AmateurRadio.com

My good friend Rem K6BBQ has completed his Field Day video.  As usual, it’s a hoot to watch.

But Rem ….. 50 Watts?  100 Watts?  Seems to me that Buddistick is awful close for that kind of power, Bud!  Make sure you don’t glow in the dark!

All teasing aside, it looks like Rem had a great time; and I wouldn’t have minded being there to give him a helping hand as his logger, or perhaps his official burrito taste tester?

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

Or so it would seem.

I didn’t revisit the mountain top today, just stayed near the cabin and slapped the Buddistick atop the Jeep.  I garnered a QSO with Sam K9GHD on 20 Meters this afternoon.  There was a lot of QSB, but we were still able to manage a QSO.

Sam was using his IC-746 at 5 Watts to a dipole and he was a good 549.  We chatted for a bit and then I went QRT to enjoy the lake for our last day here at Lake George.

This week went buy way too fast. I love it up here and am going to miss it until we come back up here next summer.

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

My trip to the top of Mount Prospect was a semi-bust.  Band conditions were not to be. Steve NU7T sent me this on the Polar Bear e-mail reflector:

Sorry Larry Bear,

ALERT: X-Ray Flux exceeded M5
Threshold Reached: 2012 Jul 12 1626 UTC
NOAA Scale: R2 – Moderate
Potential Impacts: Area of impact centered on sub-solar point on the sunlit side of Earth. Extent of blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication dependent upon current X-ray Flux intensity. For real-time information on affected area and expected duration ( 1800 z ).Grrrrrr
15m – 6dB attenuation Grrrrrr
20m – 3 dB attenuation Grrr
40m – 17 dB attentuation Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Steve, NU7T PB #300

And Steve was 10000000% correct – the entire time I was at the summit, I heard one, watery and warbly signal on 20 Meters.  All my CQing went for naught.  I was heard on the Reverse Beacon Network, however (by at least one skimmer):

WZ7I	W2LJ	14061.0	CQ [LoTW]	7 dB	20 wpm	1629z 12 Jul

  
Oh well, Maybe things will pick up for tomorrow.  In any event, I’ll post some of the photos I took, later tonight.

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

Is the plan for tomorrow.  It doesn’t qualify as a SOTA Summit, but as per the brochure, the views are supposed to be breathtaking

There’s supposedly a picnic area at the summit, so maybe I can toss the EFHW up a tree and make some contacts.

I’ll take my phone alone and will hopefully will be able to spot myself on QRPSPOTS.

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

Did a little exploratory hike on the trail today, sans radio, just to see what the trail looked like.

I had to turn back early as a thunderstorm came on quickly, and I didn’t want to be out in that.  I did come across some beaver and a red fox.  I think they were quite startled by me  Tomorrow is planned, so I might try again on Thursday.

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

This QRP thing is just like fishing. Yesterday, it was like I had magic bait. Every time I cast my call out upon the waters, I had a hit.  Every time I called a station, I had a hit.

Today was the antithesis of yesterday.  No one answered my CQs and also wasn’t able to raise anyone that I called.  Reverse Beacon Network said I was getting out just fine …. no strikes, though.  The difference between yesterday on today?  Nothing except that yesterday was Sunday and today is Monday.

As much as we would like it to be, this Amateur Radio thing is not an exact science.  I think tomorrow I will head out somewhere nature like and will try the EFHW.  I had good luck with that “fishing pole” last year.

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

Posted by Todd., W7TAO on the KX3 e-mail reflector.  Todd, like Steve WG0AT is also quite the portable ops devotee. He also has pack goats that he brings along on his adventures; but not this time.

The sheer beauty of this SOTA site is magnificent.  I think you will agree

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