 and gave Hanz the same 559. Again… a surprise. The last station was PA3GEG, Gerald in the Netherlands. I received a 579 and Hanz received a 599. That would be expected.The next test shattered all my preconceptions.

Before packing up our gear, Hanz suggested that we both call CQ and check our signals on the Reverse Beacon Net. That was a stunning idea. Here are the results. I was heard by six stations. Hanz was heard by 10 stations. Four stations recorded signals from both of us.

The Results

Stations Hanz Jim
—————————————–
DL1EMY 13 db 17 db
AA4VV 18 db 27 db
W3OA 11 db 16 db
DL1GTB 6 db 10 db

In each case my signal was consistently stronger than Hanz’s. Same rig. Same location. Sent within a minute of each other.

I have to say I’m really surprised. I thought the end fed vertical could not be improved upon for a portable wire antenna. We will definitely do more testing.

I’ve been waiting all winter for this day. It’s not going to be wasted. I took two quick hikes today. I worked Guadeloupe, Russia, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Part One – Quick Hike to the Pemi

Just before lunch I hiked down to the Pemigewasset River. I made one quick QSO with Tennessee before heading home.

As I crossed Weeks Brook it was nice to see that all the ice there has melted and the brook is flowing freely.

I continued toward the river and heaved a line over a pine branch on a sunny corner of the trail. I sat on a small bank at the edge of the trail and operated the HB-1B on 20 meters with a half wave wire.

I called KF4TJE as he finished up a QSO. Stan answered and gave me a 579 from Tennessee. He was a strong 599. We chatted for a while, and I told him I was hiking and operating with a view of the river. “I would like to be near
a river,” he responded.

It’s a favorite spot that anyone would enjoy on a warm spring day. I promised I’d send Stan some pictures, and we signed with a quick 73.

With that I hiked back up the hill and drove home for lunch.

Part Two – Johnson Road

I couldn’t call it quits this afternoon. It was nearly 55F and I was itching to get out again. I drove over to a property on Johnson Road. It’s several hundred acres of upland fields and woods and then drops down to Salmon Brook. I stayed in the field. I hiked about a half mile and setup under an oak tree.

Again I’m on 20 meters with the HB-1B and a half-wave wire. I sit right down in the dried grass and tune around. FG5FR in Guadeloupe is working stations. Frantz is very strong and he gives me a 599. Might be… there were several other stations calling him, and I got through. Then I tune up a bit and hear RU3ZL calling CQ. George is 599 and gives me a 559.

Then I go up to 14.060, (the QRP frequency) and hear NF9V working a very weak station in the Netherlands. I call Rudy in Wisconsin and have a quick chat before he has to run. He gives me a 599 and he is also very strong. “FB Jim UR 4W. It’s working,” he sends. Then he has to run off for some “honey do’s.” I pack up.

Hiking down to the field, I crossed several hundred yards through snow. But here in the field it’s all gone. The buds will appear in the next week or so. And soon, the peepers will start their spring song in the little pond behind the stone wall. I think they are calling CQ.

Today I hiked in Old Hill Village on the west side of the Pemigewasset River. I worked Macedonia, Italy and W0RW pedestrian mobile in Colorado. This was a fantastic outing.

Coming down the hill alongside Needle Shop Brook, there was still snow and ice. But once in the old village, the road was dry. This is the most amazing spot with 3500 acres of fields and trees which form a flood control reserve for the Franklin Falls Dam. After walking 1/2 mile north I turned east through a field toward the river.

Imagine having a place like this… all to yourself… to roam, to breathe clean air, to enjoy nature… and to play radio.

I setup at the edge of the field, not 60 feet from the river. I tossed a line over a pine branch and sat down in the warm sun. I hooked up the HB-1B with 4 watts on 20 meters to a half-wave wire rising straight from the backpack to the branch overhead.

At the bottom of the band I heard Jane Z320G from Macedonia calling CQ. I answered and we exchanged quick 599s. This was generous because I had to send my call several times before he copied. There was strong QSB. Next I went up the band and heard Pietro IZ2EWR finishing another QSO. The Italian station was very strong and well worth waiting for. Pietro gave me a 579 and sent, “UR QRP FB.”

Before calling it quits, I dialed up to the QRP frequency, 14.060. What a nice surprise to hear Paul W0RW calling CQ. Paul in Colorado, was pedestrian mobile. We were both weak to each other, but were able to complete a contact. Paul gave me a 339 and he was 449.

With cool temperatures in the mid-30s and a wind gusting to 15 MPH, it was a bit nippy in the shade. But in the warm sun, surrounded by blue sky and some trees for a wind-break, it was perfect. This is a place I love to ride my bike in the warmer weather. I’ll be back many times in the glorious weeks ahead.

I have it on good authority, that there will be a new ARRL sponsored challenge coming this spring.  The MacGuyver Challenge (as it is being

ngg – flickr

referred to) will judge the builders’ abilities in creating a 1 Watt or higher 40M CW transmitter, using the highest percentage of household items possible.  The word is that the prize may already be claimed by junkbox-king Kyle Scrapschen, KB2CRP, who was showing his self titled “Junk Drawer Rig” at this year’s Mohawk Valley Hamfest in Sprakers, NY.  Using 17 antique twist-ties, an engraved spork, a lump of some crystallized kitchen-matter, and vintage Mattel Speak-and-Spell, Kyle claims to have had a QSO with a ham aboard a spam-fishing trawler off the coast of  Gough Island!

In other news, it’s April 1st.  Have a great one folks.  I was going to post a story about actually receiving my Xiegu X1M, but that’s NOT funny.

–Neil W2NDG

Hanz W1JSB and I hiked down to a beautiful point on the Pemigewasset River in Bristol. We worked England, Germany, Ohio and Tennessee. It seemed like the first really warm day of spring.

We were hoping to hike to Sky Pond, but there was just too much snow… at least a foot. So we changed plans. We headed to Bristol to a spot where Profile Brook flows into the Pemi. We hiked down the old Northern Railroad right-of-way.

We crossed a few snowy spots and a few muddy places, but it was grand… 52F and sunny! We sat down right on an old stone railroad bridge abutment. We tossed a line high into a nearby ash tree and pulled up a half wave wire for 20 meters. We used the Chinese HB-1B. The band wasn’t full of DX, but we snagged a few. I took the first turn and called my old friend Tom, G3HGE in England as he finished up a QSO. He was strong to me… 599, but there was also significant QSB. He dropped as low as 569. He gave me a generous 549. I’m sure he was unable to copy at times. “DX is below par,” he sent. I told him I’d send some photos of our operating spot. He was pleased with the idea… “That will put flesh on the skeleton,” he sent, and we signed.

Next I called Serg, DL1DGS. I had worked him just yesterday from the shack. He was also strong, but only gave me a 539. Even so, he sent, “UR 4W OK.” With that I handed the key to Hanz.

Next I called Serg, DL1DGS. I had worked him just yesterday from the shack. He was also strong, but only gave me a 539. Even so, he sent, “UR 4W OK.” With that I handed the key to Hanz.

With four QSOs under our belts, we headed back. We went straight to the river through the woods and walked back by a different route. What a pleasure to walk on almost-dry land for the first time in four months.

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For a version of this story with imbedded video see http://www.w1pid.com/easter/easter.html

Today I hiked along the Winnipesaukee River. I worked Sweden, Slovenia and Russia. What a great hike!

It’s a perfect spring day… 45F and the snow is melting! I hiked on the old rail right-of-way along the Winnipesaukee River. The river flows from Lake Winnipesaukee in Laconia to the Merrimack River in Franklin. The trail passes through some beautiful farm land.

After about a mile I turned north toward the river. A piece of land juts out into the river. I setup on a large rock with a fantastic view. I’m using an HB-1B on 20 meters with a half-wave wire.

I’m looking toward the east… that seems to be where the signals are coming from too. My first contact is with Steve SM4OTI in Sweden. He gives me a 599 and sends “HI” when I tell him I am running 4 watts. He’s running a KW to a 4 element beam. “UR doing FB WID 4W,” he sends. Of course, he is very strong to me. I’ve worked Steve nearly a dozen times over the years.

I move up the band a bit and answer S57KW. Jure in Slovenia doesn’t get my call sign on the first try, but he gives me a 559 report. “UR 4W QRP doing good job,” he sends.

Finally, I work Vlad RU6AV near Moscow. He gives me a 579. When I tell him I am running 4W /P, he asks about my antenna. I tell him it’s a 10 meter wire. “FB CONDX HI… UR 4W FB Jim.” Then he tells me he is running 200 watts to a 3 element yagi.

I have been operating for only 10 minutes. It’s exhilarating! A beautiful spring day… glorious river scenery and some nice DX for icing on the cake.

My view to the west is perfect. Hopefully we’re seeing the last of the snow. I’ll hike more often now that the days are getting warmer.

This afternoon I walked down to the Pemigewasset River and worked Italy and Germany.

There’s a steep hillside trail leading into the Corps of Engineers flood control area along the river. In the winter the trail is used mostly by snowmobiles. Today the trail is covered with several inches of snow… the remnants from a snow storm last week. It’s sunny with a brilliant blue sky. The temperature is 42F.

At the bottom of the hill, the trail crosses a lovely brook which feeds into the Pemi. Only a couple of weeks ago it was frozen solid. Now it’s flowing again.

I walk about a mile and come to a spot overlooking Shaw Cove. As the trail rounds a sharp corner, the warm sun has
melted the snow along the edge. It’s a good place to sit and there are some tall pine trees lining the trail.

I toss a half wave wire over a branch and set up the HB-1B on 20 meters. The band is active.

Right away I hear IK2CIO, Vini calling CQ. We quickly exchange 599s and send 73. I tell Vini I am running 4W and he confirms the contact.

I tune down the band a bit and hear Holger, DK4LX just finishing a QSO. I call him and he answers giving me a 439. He says he’s in a rush and apologizes for not chatting. I thank him for his answer and tell him I am running 4 watts. He wants to know more… my QTH, the rig… and the antenna. He copies all the information and congratulates me on the setup. He wishes me good luck and I tell him I will send some photos of my location.

I’ve only operated for about 10 minutes, but my tiny signal has reached Europe, and I am thrilled to have a beautiful hike and witness the magic of radio once again. I pack up and hike up the hill.