This morning I decided to head over to Weston Park with my FT 817 and the W3EDP Antenna. I left around 0830 and got to the park and on the air just before 9am… The purpose of todays outing was to check into a couple of 80m nets that I can no longer check in from home as I sold my Z100 Tuner. The built in Tuner in the Yaesu FT 450 works fantasticly on 6m to 40m but will not load up the S9 43 foot vertical on 80m. So seeing that I’m off 80m there has been a couple of Nets that I can no longer participate in unless…. I take the FT 450 out of line and replace it with the FT817/LDG QRP Auto tuner combo or take the FT 817 to the park with the W3EDP.
As most of you know 80m daytime is rough enough so I figured that my best choice would be with the FT 817 in the park with the W3EDP as I could stretch it out horozontal and would most likely have better results with QRP and a horozontal antenna as compared to QRP and the vertical. In hindsight (which is 20/20) it would of been warmer staying at home…
But I was able to check in to the North Bay Net on 3.768 and say “HI” to the group. I managed a weak contact with Paul VA3PC but managed better contacts with John VE3VGI, Angelo VE3ACO and Mike VE3MW who was up at his cottage… Actually I could hear most of the participants but those were the stations who could hear me… It ain’t easy being QRP…
After I left the net I spun the dial on 20m and was pleased to hear that the band was already opening. As is my custom I started on a net frequency. Its easier when someone is calling and looking for a weak signal as compared to calling and hoping that someone might hear my weak signal…
Today on 14.300 I was able to find the NCS station for the Intercon Net W8DGH and Dan gave me a suitable report. He heard me… Even though he has an “8″ call he lives in Georgia and at a distance of 905 miles from the park my QRP signal carried for 181 miles per watt
On 12m I heard RA4CG from European Russia but no joy in breaking he pile up he was causing…
At 10am I went back to 80m and dialed in 3.760 which is frequency of the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club’s “Pothole Net” which is called every Sunday at 10am…
The NCS for today’s net was Ernie VE3EJJ who lives just west of Centertown Ottawa… The other participants were Ed VE3GX (who had a great signal which is to be expected as he lives close to the park), Maurice Andre VA2MA/m driving in Ottawa East, Norm VE3LC in Orleans, Mike VA3TJP in Braeside Ontario (home of the Sand Point Light), Frank VE3YY at his trailer in Calabogie Ontario, Roger VE3NPO in Vanier (Ottawa East), Michel VE3EMB in Ottawa South and Patrick VA3CMD/p in Vincent Massey Park. No rare DX but it was nice chatting with the guys again as its been a while since I have been able to meet them on the air…
Above the FT 817 with the new tuner. Not much difference eh? I think I like the older one better…
After the Net I managed to have a contact with VA3CMD who was using a FT817 along with the new LDG QRP Auto tuner and a W3EDP antenna for his portable station… I like his choices for portable equipment…
Who says you can’t make contacts on 80m SSB when operating QRP?
Also after the net I spun the dial again then decided to pack everything up and head back home… There is some non-radio stuff to be done today (taking my daughter Erika out for her birthday dinner ) and well the rest of the family would like to see me without a radio in the picture every now and again…
The morning went great (chilly but great) and I am hoping to get out into the field a few more time before winter boots are needed…
73bob
Tags: amateur radio, Amateur Radio Portable Ops, LDG Autotuners, North Bay Net, Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club, Pothole Net, S9 43 Foot Vertical Antenna, Yaesu FT 450, Yaesu FT 817
