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It was a perfect day for a hike up to Knox Mountain. I walked up after lunch and worked Ukraine, Italy and Portugal.

The first bridge crosses the brook a few minutes into the hike. It’s collapsing. One of the main support timbers has crashed into the water. The whole thing is sagging… I cross carefully.

The trail meanders through the woods alongside of the brook. It’s a glorious adventure. Huge pine trees tower above the path.

It’s about 50F today with some clouds. I’m looking for a way to cross the brook at the top end of the trail. The second bridge is gone and a board we placed across the rocks last year has washed away with the snow melt. I find a place about a quarter of a mile from the pond where I can jump safely across the rocks.

Alongside the brook, at the bottom of a steep hillside, I found an area covered with bright yellow colts foot flowers. Within a few minutes I reach the dam and the pond comes into view.

I walk around to the opposite bank and toss my line over a high cherry tree near the cabin. I pull up a 33 foot wire. I use the earchi.org 9:1 unun connected to the KX3 and run 5 watts.

I tune up on 15 meters and hear Dima, UT6UA in the Ukraine. We exchange reports and he gives me a 569. He’s a 599.

Next I work Walter IK5ZWU in Italy. He’s also a strong 599 and gives me a 559. Then I switch to 20 meters and call Oleg CT7/RC2A who is portable in Portugal. His signal is excellent and he gives me a 569.

I sit for a few minutes enjoying the view before I pack up. It’s been four months since I was here last. You can see why it’s a favorite spot.

Just days before Easter in Thunder Bay, Ontario and suffering from severe cabin fever I decided to take the radio outside and see if I could set up and make a contact. I took the VX1210 outside to the picnic table, put one 33’ chunk of wire about 10’ up in a spruce tree, put the other 33’ piece along the ground underneath for a counterpoise and went to 17 meters…As I tuned across I heard all kinds of stations with a huge pileup located above 18.075… I tuned down just a bit to hear OK2AN Vasek in Kunstat Czech. Calling CQ with no takers…so I fired up the straight key with cold hands, sent my call and he came right back to me…He gave me a 569 and he was an easy 599.. Told him I was running 5 watts out and he acknowledged that on the next go round. We talked about 10 minutes and then he continued on. So in all the time it took me to set up I was able to make a QSO with Czech. With no problems at all with the VX1210 at 5 watts…what a blast

Fred Lesnick
Thunder Bay, Ontario

Over the weekend I released the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast (PARP) episode 68.  In this episode I discuss the ARRL Centennial On-Air Events currently taking place up and down the bands.  This includes both the W1AW Portable stations as well as the Centennial Points Challenge QSO Party. 

In addition, PARP 68 introduces you to TJ, WØEA who  is busy with his 100 Days of Summer and Quintessence by Jeff, K9EV.  All this and more…Enjoy!

Thanks for listening…

73 de KDØBIK

GigaParts 2014 Ham Radio Day Special is now available for download.

On March 29, 2014 Tommy and George visited the annual GigaParts’ Ham Radio Day. Come along for the trip and see interviews you won’t find anywhere else. Ray Novak from Icom America, Phil Parton from Kenwood, Dennis Motschenbacker from Yeasu, Emmett Hohensee from Radiowavz, Richard Stubbs from MFJ, George Howard from GigaParts, Charlie Emerson from Huntsville Hamfest, and Tom Medlin from W5KUB.

53:06 of Huntsville fun.

Download

YouTube

Last Wednesday evening, just before turning in for the night, I placed an order with Amateur Radio Supplies for some antenna rope and wire. I placed an order for 150 feet of 14 gauge jacketed Flexweave and 200 feet of Dacron rope.

The next morning, I had an order confirmation in my inbox and by the end of the day on Thursday, I had received a “your order has shipped” e-mail. To be honest, my initial thought was, “Yeah, right!”.

Much to my surprise, the rope and wire arrived on Saturday via FedEx Home Delivery. Wow! I have to say that Amateur Radio Supplies made a believer of this sceptic. I certainly was not expecting such fast service, but was very happy to receive it.

This weekend is QRP To The Field. The weather for Saturday is looking “iffy” right now – partly sunny/cloudy with a 25 percent chance of showers in the afternoon. I will probably operate from the backyard and will have my son help me cut a few radiators to try out the 9:1 EARCHI UNUN a little bit more.

In order to prepare, I did the first lawn mowing of the season tonight after dinner. The front yard needs some work (re-seeding), but the back yard is in decent shape.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!