More Portable Ops...

It was a beautiful day here in Kingston, although it was a little chilly....winter is definitely on its way.  I checked the propagation websites and it didn't look too bad for a change.  SFI=86, SN=28, A Index=4, and the K Index=1. So I decided to go and activate a park. 

I went to Lemoine Point first, and couldn't get a parking spot.  VE3SIQ was already operating at Parrotts Bay, and there isn't room there for two ops to work there comfortably.  So it was off the Marshlands Conservation Area, VE-5143.  Surprisingly when I got there the parking lot was completely empty.

It only takes me a few moments to get set up, as usual it was my KX3 and a hamstick on the roof of the van.  I managed to put 26 in the log in a little over thirty minutes, ten on 20m and sixteen on 40m.    

Overall it was a good activation, and my plan is to go out Sunday morning if the propagation holds, and activate another location.  I suspect next weekend with the CQ WW DX SSB Contest will not be a good weekend for POTA, so I'm getting my fill now.

Saturday's QSO Map

JOTA 2021...

Scouting’s largest event in the world, Jamboree-on-the-Air is this weekend, October 15 – 17. JOTA uses amateur radio to link Scouts and hams around the world.

We all bitch and complain about the lack of youth in the hobby, so here's your chance to show them what we can do and get them interested.

You can use any mode and any band.  Below is the frequency chart used by the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

The World Federation of Independent Scouts also runs JOTA this weekend, normally on and around the same frequencies.

Get on the air and talk to the Scouts!!

This doesn't look good....

 It might be hard going for the next couple of days if you're chasing DX.....

Bands are........hmmmm

The bands didn't see too bad Thursday morning.  I did manage a quick POTA activation, and for a change did it on 20m.  40m didn't seem that good.  

It was certainly nice to work the west coast again, it has been a while, as had any contacts with Newfoundland, but I made a contact there as well.

Today, Sunday, the propagation is not that good.  Bands are noisy and the QSB is very bad.  

SFI = 91, SN=28, A Index=14, and the K Index=3.  I have managed to only make 2 contacts today, one to VA and the other to OH.

Hopefully things will improve soon.

Chillycon 2021...

This years Chillycon is over for another year.  Always held on the last weekend the park is open, the annual gathering of Eastern Ontario QRP'ers was held last weekend at Rideau River Provincial Park, and a good time was had by one and all.

This year, due to the continuing saga of Covid-19, we only had 10 attendees.  The weather was great, not a drop of rain was seen, and the propagation was ok, not great.....but ok.

Eric, VA3AMX, once again won the DX trophy for the furthest DX contact, beating the second place finisher by about 600 kms.

I managed to do 12 POTA activations over the five days we were at the park, and enjoyed every one.  Thursday had me at Baxter Conservation Area, VE- 5295, and the WA Taylor Conservation Area, VE- 5295.  Kieran, VA3KS, drove down from Ottawa on Friday and together we activated the Merrickville Blockhouse, VE-4874, and the Rideau Migratory Bird Sanctuary, VE-0364.  All four of those activations produced large pileups which were fun to handle.

It was certainly nice to see some people we haven't seen for two years, and hopefully next year we will start to get back to normal and have more people out for it.

Don, VE3MNE, working on an antenna.

The Glider Field at Baxter Conservation Area.

It's always so peaceful at night.

Canary Island Emergency...

 Please keep these frequencies clear...

Lemoine Point...

Friday was a quiet day around here, and the weather was absolutely perfect.   With nothing on the "Honey-Do" list, I decided to drive to Lemoine Point and do a POTA activation.  Now that most people are back at work, and the kids in school, the place would be nice and quiet.

I checked the propagation numbers before I left and was pleased to see they were:  SFI=101, SN=124, A Index=6, and the K Index=1.  Absolutely the best numbers I have seen in years.  It's a 10 minute drive to Lemoine Point, I'm sure I did it in 5.  

What an activation!  Normally you will get 4 or 5 stations calling you after your spot has been sent, and then you will have a lull before it picks up again.  Not that day!  In 15 minutes using 10w and a 40m Hamstick, I put 24 stations in the log. The bands were in great shape, and it showed by how active they were.

I imagine that this great improvement in the propagation is just a slight "blip" in the universe, and things will go back to the slow days we have suffered through over the past while.  However, I'm hopeful propagation will continue to improve as cycle 25 gains its legs.

I also managed to work some non-POTA stations in the UK, France and Spain before calling it a day.  I'm hoping these conditions last for another few days at least.

Bands are Improving...

Nice to see the bands getting better as the propagation improves.  We're perhaps not where we want to be, but we're definitely on the way!

Over the past few months all of my POTA activations have been done with Hamsticks, mounted to the roof of my van with a 5" mag-mount.  I have noticed that the roof of the van is starting to get scratched by the magnet, so I have had to do something about this.

I had a camera tripod that wasn't being used, and I have decided to try and use it to mount my Hamsticks.  The radials/counterpoises will be attached to the plate with alligator clips.

Here's some pictures of what I threw together:

I'll write a full report of how well.....or how not so well, it wrks after I have used it a few times.