Saturday, May 14th, I knew at least one club member was going out to the park to participate in the Second Saturday Sprint (please see the G+ community: https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/104840420363990807712 or this youtube video: https://youtu.be/Eo2nwwhfjAs). Not having much to do myself, and since I had already cut the grass earlier in the morning, I loaded up my radio gear and headed out to the park as well. I didn't participate in the sprint, but I did set up and make a few contacts while I was there.
When I arrived at the park, Greg, N4KGL, and Cory, N4UVR were already there. Cory was set up and running PSK, and Greg had just set up his station as well. I socialized a little, talking to Cory and Greg. Cory had set up his homebrew magnetic loop as well as a vertical whip/coil antenna.
Greg was running his Elecraft KX3 and a Bravo 7K for an antenna.
My setup was a Yaesu FT817nd running 5 watts on internal battery and the Chameleon F-Loop antenna. I can't brag enough on this antenna for ease of setup, portability, and performance for it's size. The folks at Chameleon have themselves a winner with this one.
Even though I did not spend a lot of time on the radio, I did manage to make a few contacts on 20 meters for the little time I was at the park. First was K4RC, the Williamsburg Area Amateur Radio Club in Williamsburg, VA. They were operating National Parks on the Air from park designation AA14 which is the Jamestown National Historic Site. Next was W5HB in Winslow, AR. He was participating in the Arkansas QSO party. And, lastly, was WA0DX, the Ottumwa Amateur Radio Club in Ottumwa, IA. He had activated an island for the US Islands on the Air awards program. He was at IA010, Turkey Island.
Overall, I had a good day at the park. The weather was great although a little windy. I would have had some video, but the wind pretty much wiped out the audio. Until next time, everyone...73!! --Bob KK4DIV
