N3EPA
QRP To The Field
April 28, 2001
A Space Odyssey
Ed, WA3WSJ and Ron, WB3AAL, started out around 7 AM for the QRPTTF event. First thing on the agenda was to stop by a re-fueling station so the brave souls can stock up on a hearty morning breakfast.
They arrived at their starting point around 8:15 AM for the rugged 1.8 mile hike to the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society (LVAAS) Pulpit Rock Observatory.
After 1 hour and 10 minute hike we arrived at our operating location. Now it was time to setup our stations.
We found the day to sunny, cool and very windy.
Work was being performed on the 40" Cassegrain telescope.
I selected to place the 40 meter station down wind of the 12" Newtonian Reflector observatory, this way I can use the building as a wind break. After fighting the strong winds the 40 meter station was ready for action.
This station consist of the SW-40+ transceiver running 1.5 watts into a 40 meter dipole supported by a DK9SQ collapsible fiberglass mast. The station was running from a solar charged battery. Ron, WB3AAL, was fighting the bad band conditions along with the high winds.
We had a K2 setup on 10-15-20 meters over by another observatory. Ed, WA3WSJ, was running his K2 also from solar power battery. The K2 was running 5 watts into a 66 foot doublet with a 350 ohm TV feed line. Ed was enjoying the cover of the 8" Refractor observatory as a wind break. He heard no signals on 10 or 15 meters, Ed said it was like there was no antenna on at all.
We were on the air for a total of 3 hours. We had many people walk up to use and ask what we were doing. So we took the time to explain who and what we were doing on the mountain. One of the LVAAS members who is a ham showed us the 8" refractor and the 17" Dobsonian telescopes. I use to work with Glen, N3URV, a few year back and I knew he was a active member. So when he arrived and seen antennas in the air, he knew it was us at the site.
What a way to spend the QRPTTF 2001 contest. About 50 feet away we had the most spectacular view from Pulpit Rock.
We had the following Q's made in 3 hours.
17 Q's on 40 Meters with 11 sections / 250 Location ID pts. / 1 Bonus
11 Q's on 20 Meters with 7 sections / 155 Location ID pts. / 1 Bonus
405 x 18 x 4 + 100 = 29,260 Final Score
Wish we could stay longer but we had to break camp and hike an hour back to our vehicle. Maybe in 2002 we might have better band conditions and we might stay longer. I like this years theme.
We had QRP Fun.
72 Ron de N3EPA
