Can't say enough about this stand

 The AX1 stand by TUFTELN, that is.

If you have an Elecraft AX1 antenna, and you are using the "adjustable bipod stand" that Elecraft supplies, you are going to love this stand.  This stand is way more robust, sturdy and just overall better! Use this once, and you will forget you ever used the Elecraft bipod stand.

The only caveat is you have to make sure you don't overtighten it. Because if you overtighten it, it can be very hard to unscrew the two pieces from each other without damaging it. Take it from me - wink, wink

The beauty of this stand is that it gives you a choice. Since it cradles the AX1 so nicely, you can either connect the AX1 to the radio directly, OR  if you so desire, you can use coax jumpers and connect to your radio with the antenna physically removed - as shown in the photo above (as well as my header photo). If the radio you're using doesn't have a built in autotuner, such as the QMX, this is an absolute necessity. The reason that I don't like the Elecraft bipod is that IMHO, it puts too much stress on the radio's BNC connector. I know that on the KX3, the BNC connector is held in place to the chassis by a nut and not just by solder joints, but even so, I feel that bipod is an awkward arrangement at best.

Again, not an agent for TUFTELN - no kickbacks here! Just a satisfied customer.

AND ..... an announcement from Paul NA5N - mark your calendars !

QRP Zombies,

The 27th annual (1998-2024) ZOMBIE SHUFFLE will be held FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2024.

Pretty much the same silly rules as always.

The QRP Contest that's actually fun. Pick some strange, ghoulish name to use on the air.

Full RULES ARE HERE:

http://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/pg.html

72 and BOO, Paul NA5N

and from me:

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Some new stuff

 from QRPbuilder.com.

An Iambic SOTA / POTA paddle, much like the ones made popular by Steve WG0AT. I like the look fo these - I just wonder if I could ever get used to using these!

QX1 Antenna - a very reasonably priced AX1 type of antenna for portable ops.

A MAGNETIC single lever paddle which can be used on the KX radios and if you house your (tr)uSDX radio in the QRPGuys housing.

'

Official Disclaimer - I am in NO WAY involved, associated with, or benefit from anything sold by QRPbuilder.com. Just bringing attention to some really nicely priced and useful items that might be right and fill a need for you readers out there. At the very least, you owe it to yourselves to check this stuff out.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

What is it about barricades?

Yesterday, the ARES/RACES members of the South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club (AB2ZK, K2VHW, KC2PLO, KC2PGX, KD2YYQ, W2LJ) held our SET, which coincided with a South Plainfield Volunteer Fire Department Drill. We were "activated" by the South Plainfield Office of Emergency Management to set up an On Site Command Post, provide security for that Command Post and to also assist with traffic and pedestrian control, as well as provide back up communications in the event that unforeseen circumstances developed.

The scenario involved the SPVFD having to put out a blaze at a propane sales and storage facility in town. While there was not an actual fire, the organizers of the event placed some dry ice in water in various places, to create the illusion of a smoky blaze. There were actors on scene to simulate wounded employees and even a belligerent employee who refused to evacuate. 

On Site Command Post (photo courtesy of SPVFD)

SPVFD Pumper

SPVFD member doing his thing (photo courtesy of SPVFD)

CERT members on traffic control duty (photo courtesy of SPVFD)

Yours truly, for a moment taking his eyes off the cars that want to cream him. (photo courtesy of Marv K2VHW)

Marv K2VHW as our CERT trailer arrives on scene

I was on duty with Marv K2VHW and our assignment was to signal to drivers that they could not drive down South Clinton Avenue - where the drill was taking place. As you can see from the photos, there were plenty of barricades, but that did not stop umpteen drivers trying to make the turn onto the street where all this was going down.

What is it about barricades? What is it that seems to signal to drivers, "OK, I get it, the road is closed .......but certainly you don't mean that it's closed to me !?!?!?!?!?!" After a while, it actually got kind of comical. But there were enough drivers trying to go where they couldn't to keep Marv and I busy for the four hours that the drill lasted. 99% of the people were cooperative, but there were a couple of times we had to call upon the South Plainfield Police Dept. officer on duty so that he could more adamantly explain things. That blue uniform (and gun) always seems to carry more weight than citizen volunteers explaining things.

For communications we had the County OEM repeater available for our use as the Middlesex County Hazmat Team was also invited to take part in the drill, However, since the County EOC was not activated, we didn't need to make use of the frequency. We were cleared by the South Plainfield OEM to use the Department of Public Works frequency, as we are able to program that into our HTs and the Police and Fire Depts have that frequency in their radios. The area of the drill was so confined that simplex communications were more than enough to handle the situation.

So as I stated in the opening of this post, in essence, we got a "two-fer" with the drill. We helped the Emergency Services Departments of South Plainfield and this also nicely doubled as our yearly Simulated Emergency Test. Better and more realistic than any of the simulated table top exercises that we've held in past years.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

POTA equipment bugaboo

Yesterday I went down the street, right around the corner from my house to the South Plainfield PAL parking lot.

Where you see the little bus stop icon is just about where I parked, the extreme corner of the parking lot, which is less than 25 feet from Maple Avenue. Maple Avenue is part of the Washington-Rochambeau National Historical Trail, US-4582.

I was today years old when I realized I had great access to a POTA site so close to home! The times I activated it for NPOTA, I travelled into neighboring Scotch Plains. It never occurred to me to work the Trail from the PAL parking lot. Talk about losing sight of the forest for the trees!

In any event, my activation was a failure as one of the BNC connectors on my 4 States tuner wobbled a bit loose. Lousy soldering job by yours truly.  I ended up making only 3 contacts before the SWR started to become flaky, sending the QMX into SWR protection mode. Lesson learned - going forward do NOT remove the BNC to UHF adapters from the tuner. Leave them on and don't stress to solder joints!

The good new is that the repair was easier than falling from a log, AND that I now realize I have a convenient POTA setup spot so close to home. Busy day tomorrow, but if the weather is decent next weekend, I'll give it another shot.

72 de Larry W2LJ 

QRP  - When you care to send the very least!

QMX pack is lighter now.

I ditched the "AA" lithium batteries for another of the exact same battery that I use with the KX3. (Boy, did it drop in price since I last purchased one!) I mentioned before of having to make an adapter from 3.5mm to 2.1mm for the QMX and it came out fine. I couldn't just change the plug outright because it's used not only to power out, but also to charge the battery. So I took what I needed from an older one that bulged and cobbled together what I needed.

And I also acquired a smaller key that I first saw on Craig WB3GCK's blog:

Craig had some issues with getting used to the action on his, and I assume the action on mine is identical to his - but I'm fine with the stiffer feel. I adjusted the contact spacing to the point where I was getting continuous dis and dahs and then backed off a 1/2 turn with the Allen wrench. I like the feel of this much better than the other paddle that I had used in Upstate NY. The Morse I was sending from my two POTA activations in NY was atrocious and embarrassing, in my own estimation. This stiffer spring pressure allows me to send with less errors. When the tension is soft, I get sloppy. To make sure, I plugged this little guy into my shack KX3, turned off the VOX to essentially turn the KX3 into a code practice oscillator and was able to send Morse comfortably at up to 25 WPM with no extra dits or dahs. I can show my face on the bands again!

Here's a video from YouTube that i found about the paddle.

'I disagree with him on several points, but like he said - it's his opinion. I think it's a great little portable ops paddle, the price was right, and I think it will hold up well -it's not like i'm going to be using is 365 days a year.. The magnet on the bottom of mine seems to be on very securely - I'm going to disagree with his "F" for mounting. And I stated above, what was most important to me was the feel.

I've got a VE session this morning, followed by grocery shopping. I'm hoping that maybe I can get away for an hour or two to activate either the Edison Memorial or perhaps the Washington-Rochambeau Trail, which is a lot closer to my house.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

The Weekend - October 12th & 13th

If the Sun calms down by the weekend! Severe geomagnetic storms are a happenin'!

Severe enough that we actually did get to see aurora over New Jersey last night! It was beautiful while it lasted, which was not long at all.  I thought the Northern Lights were something that lasted for a bit longer than what we saw last night. I'm hoping we get another view tonight.

Contests:

QRP  Fall QSO Party - http://qrparci.org/contest/fall-qso-party

Nevada QSO Party - http://nvqso.com/contest-rules/

Oceania DX Contest, CW - https://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/

SKCC Weekend Sprintathon - https://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/weekend_sprintathon/

Arizona QSO Party - https://www.azqp.org/

Pennsylvania QSO Party - http://paqso.org/pa-qso-party-rules.html

South Dakota QSO Party - http://www.sdqsoparty.com/ - This is a prime opportunity for those chasing WAS QRP to get one of the rare ones.

4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint - http://www.4sqrp.com/SSS/sss_rules.pdf

Special Event Stations:

10/12/2024 | 3rd Annual Scratching Post QSL Party in the Lucedale City Park

Oct 12, 1300Z-2300Z, K5K, Lucedale, MS. George County Mississippi Amateur Radio Emergency Service (A.R.E.S.) Group. 14.275 28.390 7.265 7.074. QSL. KD4VVZ, 258 Geiger Rd. , Lucedale, MS 39452. gcmsares.org

10/12/2024 | BIG (Believe in Girls) Event

Oct 12, 1400Z-1930Z, W5YL, Thibodaux, LA. Ascension and Thibodaux Amateur Radio Clubs. 14.290 14.230 SSTV 18.125 DMR TG 907. QSL. AARC, PO BOX 1617, Gonzales, LA 70707. Ascension & Thibodaux Amateur Radio Clubs will combine to showcase STEM in amateur radio to approximately 2,000 Girl Scouts at the BIG (Believe in Girls) Expo from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux LA

10/12/2024 | Collins Radio 91st Anniversary

Oct 12, 1400Z-1700Z, W0CXX, Cedar Rapids, IA. Collins Amateur Radio Club. 14.263 MHz. QSL. Brice AntonJensen, 1110 Lyndhurst Dr, Hiawatha, IA 52233. www.qrz.com/db/W0CXX

10/12/2024 | Commemorating the Birthday of the US Navy on 10/13/1775

Oct 12, 1600Z-2300Z, NI6IW, San Diego, CA. USS Midway Museum Ship. 7.250 14.320 14.070 PSK31 DSTAR on Papa system repeaters. QSL. USS Midway Museum Ship COMEDTRA, 910 N Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101. www.qrz.com/db/ni6iw

10/12/2024 | Cruising the Coast OTA

Oct 12, 1300Z-1859Z, N5OS, Ocean Springs, MS. Jackson County Amateur Radio Association. 14.074 14.270 14.334. Certificate. Jerry Davis, 1017 Margaret St, Ocean Springs, MS 39564. This OTA event coincides with the Annual Cruisin' the Coast event which is unrelated to this event. https://jcmsara.org/ctcota

10/12/2024 | Ham Radio Day at the Library

Oct 12, 1500Z-2100Z, N4V, Nokomis, FL. Tamiami ARC. 14.319 21.040. QSL. Tamiami ARC, PO Box 976, Nokomis, FL 34273. Commemorating the First "Ham Radio Day" at the Sarasota County Library tamiamiarc.org

10/12/2024 | Knights of Columbus Celebration of Columbus Day

Oct 12-Oct 14, 0000Z-2359Z, K0C, Bridgeton, NJ. New Jersey Knights of Columbus Amateur Radio Club . 7.185 14.250 18.140 21.350. Certificate & QSL. Thomas M. Perrotti, N2JIE, 785 Vineland Ave, Bridgeton, NJ 08302-4822. NJ2KC.org

10/12/2024 | Little David Special Event Station

Oct 12, 1300Z-1800Z, N4HLH, North Charleston, SC. Trident Amateur Radio Club. 14.262. QSL. Chris Benoit - KC4NW, PO Box 60732, North Charleston, SC 29419. https://www.tridenthams.org/w4d-ses; w4d@tridenthams.org; tridenthams.org

10/12/2024 | President Ike Eisenhower's Birthday

Oct 12, 1300Z-2100Z, K3S, Baltimore, MD. Nuclear Ship Savannah ARC. 7.1 14.1 21.1 28.1. QSL. K3LU, 980 PATUXENT ROAD, Odenton, MD 21113. Single transmitter SSB and CW aboard N/S Savannah. Please check spotting networks for frequencies. Info on QRZ.com www.qrz.com/db/k3s

10/12/2024 | Re-enactment of the First Trans-Global Two-Way Radio Communication

Oct 12-Oct 20, 0000Z-2359Z, ZL4AA, Shag Valley Sheep Station, NEW ZEALAND. Radio Society of Great Britain and New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (Otago Branch). All bands and all modes depending on operator avilability. QSL. See website, for, information, NEW ZEALAND. www.gb2nz.com

10/12/2024 | Rocklin Maker Faire

Oct 12, 1700Z-2200Z, N6M, Rocklin, CA. ARRL Sacramento Valley Section. 146.520 14.074 14.290. Certificate. Carol F Milazzo, PO Box 665, Citrus Heights, CA 95611. ARRL Sacramento Valley Section Exhibit at Rocklin Maker Faire. Send inquiries to KP4MD https://rocklin.makerfaire.com

10/12/2024 | Rogersville TN Heritage Days

Oct 12-Oct 13, 1400Z-2100Z, N2H, Rogersville, TN. Handcock-Hawkins Amateur Radio Team. 7.120 7.123 7.126 7.130. QSL. David Broome, 360 Rogers Road, Rogersville, TN 37857. Heritage Days in Rogersville, TN, a 3 day celebration that whisks you away to a bygone era, where community, tradition, and good old-fashioned fun reign supreme. It weaves a vibrant tapestry of history, where the aroma of apple cider mingles with the lively tunes of Appalachian fiddles mebtfs@yahoo.com

72 de Larry W2LJ 

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

QRP Image of the Day

The photographer inside of me is captivated by images, And if the old adage is true that "A picture is worth 1,000 words:, then these two images are examples of what come to my mind when I think about QRP.

This image from the SOTA Facebook page, in fact it's now their cover page image. Didn't Steven pick a wonderful image? Who doesn't dream of someday taking a minimalistic set up to the top of a mountain and communicating with the world? I know I do, but I'm also wise enough to know my limitations and that I'm no Steve Galchutt WG0AT and the closest I'm ever going to get to this is operating portable from a picnic table somewhere. Still, the thrill is there, even if the panoramic vistas aren't!

The second image:

Isn't Alexey's station just grand? A One Watt homebrewed QRP transmitter. He posted a video of it on Facebook and it sounded oh, so sweet! Again, the closest I'm ever going to get to this is by building a kit of someone else's design. I'm not an Alexey UY1IF or a Bob W3BBO who can seem to cobble up working equipment just about every other day. I'm no engineer or designer - God didn't grace me with that kind of talent. But still, I can build some things (although with SMD, that's becoming harder and harder every day for my poor skill set) and when they actually work, the satisfaction is there that I didn't totally screw things up.

QRP is not for everyone. Sometimes it's actually rather easy, sometimes it's challenging, sometimes it's frustrating, but it's also always immensely rewarding. Whether you're working from a mountain top or from your basement, whether you're operating something you designed and built all by yourself; or maybe just from a kit you bought and built ........ the Ham Radio experience you can get from QRP is like no other.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

So yesterday

I mentioned yesterday that I was probably a day late and a dollar short and with all the geomagnetic activity, the Northern Lights must have been pretty up in the 1,000 Islands .........right?

This was posted to Facebook by K & N photography - of course this happened  AFTER we left.

Of course!  Of course!

I guess the silver lining is that the geomagnetic activity that promulgated these auroral displays did not happen until after my two successful POTA activations. So for bands that were in decent shape and allowed for some amazing contacts ....... I am grateful. (Always have to look at the bright side!)

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Maps a lot

No. Not the Monty Python musical Spamalot - this is Maps a Lot. A comparison of RBN Maps vs. QSO maps from my POTA Activations last week. Just to see if and how they differ.

First - Keewaydin State Park, US-2088:

The Reverse Beacon Network Map

Actual QSO Map including the Alaska QSO

Closer look at just the Continental US QSOs

And now Kring Point State Park, US-2091:

The Reverse Beacon Network Map

The QSO Map

The QSO maps (courtesy of Log Analyzer 3.2 by DL4MFM) pretty much gibe with the skimmer maps, just as you'd expect. There are some discrepancies, though. From Keewaydin, I made it to Alaska, a bit farther than the skimmer in the Canadian North West that picked me up. Also, the RBN map didn't show me as getting out to the South West, but I did have a QSO with Oklahoma.

The RBN Map for Kring Point had no skimmers in the Western US pick me up, but yet I had a QSO with California. And I had a QSO with Arkansas, where the RBN map showed no skimmers picking me up. But even with the discrepancies, the Reverse Beacon Network is a great tool which allows you to get an idea of how your RF is getting out.

 

Just for reference, I was located in NY State right at the border with Canada, pretty much opposite of Ottawa. The RBN Maps are showing my signals as originating from my home QTH in New Jersey, so there's a bit of inaccuracy there.  The QSO maps show the origination point accurately. I think RBM goes by your call sign info, not where you're actually located at the time.0

Lesson learned from all this? You're definitely getting out and being heard to where the skimmers can capture you, and if your snr figures are in double digits- probably a lot farther.

A week later and I'm still astounded that the AX1 table top antenna completed QSOs with Alaska and California. As Craig WB3GCK says, "It defies logic."

Final thought - with all this geomagnetic activity happening right now, I'll bet the Northern Lights are quite pretty up in Alexandria Bay. Sigh. Seems I'm always a day late and a dollar short.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Wouldn't you know it?

My anticipation was growing last week in Upstate NY as Geomagnetic activity was getting greater and greater all week long. My SpaceWeather Live app was going off all week with news of flares, CMEs and such. Finally, there was a better than good chance that I would finally get to see the Northern Lights on Friday night - the last night before we left to return to New Jersey.

Upstate NY decided to pull a New Jersey on me and it clouded up and rained Friday night.

Sheesh.

In any event, I got my POTA logs uploaded yesterday as well as getting them into AC Log. Tonight, I want to make QSO maps for both activations and see how they compare to the RBN maps that I captured. I'll post them here.

The long range forecast for this week is showing the upcoming weekend to be nice. Maybe I can get away for an hour or two to activate Washington Rock, or perhaps the Washington-Rochambeau Trail. Doing POTA activations is kind of like eating Lays potato chips - You can't do just one! It's super easy o get hooked.

But as far as activations go, I'm not one of these guys that needs to get triple digit QSOs in the log. I'm quite happy getting my 10 or more, enjoying the outdoors and nice weather. If 20, 30, or 40 come easy because the bands are good .......great! If the bands are crappy and I only make 10 or 11 contacts, I'm fine with that, too. I'm in it for the experience and the fun.

The 4States QRP Group has come out with a new kit designed by Dave Cripe, MN0S - a CW VOX keyer. For those who may not be able to send Morse in the traditional way due to disabilities  - this will allow Morse to be sent by your transceiver by speaking into it. According to the 4States website: "The CWvox is a unique solution that leverages the ability of Morse Code operators to vocalize Morse Code using "da" for dashes and "dit" for dots. This practice isn't just a novelty; it's a skill that, when done correctly, mirrors the proper length ratio of dashes and dots in Morse Code."

The kit is available for $40 and all the details can be found here - https://www.4sqrp.com/kits/CW-VOX/4SQRP_CW_VOX_%20Manual.pdf

72 de Larry W2LJ 

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Ch-ch-ch-changes

I guess I learned a few things about my POTA setup and a few changes that need to be made.

First, these battery packs I am currently using don't last long at all. I've decided to purchase another of the small blue lithium packs like I use with the KX3. The only problem there is that I will have to build an adapter cable as they come with a 3.5mm plug, while the QMX uses a 2.1mm plug. I have plenty of 2.1mm plugs and I have an old battery that bulged and is no longer usable. I'll scavenge the 3.5mm charging socket off of that, solder on a 2.1mm plug and I'll have the adapter cable I'll need.

Second, I'm not thrilled with the paddle I had recently purchased.  I'm having a hard time adjusting it to the feel that I want, and as I was putting it back into the QMX bag yesterday after the Kring Point activation, a small nut dropped out of it and landed on the picnic tabel - not good. I still have a Whiterook single lever paddle kicking around somewhere and I also have the Bulldog Clip key. I can use either one of those. My American Morse DCP paddle will remain exclusively with the KX3.

Lastly, I have not fallen in love with the QMX to the point to replace my KX3 with it. For POTA activations, it's great because you generally find a clear frequency, call "CQ POTA" and don't move around too much. The KX3 is way more easier to tune. For general operating, and for hunting and pouncing in Sprints the KX3 is the way to go. Plus the KX3 gives me access to bands that the QMX does not. The QMX will be my "in the car, operate at the spur of a moment" rig. The KX3 will remain the weapon of choice for serious operating. 

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

OK, I'm sold!

Yesterday was a rainy day, and Marianne and I vegged out for most of the day. The skies started clearing out in the late afternoon:

And we were rewarded with yet another beautiful sunset a few hours later:

This morning dawned sunny, bright and a tad on the chilly side. After breakfast and a few stops, Marianne and I headed out to Kring Point State Park, US-2091 for the second activation of our wedding anniversary getaway.

This time, I did not bring the AlexLoop along, only the Elecraft AX1. I was impressed by its performance on Tuesday and I was not to be disappointed this time, either!

Here are some photos that Marianne took of me doing the POTA thing:

And here are some photos that I took of the setup:

We arrived at the park at about 11:00 (15:00 UTC) and stopped at the Park Ranger booth only to be told that the picnic area was closed for renovation and construction, but that we were free to drive around and look at the park. That's when Marianne noticed quite a few vacant campsites that sure enough had picnic tables! So we stopped at campsite #12 and I headed off to the picnic bench while Marianne did some exploring,

I was set up by15:25 UTC, spotted myself on the POTA app and after calling CQ POTA on 14.062 MHz, I was immediately greeted by Hunters. I didn't want to stay too long as today is actually our anniversary and I didn't think it was polite and proper for Marianne to be bored out of her skull.

I quickly racked up another 14 QSOs in just 32 minutes and I pulled the plug when my batteries started going wonky. More about that in a minute. QSOs were made with New Jersey (NY to NJ on 20 Meters - strange!), WI, a Park to Park with WA9LEY at US-7256 in IL, SC, CA, GA, OH, VA, NC and AR.

The performance from this little antenna just blows my mind. As Craig WB3GCK said to me, "It defies all logic.", but there you have it, the proof is in the pudding. The AX1 will be my go to whenever I activate picnic table portable, The RBN map wasn't as impressive as Tuesday's but the snr figures were very nice! There was not a single skimmer that picked me up with a single digit snr report.

Regarding the batteries. I made sure they were fully charged and they did not last at all. That's probably due to the fact that they've been sitting in the shack for years without being used. I'll have to go to eBay to pick up some fresh ones or perhaps something else that will last a bit longer, but is still small enough to fit in my QMX bag.

Thanks to all the Hunters who worked me this week! My activations were not long or filled with triple digit QSO numbers, but they are valid activations and I had a lot of fun!

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Unpopular opinion?

Maybe. But I'm going to state it anyway. After what's happened recently to Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee.....

You want an EMCOMM Team capable of setting up fast, with a minimum of effort and fuss that can go virtually anywhere at a moments notice?

Recruit some POTA people for your team.

72 de Larry W2LJ 

QRP - When you care to say the very least.

Success!

Around 10:00 this morning, Marianne looked at me and said, "So you want to go to one of those parks you were talking about?" Of course, I didn't miss a heartbeat and answered in the affirmative, so I placed the gear in the Jeep and we headed off for Keewaydin State Park, US-2088, which only a few miles down the road.

We drove to the lot where people park their boat trailers. Right next to it was a children's playground, a community pool and a very nice pavillion with plenty of picnic tables. The pavillion is all wooden, so no Faraday Cage syndrome.

I began by setting up the AlexLoop. It doesn't take long and I was on the air a few minutes before 11:00 AM - 15:00 UTC. At first, the calls came easy as I worked to really loud N9 stations out of Indiana. But after those two contacts I was calling "CQ POTA" a lot with little to show for it, and I was starting to worry that this was going to turn into a busted activation.

That's when I decided to break out the AX1, From previous posts you all know I've had mixed results and have been ........skeptical about its ability. I have to adnit that once I swithed over, the QSOs just started rolling in, one right after another! I worked stations in Virginia, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Oklahoma, Michigan and Ohio. I worked NL7V who according to QRZ is in Alaska, but I have to believe he was down here in the lower 48 somewhere on vacation. I didn't catch the state when he sent it. Alaska would be a dream QSO!

I didn't want to stay too long, as Marianne has no interest in Amateur Radio whatsoever. In just over a little over an hour, I made 14 contacts which is nothibg as far as POTA activations go, but still it counts as a valid activation.

The good news is that Marianne has agreed to accompany me to Krings Point State park later this week. The bad news is that since I only brought my aging Samsung tablet with me (and no laptop) my log submissions will have to wait a few days. My tablet doesn't have the display format size required to display the log upload page.

Here's the Reverse Beacon Network report for the day:

As you can see, the snr dB figures are pretty good for QRP. This AX1 is starting to turn me into a beleiver!

The rest of the day was spent doing things that Marianne had an interest in, and it turned out to be a very nice day. As we headed out to dinner this evening, we were rewarded with another gorgeous sunset.

Perfect ending to a great Amateur Radio day!

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP = When you care to send the very least!

More Experimentation

We made it up here! We arrived yesterday at Alexandria Bay, NY - the land (or water) of big ships and spectacular sunsets.

Those cargo ships travel up and down the St. Lawrence Seaway, carrying tonnage betwwen the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. And as you can see, the sunsets are breathtaking.

This afternoon, while Marianne took a nap, I set up the QMX and the AlexLoop on our balcony, overlooking the river. 20 Meters was a snap. I was able to get a good enough match quite easily, which kept the QMX happy. I even figured out how to get my pre-programmed messages to transmit, and I called CQ several times, just to see where the Reverse Beacon Network would pick me up, I was happy wiiith the result:

The locations of the spotters was great and the s/n db ratios were pretty darn good too. I had double digit s/n figures for a lot of the spots, indicating that I would have been heard by Hams near those skimmers.

On the other hand, 40 and 30 Meters were disappointments. I could not tune either band in well enough to keep the QMX happy. The procedure is to tune the Alex Loop's capacitor for loudest band noise. Once you do that, you're normally close enough for a decent match, No go on both 40 and 30 Meters, No matter what I did, the QMX's SWR circuitry kicked in and the unit refused to generate RF.

Luckily, the QMX is happy with the AX1, as I have previously successfully tried. That and the Buddistick will have to be the mainplayers for 40 Meters if I get the chance to do some POTAing later this week. Of course, if I decide to stick to 20 Meters solely, the Alex Loop is a more than viable alternative.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!