Hi Gang,
I'd been looking forward to this for a long time. Since I'm not an
rabid contester, I decided fun was the name of the game. I decided to
stake out a FYBO site at one of my favorite spots on the Pacific strand.
My SO and I arrived at Pigeon Point, a bit north of Santa Cruz on Rt. 1,
just before noon. The beach head was established and the trusty Radio
Shack thermombulator was deployed, registering a balmy 59F. I immediately
got to work setting up the W6MMA-modified SLV in the sand. I had
originally selected an antenna site on a 20 foot bluff just above the
beach, but seeing as how it was loaded with poison ivy/oak, plans had
to be changed.
A couple strolling on the beach passed me as I was laying out the
radials in the sand. On their return trip, they asked what kind of fish
I was going for as I was tuning up the vertical for 20m. I explained
I was a ham and I was fishing for radio signals and that my rod was really
an antenna. They said, "Well, maybe you can talk to Hawaii!" After hooking
up the Cascade and tuning to a quiet spot on the band, I called CQ for a
few minutes. Well son-of-a-gun! KH6EV comes barreling in! He was obviously
QRO and when I gave him the equipment rundown and told him my power output
was 3 watts, he understood why his S meter wasn't registering 20 dB over.
We had a nice chat and then signed. It was an interesting experience
staring out over the ocean, knowing my contact was out there somewhere
to the Southwest.
I then camped out on a VE6 station who was running a Pathfinders special
event station. He was casually chatting with a W4 and both were booming
in. No wonder, both were running linears feeding 3 element beams. Couldn't
raise either of them after they signed. Further attempts on 20 didn't
yield any other contacts, and 80m was pretty dead. I decided to fire up
the NC40.
This was *interesting* experience. I reoriented my position so the
ocean breeze was to my back. The unfortunate side effect was that the
wind noise in my headphones lowered the SNR substantially. I did hear
N6WG in there, but he was weak. Repeated attempts to call him didn't
even net a "QRZ?" Time was getting short and the wind picked up to the
point that it wasn't enjoyable anymore. We packed it in and headed
home.
Later in the evening, I set up the SLV in my backyard and arranged
the NC40 on the picnic table. The trusty Radio Shack thermo was
indicating 53F at 7:30 pm. My eardrums were nearly pierced when KD6VI,
QRP Bob, unsuccessfully tried to contact another station. I gave him a
quick shout and we exchanged info. Family responsibilities pulled me
away and that was the last contact.
Lessons Learned:
Select a better site for eastward propagation! The mountains to the
East and the bluff behind me really gobbled up my signal! I'll have
to scope out a potential site along Skyline Blvd, which courses along
the summits of these RF-busters. Alternatively, try a kite-supported
vertical. The steady breeze at the beach makes this do-able. Static
dissipation requirements noted.
While adequate in a quiet operating position, the NC40 needs an additional
audio stage. With 10-15 knot winds blowing in my headphones and ocean
swells crashing on the beach, it was impossible to hear the really weak
ones. Time to cobble up a set of audio boots. QRO audio is a *good* thing.
The Cascade needs a thorough going over. The PA exhibits some instability
and the output power should be a tad higher. Now where'd I put those
round-tuits?
Get a multi-band, multi-mode rig. Although I was well-prepared, I would
have liked capability for more bands without carrying a number of
monoband rigs.
Despite all of these shortcomings, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I can't
wait for QRPTTF!
72/73,
Bob - W3CD
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