I got 2024 off to a great start by activating Bald Mountain State Recreation Area, K-3383. I really hope to do more POTA activations this year. That should be my New Year’s resolution. I got a nice 58 in the log, coast-to-coast and two in Spain!
W8RJD
Catch me on Winlink!
Winlink is an email system for amateur radio. It can be accessed on FM or HF. This is really cool because it can be used to send and receive emails from anyone on the internet over radio. This means that if you are without internet access for some reason, you can still send and receive emails. I really like using amateur radio as a way to connect to mainstream communications.
Anyone can send me an email over winlink at w8rjd@winlink.org. Shoot me a message and I will be sure to respond.
POTA Activation @ K-9432, Sheldon Marsh Nature Preserve
While on a trip with the family to Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, OH, I had a chance to activate Sheldon Marsh Nature Preserve. There are quite a few parks in close proximity to this hotel. This one was less than three miles away. I set up the Wolf River Coil in the park and operated on 20-meters (14.240). I had an excellent SWR, nearly 1:1. The band was hoppin’ because I was able to reach coast-to-coast in the continental United States, racking up 18 contacts in about 20 minutes of activation. I am going to try another park tomorrow.
POTA Activation at K-2975 Seven Islands Birding State Park
During our family vacation to Gatlinburg, TN, I decided to activate Seven Islands Birding State Park. It was fairly close to our hotel in Sevierville … at least it seemed close on the map. Due to traffic in the area, travel time to the park was 30 minutes, despite the park being about 16 miles away from the hotel.
The park is very nice. I was able to find a spot to set up my Wolf River Coil antenna near the parking lot. Initially, I had some trouble tuning my antenna. I think the issue was with the radials I created before I left for vacation. I was using 6 radials cut to 33′. When I got back to my hotel, it appears the new radials I cut are about a foot shorter than the stock radials. When I switched back to 6 radials cut to the same size as the stock WRC radials, the antenna tuned no problem. This is something I will have to look at when I get back home. The stock length radials tuned to about 1:1.3 SWR – not too shabby.
40 meters was not cooperating too well. I got 11 contacts on 40. I moved over to 20 meters and picked up a quick 8 additional contacts, including one park to park. I had a total of 19 contacts over approximately 40 minutes on the air.
Here is my QSO map for this activation:
All in all, it was a fun morning.
Winter Field Day 2022
Well, I completed Winter Field Day 2022 and had a blast! I logged 72 contacts in the contest. I designated UTICA SHELBY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION as my club in the log file. Hopefully, the QSOs I made will help the club’s point total. I really participate in these contests because they generate so much activity on the bands that I can really make a lot of contacts.
All of my contacts this weekend were on SSB. I worked stations on 80m, 40m, 20m and 15m. I rarely ever even hear stations on 15m, so having the opportunity to work a station on that band was pretty exciting. I made contacts in 24 different states and provinces in the US and Canada. Here is my QSO map from the contest:
