KCØPET Pages
July 2008 Portable Op - Southeast MO
We took what is becoming a regular week vacation around July 4th to the family farm near Whitewater, MO. However this year I managed to gather up my portable gear and set up a portable station "by the pond" including my newly acquired K2. I set up on a picnic table by the farm pond and worked on my sunburn while operating. I ran 4 to 5 watts on the K2.
I started out with a 52' long wire antenna. I used a 20' crappie pole I bought a long time ago and have never used until now. I messed around with different radial and tuner configurations and finally made a contact with WA9LT in Geneseo, IL on 40m. The antenna tuned up perfectly on 40 with 2-17' radials and the Long Wire L Tuner. However, I had trouble getting a match on any other band with various radial configurations and both a Z-11 tuner and the Long Wire Tuner. I tried answering CQs and calling CQ on 30m, 20m and 15m and noone seemed to hear me. Looks like the long wire setup needs some tweeking.
K2, Z-11, 7AH Battery, Bencher Paddle, Coffee and July 4th Table Covering. Life is good.
So I tore down the long wire. I
put about 5' of fishing line and a crappie jig on the 20' pole and did
some fishing. I caught a couple small bluegill and a medium sized
bass. It was just like old fashioned cane pole fishing; definitely
QRP fishing. I would offer, though that the 20' pole is pretty
cumbersome and probably could do just as well with a 10' or 12' pole (for
fishing that is).
On Sunday eve, I set up the good old portable
20/40 dipole on the crappie pole. Fairly quickly I raised W7WHO from
Crooked River Ranch, OR on 20m. 15m was dead that evening and the
following morning and 40 had a lot of QRN. On Monday morning I did raise
W3FAF in MN on 40 but lost him in the noise. I scanned around and
found K5IRH in Bossier City, LA and had a FB QSO. Then it was time
to take it all down and come home.
The Good Old Portable 20/40 Dipole on the 20' Crappie Pole
