I just got back home from the ARES Exercise. I was the NCS at the staging area… This meant I had to talk the incoming participants in to the staging area where their go kit was checked, and they were regestered in to the exercise and then transported to their assigned positions and locations. The net started at 0900 and we shut things down at 1030.
The participants as I type this are in a meeting that is scheduled to run till about 1600 hours…
One nice things about using a repeater is that it sure cuts down the amount of gear needed to set up for an event. Today I used my FT60 handheld along with a 1/4 2m antenna on a suction cup mount. I have a BNC mount that I put a suction cup on so
you can attach it to a window. from the mount I have a 1/4w counterpoise for 2m just hanging down and a 1/4w 2m bnc handheld antenna attached to the bnc mount. In effect all I have done is make a 2m vertical dipole but I did it from other parts so its also a handie antenna, and a mobile window mount antenna as well as a glass mount antenna.
As our staging area was close to the repeater site operating the indoor antenna with medium power saved the battery. Normally for these events I end up having to carry a telescopic mast, copper J pole, 100 feet of coax along with a full powered 2m radio and either a 30ah battery pack or a large power supply so the handheld and a small antenna was a treat to operate with.
The event went well but as Liz had plans for me… I had to miss the meeting part but I’m sure I can find the missed information later…
But back to the weather whine….
Its cold today..,… after a few days of nice weather… single digit temps with the threat of wet as well have me thinking of not do any major antenna work before the Ontario QSO Party starts this afternoon. I had planned to get a vertical up for 10-15-20m as well as take down my 2m vertical and 6m vertical and replace them with a 2m horizontal loop and a 6m horozontal rotatable dipole on a higher but flimsier mast. The masting is telescopic so I can drop it down to about 10 feet when needed (bad wind) and then raise it up to its 30 foot height for the vhf contests or days that I know (or guess) the vhf conditions will be good. Today this ain’t gonna happen…NO CHANGES will be made till the wx gets a bit warmer and stays that way.
I hope you are enjoying your weekend as mine is not to bad so far…
73bob
Tags: amateur radio, Amateur Radio Antennas, Amateur Radio Emergency Service, ARES, Yaesu FT60r
