QRP-Lers,
WOW !! Viewing the comet Hale-Bopp (estimated magnitude, from a
calibrated eyeball, is now magnitude 1.0) on Sat. morning, and a full
moon on Friday night.
W5BI & I had set up within a few yards of each other. We were set up on
the side of a ravine @ 6,374 feet asl, at the following location;
Lat. 35 degrees 22' 30.1" N
Long. 106 degrees 52' 05.5" W
Temperature was 41 deg. F @ 1800 UTC. We had operated from 1800 UTC to
2300 UTC. The temperature had risen to 47 deg. F, then the wind hit.
Darn,... The wind was over 30 mph out of the WSW.
We could not operate the whole time period due to a previous
committment. However, we did have fun, and heck yes we would do this
again next year. I think I had counted over 54 contacts in my log. I
don't know what W5BI had in his. It was a joy to talk to everyone out
there. NA5N & KK6MC/5 & I had a great QSO, on 40 meters cw. They were
south of us ~ 84 miles, on the windy plains of the Pound Ranch. N6CNY & I
had chatted for a short period of time too. Yeah, N6CNY was a dupe, but
we had still talked, in between contest exchanges :-) . I did not work
one Az. station :-( . There were 2 other contests on, during FYBO.
(FISTS & OM)
15 meters was open (Where were the Novices/Techs ???) Heard a JJ8
calling CQ NA, and worked a LU1, who was not in the contest on 15 meters.
Deja Vue of Riley, wind, and even an airplane flying over us. However,
this aircraft was towing 2 drones. One was a magnetometer. I have 2
photos of the aircraft, since he had made 2 passes over us @ 400 feet off
of the deck. We could hear the drones whistling, as he had passed over
us. (1935 UTC). He was making East to West, and West to East passes over
the Rio Puerco (New Mexico) area.
It was a pleasant surprise to hear AL7FS calling me. AC5AM was a
powerhouse here (599), also KV9X, W0DC, K1MG, AB7ST, KD0CA, W5BI
(obviously), & KA0PQW, all were S-9+. Noticed WQ4RP in the log too. Did
anyone notice the pile up on W1VT @ 1809 UTC on 20 meters (14.059 Mhz) ?
Nice job Zack. I had kept calling, but it was not to be :-( .
The FYBO photos will be sent to Joe-AB7TT (uuencoded of course), plus
W5BI will probably post our photos on his Web page
(http://www.flash.net/~w5bi/), in the future. We could see Ladrone Peak
to the south of us (Riley, NM is on the west side of Ladrone), Mt. Taylor
to the West & the Jemez (pronounced Hey-Mez) to the north of us. A
fantastic vista to behold. We could look right down into the Rio Puerco.
My thanks to all who had participated and this was a very enjoyable QRP
Field Day for me. To AB7TT & the scQRPions, a job " well done".
Next up, the NorCal "QRP To The Field", April 26th. SASE to WU7F for
details. BTW, thanks Bob (WU7F) for the contact today. We will be
operating from a position that overlooks the "Crash at Corona" debris
field (one of them), for the QRPTTF.
72 & it was my pleasure...Jay, WA5WHN
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