XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated

KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

///////////////////////////////////////////
Operating notes: POTA Saves the Day

Posted: 22 Aug 2021 06:49 PM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kb6nu/tVpu/~3/VhUY-PuD4R0/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email


Today, I packed the /P station into the car and headed out to Port Hurons
Pine Grove Park. One of the reasons for doing this was to activate the Lightship Huron, which is docked in the St. Clair River, very near where
Lake Huron flows into the river. The Lightship Huron was the last operating lightship on the Great Lakes, and served for over 50 years when she was
retired in 1970.

The second reason was to participate in the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW). Ive participated in this event several times.
Last year, I operated from the Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse. The two years previous, I ventured over to Canada and joined the Elmira (ON) Radio Club
(ERC) as they activated the Point Clark Lighthouse.

The third reason was to enjoy the company of members of the Eastern
Michigan Amateur Radio Club, They just happened to be holding their annual picnic today.

Its an hour and a half drive from my home in Ann Arbor to Port Huron. I
left home just after 9 am, got to Pine Grove Park, which is a beautiful
park, by the way, a little after 10:30 am, and got set up by about 11 am,
Pine Grove Park has many tall trees, and it was quite easy to get my
antenna up into one.

The weather conditions were perfect. It was sunny and in the low 80s, with
a northeaster breeze coming off the lake. Unfortunately, the radio
conditions were far from perfect.

Unlike my experience in the ILLW last year, I didnt make a single contact
on 20m, despite hearing many strong European stations. They just couldnt
hear me.

I had better success on 40m, but the CW portion of the band was pretty
dead. I made 4 out of 7 contacts on phone, mirroring my experience a couple
of weeks ago at the Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse. And, if it wasnt for
POTA activators, I wouldnt have even made those four contacts. All four
were activating parks. One was also activating a lighthouse, making that contact my only lighthouse-to-lighthouse contact of the day.

While I was disappointed that I didnt make more contacts, I still had a lot
of fun. It was enjoyable being outside, and the folks from EMARC were great company. Its on my calendar to do this again next year.



The post Operating notes: POTA Saves the Day appeared first on KB6NUs Ham
Radio Blog.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)