The Ten Essentials: Expert Advice from REI

While doing some research on the Goathiker blog post I came across this wonderful little website.

When you get to the site please take the time to watch the video…

In addition they even mention communication devices on their list of more than 10 things to take but all of us would have communication devices in the top ten…

From the Maple Island DXPedition- Courtesy Larry Wilcox <SK>

As an amateur radio operator who has gone on one hike with toys and plan to make more once we have nicer (warmer)weather again I find it to be fantastic…

Mooneys Bay Park 2010- VA3QV Photo

My only guestion is how do they get everything to fit in the little backpack???

The Ten Essentials: Expert Advice from REI.

Thanks for taking the time for producing such an informative video…

73bob

Just a reminder…

This coming weekend is Grey Cup Weekend in Canada and Thanksgiving for our friends South of the Border and its about 30 days to Christmas…

The weather is getting worse but remember if you dress warm…  The mosquitoes are not around and there are less people in the park to trip over your radials or get tangled up in your dipoles.  Just remember to keep your battery warm and you should have a pleasant hour or two making contacts in a Zero Noise Floor envirmonment…

Picture courtesy VE3MPG-  2009 Spar Winter Field Day

2008 Polar Bear Moonlight Madness Event- VA3SIE Photo

2008 Brewer Park in Ottawa VA3QV/m

Winter Field Day 2009- Video Courtesy VA3SIE

And the reminder is that:

“Radio can be an outdoor sport…”

73bob

8 Deg C and Sunny–whatta day!

There are some days that were just made for Radio and today was one of them.  I started with the hike to my local Starbucks where I had my morning Coffee along with filling my Thermos then I continued over to Weston Park.

View Larger Map

Talk about good timing as Martin and myself arrived at the same time but from seperate directions.

I set up at the Picnic Table  that Roy VA3CKD had set up at for the Spar Winter Field Day a few weeks earlier and Martin put his KX1 on a Park bench not too far away…

Above picture courtesy VE3MPG

… and as you can tell from todays picture the snow is really starting to melt in the park.  What a difference a few weeks makes…

We arrived at the park close to 0930 and was able to get my antenna up and transmitting in time to catch the OVMRC 40m Pothole Net on 7.095 at 10 am…

Excuse the shadow… I still have to learn how to properly use the darn camera…

As you can tell from the pictures the rig of the day was my FT 817 along with the LDG Auto tuner and I decided to leave the W3EDP at home today and go with my new (to me at least) Hamantenna CN32Horizontal Antenna.  This antenna is a 2m to 40m rotatable dipole  that i had mounted on a combination of a 6 foot painters pole and a 4 foot length of PVC Pipe so it was roughly 10 feet above the ground.  I secured the masting to the Picnic Table using a couple of Bungee Cords and it did not move in the very light wind we had today…

As mentioned previously I was able to check in to the Pothole Net with the local participants being Ed VE3GX, Martin VA3SIE, Ernie VE3EJJ and myself VA3QV.  This regular Saturday get together is a fairly informal group given the poor conditions on 40m recently but we are expecting bigger and better things as the 40m band improves on a daily basis…

Right after the Pothole net closed at 1015 hrs I managed to check into the end of the Communications Ontario Net at 1020 hrs with Shawn VE3PSV from Cambridge Ontario as the Net Control Station.

View Larger Map

As you can see from the above map its a distance of just under 500kms or 300 miles between us and this contact was made with 5w at my end …

Proving that the 40m band was working I decided to spin the dial then do some fine tuning.  Finding some good signals on the 15m band I lowered the antenna to better set the coils for 15m then raise it up again.  This proved to be just what the Doctor ordered as I was able to contact 6Y9V in Jamica being Operated by Chad WD9DZV.  As you can see from the picture (below) from his QRZ.com site that his station was doing most of (if not all) the work but I did get a signal out there for him to hear on 21.277.

and according to the QRZ information its a distance of just over 3000 kms from Ottawa to Jamica  or just under 1900 miles so once again with 5 watts and an antenna at 10 feet above ground its not too bad…  He was working in the ARRL DX Contest and I think I even messed up the exchange but I did get him in my log.

I heard some really strong stations on 15 and 20m but found it really hard to break a  Kilowatt pileup when I was QRP so I switched over to 17m.  Not really the best results there as a lot of stations who were not contesting were hiding there making the best of the band conditions which for the most part were not too bad…

Martin and myself were visited by several amateurs including Ed VE3GX along with Doreen VE3CGO (waiting in the car for Ed) and Harold VA3UNK and Patrick VA3CMD.  Between swapping lies and bragging (I mean exchanging technical information) the day just flew by…

Around 1400 in the afternoon I decided that I could only have so much fun for one day and I had better head back home to look after some family stuff but it was a great day and 5 hours of fresh air along with RF makes for a fantastic time.

Thanks to those I worked and to those who visited a big thanks…

Martin also took some pictures and a Video (or two) and I will provide the links to his youtube site once they are posted…  They also should be on his blog in the near future.

73bob

VA3RCS Winter Field Day Updated

VICTOR      ALPHA      3 REAL      COLD      SPOT

VA3RCS

Operating report for the  SPAR Winter Field Day Event Jan 30

Operating as: VA3RCS

Stations Operators: VA3SIE, VA3CKD and VA3QV

QRP/ MULTI OP/ OUTDOOR STATION/ NON COMMERCAL POWER

Temp at start of event was -20 deg C or -4 deg F

27 contacts with 7 multi for a total of 189 points

Qualified for all 3  1000 bonus points for a total of 3000 points

Final score would be 3189 points and we operated for under 5 hours.

When I arrived at Weston Park (City of Ottawa) Martin VA3SIE and Roy VA3CKD were already setting up.

Roy VA3CKD in the Park- Picture courtesy VA3SIE

Martin was using his KX1 along with two Verticals and Roy was using his FT 817 with a vertical for the higher bands.

VA3SIE in the field- Picture courtesy VA3SIE’s Camera

In addition Martin was using his VX8r for 2m voice and APRS (digital mode) contacts.

As usual I was using my FT 817 with a LDG QRP Autotuner along with my W3EDP antenna.  The rig was powered by a 12AH SLA.

VA3QV operating VA3RCS -Picture Courtesy VA3SIE

The event was a blast and we even had 4 visitors to the site including:

Bob VE3MPG (who showed up and took some pictures)

VA3QV(left) and VE3MPG(right) “Bob talking to Bob“

Picture courtesy VA3SIE

Jose VA3PCJ ( it was great to see an old friend again)

VA3QV (sitting) and VA3PCJ- Picture courtesy VA3SIE

Jamie VA3JME (who is getting used to the cold in preparation for the Canadian Ski Marathon) and a friend of Jamie’s (whose name escapes me at this time ) who is thinking of getting his liscense.

Jamie’s friend (Left) and Jamie VA3JME

Picture courtesy VA3SIE

I can’t speak for the other operators but I had several comments about sanity and operating outdoors in the Canadian winter…

I was able to check into the 2nd region Traffic net (2RN 3.925 mhz at 1345 eastern )and represent the Ontario Section (Ontario Phone Net) but there was no traffic to be passed that day.  The Net Participants from the New York and New Jersey Sections had no problem hearing my QRP Voice Signal although they were laffing at the phonetics I used for the callsign when I checked in.

Victor Alpha 3 Real Cold Spot seemed to bring a smile to their faces or a chuckle in their voices…

For those of you who were listening for me yesterday.  The chattering you heard was not the relays in the tuner …  It was my teeth as I talked…

If you head over to Martin’s Blog you can see some other pictures he took along with a few small videos that will be on his Youtube Site as well.

We did have fun and it was cold.  There will be a few more pictures being posted in the near future when I can find a few more spare minutes.  Thanks to SPAR for hosting the event and for those of you who visited us either in person or on the air…

73bob

Upcoming Amateur Radio events

Mark your Calenders and charge the batteries and find your Long Underwear …

We have three weekends of outdoor radio coming up starting on January 30 &31 with the SPAR (Society for the Preservation of Amateur Radio) Winter Field Day Event.

The 2010 Winter Field Day will be held from 1700 UCT (12:00 noon EST) Saturday January 30, 2010 through 1700 UCT (12:00 noon EST) Sunday January 31, 2010.

The object of the event is familiar to most Amateur Radio operators: set up emergency-style communications and make as many contacts as possible during the 24 hour period. The rules encourage as many contacts on as many bands and modes as possible, because during a real emergency, the most important factor is the ability to communicate, regardless of band, mode or distance.

If you follow this Link you will be brought to the SPAR Site with all the information you will need should you decide to participate.

Now last year in this event it was so cold when I operated that I actually Froze my radio and camera.  So not only was I unable to talk to anyone as the radio froze during setup (temps were colder than -20 deg C) but as the camera froze as well there was no pictures or video of my failure.  This year for this and the FYBO I plan to try and keep the electronics that little bit warmer…

Next on February 6th comes the Arizona ScQRPions QRP Club comes the 2010 version of the FYBO.  Now although this could stand for FreezeYour Butt Off… I will let you decide what the “B” stands for…

Above the Brass Monkey on the QSL Card shows how cold it was

Last year 2009 Martin VA3SIE and myself operated this event from Vincent Massey Park in Ottawa and had a great time…

Above Martin VA3SIE with his KX1

Above Bob VA3QV with his FT 817

Here are the rules for the 2010 FYBO (Freeze Your B___ Off) Contest:

FYBO Winter QRP Sprint, sponsored by the Arizona ScQRPions

Saturday, February 6, 2010, 1400Z-2400Z

QRP HF Only. CW or SSB (5W max). Near QRP calling freqs (no WARC bands).

Categories: Single Op       (Home/Field) One Operator/One Station/One Call

Multi-Single(Home/Field) Multiple Operators/One Station/One Call

Multi-Multi (Home/Field) Multiple Stations/Multiple Operators/One Call

Work stations once PER band segment. Score 1 point per QSO.

Exchange RST, State/Province/DXCC Country (SPCs), first name, power out, and

temperature (Fahrenheit) at OPERATOR’S POSITION. Indoor stations must report INDOOR temperature.

Example:  579 AZ Frosty 2W 40F

Multipliers:

SPCs (each counts once PER band),

Field Location: x4 (Field per ARRL FD definition),

Alternative Power: x2 (per ARRL FD definition),

QRPp (less than 1W): x2,

Lowest Operating Temp (at OP’S POSITION):

65+   F = x1;

50-64 F = x2;

40-49 F = x3;

30-39 F = x4;

20-29 F = x5;

Below 20 F = x6.

For contacts with NQ7RP, add 100 points. One contact PER mode PER band allowed. See example below.

Final Score Template:

[(QSOs x SPCs)](x Temp Multi)(x Field)(x AltPwr)(x QRPp) + (NQ7RP Bonus Points)

EXAMPLE SUMMARY:      (Thanks KI0II – Multi-Multi – FYBO 2004)

Field – Yes (or No)

Category – MultiMulti

Operator(s) – KI0II, W5RRR

Alternative Power – Yes

Lowest Temperature – 28

QRPp – No (or Yes)

BAND   Raw QSOs   Valid QSOs   Points   SPC  NQ7RP

__________________________________

80CW        0           0          0        0     0

80SSB       0           0          0        0     0

40CW        6           6          6        5     1

40SSB       2           2          2        1     0

20CW       56          56         55       26     1

20SSB       2           2          2        1     1

15CW       13          13         13        9     0

15SSB       2           2          2        1     0

10SSB       2           2          2        1     0

________________________________

Totals       83          83         82       44     3

Final Score = 82 QSO Pts X 44 SPC = 3608 X 5 (Temp Multi for 28F lowest

temp) = 18,040 X 4 (Field Ops) = 72,160 X2 (Alt pwr -Solar) =

144,320 + 100 X 3 NQ7RP bonus points = 144,620 Total points

If you work NQ7RP on a band (e.g. 20m SSB and 20m CW are EACH a band), please enter a “1” in the NQ7RP column for that band/segment.

Alternative power is a non-generator or mains power source.  Batteries count if they are charged from solar, wind, or some natural source of energy.  Here is an excerpt from the ARRL Field Day rule…

7.3.8. Alternative Power: … without using power from commercial mains or petroleum driven generator. This means an “alternate” energy source of power, such as solar, wind, methane or water. This includes batteries charged by natural means (not dry cells). …

Top Entry in each category receives a certificate.

Please include your soapbox comments with your log! We’d like to hear of the trials of cold-weather operating, and any and all anecdotes are appreciated.

Logs are due 30 days after contest.

Please mark logs with category, i.e, single, multi-op, multi-multi and home or field.

The automated form for 2008 was a disaster.  Please cut and paste a copy of the example summary and scoring template above into your email entry, fill it out with YOUR information using this page as a guide.  Put your comments in for the Soapbox area, list of operators for multis, and links to pictures, etc.  Attach individual pictures or whatever else to your entry and email to:

FYBO2010 at AZScQRPions dot org

Be sure to include your call with any separate emailings so we can match up with what comes in other emails.  Hard copy, if you must, to John (K5JS).  Be sure to INCLUDE AN EMAIL ADDRESS for confirmation that we received your logs.

SCORES WILL BE POSTED BEGINNING WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE END OF THE DAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE SUBMITTAL PERIOD.

Include summary sheet, callsign, operator(s), power, location, and lowest operating Temp. Please include a mailing address for each entry so we can mail the certificates out.  QRZ dot COM will be used for addresses unless you provide a better one.  Logs are always fun to look at and put into databases to play with, but they are not required.

NOTE: This is a fun contest, NOT an episode of Survivor. Be aware of the temperature and the possibility of cold injury!  PLEASE be careful.

and are from the club website listed above…

In the past I have operated this event several times and although most of the participants seem to be in warmer climates and also CW operators the multi for the Temps works as a great equalizer and anyone who participates from our Tempeture ranges should have a respectable score and a great morning and afternoon of playing radio.  I don’t recommend doing this one once the sun goes down as its really cold then and we already have the maximum multi during the day time…

Now again to mention the Public Service side of our hobby the Canadian Ski Marathon runs the following weekend which would be February 12, 13 and 14 with the bulk of the operating on the 13th and 14th.  The Amateur Community provides communication for Safety and Logistcs in an area where there is very limited Cell Service as well as Private Commercal Radio Systems.  Radio Operators find them selves working along side Military Radio Operators, First Responders (Fire, Police etc) as well as manning checkpoints and providing a badly needed service to the community at large.  You get to a location and you have to communicate… For this event its suggested you bring lots of toys and to be honest you should:

“Plan for the worst and hope for the best”

You might have to put up a beam, you might have to change locations to just hear the repeaters…  You never know…   However on the bright side the people who coordinate this for the Amateur Radio Side have been doing this for years and normally try and pair up a experienced Ski Marathon Radio Operator with a newer Radio Operator so he can benefit from the experience of years of operating and so next year we have two experienced bodies for future events…

Harold VA3UNK is looking after the communications side of things and you can email him  by clicking on –>THIS LINK TO EMAIL HAROLD<– if you want to test your abilities as a communicator or need more information on the event…’

So as you can see its going to be busy time for radio in the great (but cold) outdoors in the next few weeks.  All three events are fun… and I hope to hear you on the air…

Not to mention it gives me something to blog about rather than b!tching about how Canada Post lost my baluns for a couple of days…

73bob

Afternoon Radio Report

Well I just got back in and was able to operate in relative comfort from 1300 to 1600 and shivered till 1630…

First contacts were made on 7.060 with Nick VE3NJG and a few others from the 40m version of the Ontario Swap Shop.  Reports were excellent for 40m daytime conditions as I was able to hear and work VE3s that were not groundwave.

After that I made a couple of local VHF/UHF fm repeater contacts as I had remembered to pack my ribbon JPOLE in the 817 bag and then at 1345 I QSY’d up to 3.925 (80m) for the 2nd Region Traffic Net.

I was able to check in with the NCS AK2Z Doug in Camden NY who according to the QRZ map is approx 145 miles south of Ottawa and the copy was good enough to pick up a piece of traffic destined for the Ontario Phone Net.

After that I headed up to 20m and checked in with the Trans Canada Net on 14.140 and got good reports (not great but they could hear me) from VA4GD Grant in Pinawaa Manitoba and VA7TA Tom on Vancouver Island BC.

I even managed a bit of real DX when I BROKE THE PILE UP WITH 5 WATTS and managed a contact with YW5F on 14.280 who is a:

“Special event station to celebrate the 20th Anniversary DXpedition of the Caracas DX Group in November 2009 from Farallon Centinela (IOTA SA-058).”

According to QRZ.com and their map it is a distance of  2551 miles almost straight south from Ottawa to  Venezuela and given my maximum output of 5 watts thats just over 500 miles per watt which is not too bad concidering I am using a wire antenna and no beams…

Quitting the DX world while I was on a winning streak I switched back to 80 meters and checked in on the ONTARS Net on 3,755 and also heard an old friend Ian VE3MUD checking in as well and then we QSY’d up to 3,765 and had a great chat catching up on all the news as its been a few months since we have had time to gossip…

At 1545 I stayed on 80m and joined the warm up for the Ontario Phone Net with the Net starting at 1600 with Shawn VE3PSV as the Net Control.  At the end of the Net I had a quick chat with VE3GNA Glenn and then tore down as the sun was falling and with it were the tempetures falling and it was getting cold…

A quick walk home after packing up the gear ended the fantastic day of playing radio outside…

Remember that “Radio Can be an Outdoor Sport…”

This fantastic afternoon was done with a measly 5w with a homebrewed wire antenna and a hombrewed balun…  Just imaging what could be done when the bands finally improve…

73bob

Heading Outside on Sunday Afternoon

Its an unusual warm sunny afternoon forcasted for Ottawa in early November so I am planning to take the FT 817 / W3EDP combo out to a local park to dust off the cobwebs from the gear.

Listen for me on 7.055 SSB for the Ontario Swap Shop if there are conditions on 40m for close in stuff….  That should be around 1230 hours as I’m getting ready to leave now…

(Photo courtesy of Larry VE3WEH)

If 40m is a bust then I will just spin the dial and see whats out there till the 2nd region Net

I will be trying to check into the 2nd region Traffic Net on 3.925 SSB at 1345 eastern but doubting if 5 watts can get heard when I sometimes have trouble with 100 from home but I will check anyway…

After 2 RN I will be checking into the Trans Canada Net on 14.140 SSB which normally runs between 1400-1500 EASTERN and after that who knows…

Home or away I should be on the Ontario Phone Net at 16oo on 3.742 SSB and the conclusion of that net should signal the end of my radio attempts from whatever location I am at…

Hope to hear you on the air….

73bob

Saturday Radio Report

Well Saturday was a great day…  The Weather cooperated and the conditions were not so bad either.

I hiked over to the Science Musuem and set up on the corner of their property (as no one thought to ask permission to operate in time) and was about 250m away from the lighthouse (note to self…next time think far enough in advance to get permission so you operate at the actual lighthouse).  Using this clandestine form of operating I was able to activate Lighthouse CAN865 H for the Lighthouse event on Saturday Aug 15

Picture courtesy VE3WEH

The above picture shows my view of the lighthouse from my operating position.  If I had thought to inquire earlier about operating I might of been able to set up at the lighthouse itself.  This year I had to be “out of sight  and out of mind…”  but no one seemed to notice me or bother me and all went well…

As normal with my other two Saturdays I operated using my FT 817/LDG QRP Auto tuner and a W3EDP Antenna along with a 2.5AH SLA and a small solar panel.  The complete Kit fits in a small backpack.

Picture courtest VE3WEH

The above picture shows my set up consisting of Portable Table and Folding Canvas Chair.  Black Lump in front of Table is the backpack that all the radios toys fit into.  you can see the vertical element of the W3EDP heading up into the tree that I am using for shade.

Picture courtesy VE3WEH

Above picture shows the Ft 817/Tuner and 2.5AH SLA Batterty sitting on the table.  Big Signals for such a small set up…

Picture courtesy VE3WEH

The above picture just shows the front of the setup.  The Setup is sitting on my glasses case just to elevate the front to make it easier to see the display.  Somebody forgot to pack the radio stand in the backpack…..

Picture courtesy VE3WEH

Seeing that Larry’s camera had a “wide angle” lens you can also see the operator making a contact in the Lighthouse Event.

Above is the QSL Card that I will be sending out.  My logs says I should be looking for 27 cards coming in direct or through the buro.  Some might come in via EQSL as well.

Although the number of contacts were not the best I did spend 3 consecutive Saturdays in the great outdoors.  Its also amazing how many stations could hear my QRP Signal and how many low signal reports were revised once they found out that VA3RCS was a lighthouse.  To me the signal report is not that important…

If you work a contest everyone is 5 and 9 ….

However I get a laff at the stations who after I tell them I’m running QRP they tell me my signal is low…  I tell them I know my signal is low as I’m QRP… They then tell me they can hear me but my signal is low…  I repeat my previous statement….

I know my signal is low….  I’m running 5W!!!  The fact that you could hear my signal is good…. I would be happy with a 5 by 1 report….

Anyways thanks to all those who worked me….

Also thanks go out to Larry VE3WEH who showed up with his camera and visited for a while.  Good thing he did as I forgot to pack my camera… again….  Larry also took a video and I am hoping to post it here and on youtube once he gets it to me…  It might be a bit big for an email file transfer so we will have to see.

Also thanks go out to Harold VA3UNK who dropped in for a visit.  Harold also watched the store while I headed off to the closest public rest facilities for a short break.  The assistance with tear down and the ride home was also appreciated.

Contacts were made on 20, 40 and 80m with the most contacts happening on 40m.  Most of my contacts were made in the States, with a few in Canada and one in Europe.  To be honest my antenna was aimed South West/North East so I was aiming for the States more than Europe.  I was really amazed with how well everything (my set up) worked on 40m…  On 40 if I could hear em I could work em and I  even broke a pile up…  On 20 and 80  I had to be patient and a few (more than a few) stations escaped me.  I could of doubled my results easily if I had better luck on 20m.

But it was fun and this hobby is supposed to be fun….

73bob

Losing Weight

Well when myDoctor told me to lose weight I don’t think he was talking about my backpack but anyway….

I found a new backpack that my small solar panel fits into.  This allows me to swap out my 10ah sla and replace it with 2.5 ah sla.  This is cutting down the weight of my pack by a great deal…

I will be testing this out this coming weekend when I take the gear over to the Museum Lighthouse for the last weekend of my 3 weekend dxpedition to activate CAN865 Lighthouse.

So far the weather has cooperted and the band conditions have been good and I have been able to play radio and get some fresh air at the same time….

Lets see if I can go 3 for 3 this weekend

73bob

VA3RCS/Lighthouse Report

It was a QRP Day but thats all that was needed…

I left the house a few minutes late but still was on site and operating before 1100 Eastern…  As last week 40m seemed to be the better band but contacts were made on 20m as well…  This week I was shut out on 80m with no contacts made below 40m.

Contact of the day….WA3WSJ Ed—> If the day starts this way can it get any better?  I have just set up the antenna and rig and spin the dial on the 40m band as as I hit 7.263 I hear CQ WA3WSJ on the Lightship Overfalls.

What a way to start the event….  Working a lightship and a very well known QRP/Portable/Outdoor active Radio Operator….  If you followed the above link to his website you will see what I mean…  Its always nice to work the guys the articles are written about…

After that contact I managed a couple of special event stations…The first was K8T on 7.215 from Twinsburg Ohio operating from the Twin Days Event.

The next special event station worked was W9ISF on 14.243 who was set up at the Indianna State Fair.

The Maryland QSO Party brought in a few more QSOs  and after about 3 hours I decided it was “time” and I tore down and headed back home.  Not as many lighthouses were heard on the air but the special event stations (and there were a bunch out there that I could not break the pile ups on and so did not make it in the log) were all over and it was a good day for radio…

Next weekend will be the last week of the Lighthouse event and on Saturday WX and health permitting I will be there again…

73bob