SC QSO Party 2016

OMy first QSO Party and first as a rover.  I operated in Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties.

The Kx3 running on LiFePo with solar recharger.  I used a voltage booster to keep the supply voltage constant at 13.8 volts.

The antenna is just an inverted L.  I used the tuner in the KXPA to keep the rig happy.  This was at Bethel Baptist Church in Spartanburg.

My claimed score is 25770 with operating time of 4 .3 hours and driving or having lunch for close to 6 hours according to N1MM.  Dave WN4AFP indicated I needed to correct my Cabrillo file since I did not indicate the counties I was in as a rover.  Upon correction, my scores as analyzed by the SCQP computer jumped from 25770 to over 31000 - to think what would have happened if I had not gotten kicked out of the Cowpens Battlefield park by the ranger not once but twice.  That cost me 1/2 hour at least.   Granted it takes me 10 minutes to setup but I have to drive to a new site each time.  Each time the park ranger shows up just as I was QRV.   Well Margo Blewett (park ranger) blew it for my NPOTA activations for the day since I have to be in NPS grounds for the activation to be valid.   My tax dollars at work - I needed proof of liability insurance to conduct an NPOTA activation.  

Activated 5th Park - Carl Sandburg Home

I had to setup in the rain so I had to be quick. Made just 15 QS IN 11 minutes.  

QRP Challenge Generating Some Press

The publisher of QRZ-DX will make mention of the QRP Challenge in its coming issue - so folks who are monitoring this blog - the names of the  current participants will also appear in the upcoming issue.  If you want to see your names - you will have to get a subscription.

NPOTA Activations, BF03, TR10, and MP06 in the same day

The first was the Cowpens battlefield BF03. I left the house at 10 AM. I arrived right around 11am on February 13, 2016

I proceeded to my operation site below

I made my QSOs and each one counts 2 for 1 as the Overmountain Victory Trail runs through the park.

I proceeded to the Kings Mountain National Military Park MP06 and set up there at the visitor center.  My trusty K1 shown below along with a T1 tuner.

Setup with the mast behind my truck.  The mast is kind of hard to see as it blends well with the tree line.

I got my passport stamped as well from each park.

All contacts from the day's operation have been uploaded to LOTW.

N3CZ Vlad and His QRP Challenge Award

Vlad accomplished his challenge in 32 days.

Dave Anderson K4SV Getting His QRP Challenge Certificate

Photo courtesy of Paul W4FC.  Dave K4SV accomplished his "Challenge" in 23 days.

NPOTA Activation of the Blue Ridge Parkway PK01

This is my first time activating a National Park.  I had my K1, inverted L on a tripod, a lithium iron phospate battery. The antenna is an end fed Par 10-20-40 resonant on those bands.  I stayed on 20m band on 14040 kHz the whole time.  The noise floor was low - made 27 QSOs very quickly.  This is good for a first time out in 27 degree weather in the mountains.  The Blue Ridge Parkway was iced over in the high elevations but the Visitor Center was open.

Homebrewed Tilt Stand For My K1 Maiden Voyage

This tilt stand was made from a clip board cut in half and joined in the middle with tie wrap as a hinge.  The stand doubles as a clipboard for taking notes, and a key holder to hold the key.  This is perfect on a picnic table.   Here is a video of the first ever QSO with the K1.   Other than my stuttering from the unfamiliar position of the key, the QSO with John W3FSA went well.  John was actually in bed when he was in QSO with me with his little MOUNTAIN Topper QRP Rig from LNR

John, W3FSA, also has a very interesting rig shown in the photo below: