Howdy kids. Before I get into my latest activation, I would like to take a few minutes to discuss SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) which is the ratio between forward and reflected power. The more of a difference in impedance between the final amplifier of your radio and the antenna, the more power is reflected back. Older transmitters commonly used vacuum-tube final amplifiers with adjustable output networks. Those networks could accommodate a fairly wide range of impedances. Modern transceivers generally use transistors/MOSFETs designed around a nominal 50-ohm load. Excessive reflected power can create voltage/current stresses the output stage wasn’t intended to handle. Most modern radios have circuitry that protects the radio from excessive reflected power by reducing the output. Your 100 watt radio might not put out 100 watts if there is a difference in impedance between the rig and the antenna. Basically, you want as much of your power going out over the air as possible, otherwise you are just heating up your equipment and coax. This is a simplified explanation, but I think it serves our purpose here.
I did have a successful activation this afternoon at Little Buffalo StaTE Park US-1376. It was a nice sunny day, and I found a spot in the shade to park. I was able to work 20 stations in about 50 minutes and one thing that I believe helped was using the club callsign, K3SRZ, along with my own. That way people were getting 2 stations instead of 1. In between contacts, I watched people paddling around the lake and fish jumping. A nice view. 🙂 I was able to hear Ospreys, American Goldfinches, Cedar Waxwings and American Crows.
On another note, I believe we misidentified the sex of our youngest cat, Muffin. It appears that he has a pair of furrballs emerging. That is a good thing as the procedure for fixing a male is less expensive than for a female.
Now I am going to sit and relax and enjoy a “Trick or Treat” which is a chocolate pumpkin porter made by Evil Genius Brewing Company from Philly.
Stay balanced and focused, keep your stick on the ice and namaste kids.
A baby bunny I found near the door when going into work the other nightHubert the gnome and Zarathustra the owl keep me safe at Little Buffalo SPA shot of the lake with a kayaker
Today we decided to go to Crystal Grottoes Caverns in Boonsboro, MD. The last few years we (SWMBO and I) have driven past this place, promising ourselves to stop someday. Today was someday! We are both glad that we stopped there. The tours leave every half-hour from the entrance starting at 10:30. The 40-minute walk through the caverns is interesting and the guide (we had Camille) was very entertaining and knowledgeable and made the whole experience great. The caverns are filled with rock and mineral formations with a plethora of small stalactites and stalagmites. Some of the walls are covered in sparking crystal formations and around every corner is something new to see and learn about. I highly recommend this place if you are in Western MD near Antietam.
To round out the day, I did an activation. SWMBO wasn’t up to it so I was alone. I went to Big Spring State Park US-4355, one of my favorite nearby parks. I was there for about 50 minutes and worked 19 stations. The bands were not great but they were passable. I stayed mostly of 40 M but did work a couple on 17M. In between calls I sat there enjoying a nice quiet park. I was entertained by the sounds of Gray Catbirds, Eastern Wood Peewees and Red-eyed Vireos, which is always pleasant.
The weather was a bit difficult. The temperature was about 27C (82 F) but the humidity was about 80%. The sky was overcast and you could tell that there was a strong possibility of thunderstorms. You could hear a lot of static crashes on the radio which are in indication of lightning. You can hear lightning crashes for several hundred miles on SSB and AM. They are not deafening but they make themselves known.
Well, it is time to relax and enjoy a peaceful evening off. You kidlets be well and keep your sticks on the ice. Namaste y’all.
Our tour guide at Crystal Grottoes Caverns, CamilleThe entrance to Crystal Grottoesundergroundbeautifulmore beautyMuffin’s 1000 meter stareNear the entrance to Crystal GroottoesCalling “CQ” from Big Spring SP
This is a scary thought: I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a window and realized that if I wore a pointed hat I would look like a gnome!
I guess I should start with National Night Out. This year it was help on 4 August. We (The Perry County Amateur Radio Club) set up a booth at the Landisburg Fire Department. This being a community event, they had a good turn out. Right from the start there were people wandering the grounds and participating in the activities. We had radios set up for demonstrations and literature to hand out. The idea was to provide to the community information on ham radio and how it benefits the local area.
Yesterday was uneventful. It was rather dismal. We did our shopping. Nothing much to talk about unless you want our grocery list.
This morning we left home at 6AM and arrived at Gathland State Park (US-1574 and US-4556 The Appalachian Trail) and got on the air by 0817. Within a half hour we worked 35 stations before it got too hot to sit there. We had one net (MidCars) ask us to move, which I gladly did as they were polite and ,considerate. The spot we moved to was the location of another net but they did not start until we were done. A park ranger drove past, checking us out but did not stop. As I was starting to pack up, a man in his early 20s came over and he expressed interest in what we were doing. He was doing a hike on the Appalachian Trail and was carrying a GMRS. He was interested in ham radio and is studying for his license. I gave him a description of POTA and how it is a good way for fat old hams to keep active.
Over the course of the day we heard the following birds: American Robins, Northern Cardinals, House Finches, Mourning Doves, Chipping Sparrows, Northern Mockingbirds, Tree Swallows, Eastern Wood Peewees, Red-eyed Vireos, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-throated Vireos, White-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina Wrens, and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.
After this we went down to the cemetery in Burkittsville and did some photography.
I can’t stress enough the importance of making a good impression on others. When I interact with people I try to leave them with a positive attitude toward radio.
I asked CHATGPT to come up with 10 ways to promote POTA and ham radio and here is the list: Parks on the Air (POTA) is one of the best gateways into amateur radio because it combines technology, the outdoors, and friendly competition. Here are ten practical ways to promote both ham radio and POTA in your community.
Host a “Try Ham Radio” POTA Activation
Invite the public to a local park.
Let visitors listen to contacts and, under FCC rules, make supervised contacts using your station.
Bring brochures explaining how to get licensed.
Create Short YouTube Videos
Produce 30-60 second videos showing:
Setting up an antenna in a park
Making your first contact
Portable radios
Wildlife and scenery
“A Day in the Life of a POTA Activator”
Keep videos entertaining rather than overly technical.
Offer “POTA Discovery Days”
Your club can organize monthly outings where newcomers only need to bring a lawn chair.
Experienced operators provide radios, antennas, and coaching.
Partner with State Parks
Ask park managers if you can demonstrate amateur radio during park events.
Emphasize emergency communications, outdoor recreation, and STEM education.
Create an Information Packet Include:
What is Amateur Radio?
What is POTA?
How to Get Licensed
Local club information
Upcoming activations
QR codes linking to your club website and the POTA website.
Speak to Community Groups Offer presentations to:
Libraries
Scouts
Hiking clubs
Historical societies
Senior centers
Schools
Emergency preparedness organizations
Share Interesting POTA Stories People love stories more than technical specifications. Examples include:
“We talked to Alaska from a Pennsylvania park.”
“This tiny radio reached Australia.”
“We operated entirely from solar power.”
“A family joined us and made their first radio contact.”
Host a Friendly POTA Challenge Organize a club event such as:
Activate five parks in one month.
Work all state parks in your state.
Make 100 park contacts.
Operate from every county park in your county.
Award inexpensive certificates or small prizes to participants.
Bonus Idea: “Ham Radio Meets Hiking”
Many people aren’t interested in radio alone—but they are interested in outdoor adventures. Promote POTA as:
Hiking with a purpose
Camping with communication
Technology without the Internet
Emergency preparedness
Family-friendly outdoor fun
Photography and radio combined
Instead of saying “Come learn about ham radio,” try saying:
“Join us in a local park and see how we can talk across the country—and around the world—with nothing more than a battery, a wire antenna, and a radio.”
That kind of demonstration sparks curiosity and often leaves a stronger impression than simply describing the hobby. For clubs like the Perry County Amateur Radio Club, regular POTA outings combined with YouTube Shorts and local newspaper coverage can be an especially effective way to attract new operators and show that amateur radio is an active, modern outdoor hobby rather than just something done from a home shack.
I believe that is a good list with some ideas to think about. Well, time to go for now. Namaste, kids, and keep your stick on the ice.
Hubert the gnome enjoying radioThe old mausoleum at Gathland.The gateway to the old cemetery at GathlandA notable grave markerInformation on Burkittsville Cemetery
The beginning of a new month always brings a feeling of promise before the realities of the mundane slap you upside the head. Wow, sounds a bit cynical, doesn’t it? It is actually a nice day, today, 1 August 26. The skies are clouded over with rain being anticipated but the temperature is 31C and rising (87.7 F). We can always use the rain.
Yesterday, SWMBO expressed the desire to take a drive down to Gettysburg as she wanted to do some photography for her webpage. We decided to go down early this morning before the town was crowded and bustling. There are 5 statues of Lincoln in Gettysburg along with a bust in the cemetery. Basically, we went Lincoln hunting.
We got to Gettysburg and stopped at Gettysburg College in front of Stevens Hall for the first statue. It depicts Lincoln seated and writing the Emancipation Proclamation. It is easy to find as it is right on RTE 34 as you come into town from the North. The next one on our itinerary is located on Lincoln Square in the center of town on the West side of the roundabout. Lincoln is standing with a citizen and holding his hat aloft as if to say “Behold! A Bright Future”. From there we continued South a few blocks to the Library where Lincoln is standing holding The Gettysburg Address in his left hand as his right hand is raised to the sky as if he is giving a speech. From there we drove out Baltimore Pike to the Visitor’s Center. The parking lots were empty, so we didn’t have to walk far. Here Lincoln is seated on a bench gazing to the future. Lastly, we went to the Pennsylvania Memorial to the Northwest of Little Roundtop. Lincoln is there to the right of the monument, standing with his hand raised in a pose of benediction.
Since it was still early and there were no crowds around, we decided to do an activation. We went to my favorite activation spot: Culp’s Hill. We started at 11:41 UTC (7:41 EDT) and by 12:12 UTC (8:12 EDT) we had worked 39 stations. The calls were coming at a good rate and then tapered off. We had the hill pretty much to ourselves with the exception of a drone flying overhead. As we were packing up, a car stopped and asked my if the antenna I was holding was a fishing pole and where there would be any fishing around the area. I informed him that it was a radio antenna. He laughed and said he had fishing on his mind.
We heard the following birds in Gettysburg: House Sparrows, Chimney Swifts, Northern Cardinals, House Finches, European Starlings, Tufted Titmouses, American Robins, Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, Gray Catbirds, Northern Mockingbirds and American Goldfinches. A nice assortment for a Summer morning.
Well, that is my update for today. I hope all are well and as always, namaste and keep your stick on the ice.
Scout and Muffin chilling outAt Gettysburg CollegeAt the squareat the libraryat the Visitors Centeron the PA monumentAbe and I hanging around the visitor centerVisitor Center entrance
It is a Sunday afternoon, and I am sitting here sipping on some coffee. Got all the week-end running around done and it is time to relax and reflect. It is July 5th 2026 and the heatwave is broken. I am not sure who broke it or if it can be fixed but suffice it to say that the current temp is 30C (86 F) which is a lot better than the 40 C we have been having for the last 4 or 5 days. I blame it on the fact that it is Summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
It was 23 C this morning at about 0630 EDT (1030 UTC) when I decided to do an activation before it got too hot and thunderstormy. I arrived at Little Buffalo State Park US-1376 and got set up by 1054 UTC. The humidity was about 600% which made it a bit uncomfortable but it was still within the tolerable range with the forementioned temperature. I worked 23 stations in about 37 minutes and then packed up. Yesterday the band conditions were terrible due to a CME which had hit the Earth but that had calmed down by this morning. I was working stations from Florida to Missouri to Wisconsin to Connecticut. All of these on 40 Meters. I heard the following birds: American Crows, Red-eyed Vireos, Eastern Kingbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, Chipping Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, Carolina Wrens, Chimney Swifts, Eastern Warbling Vireos, Common Grackles, Fish Crows, American Goldfinches, Northern Yellow Warblers, American Robins, Eastern Bluebirds, Northern Flickers, American Redstarts and Blue Jays. Quite a bit of happy noise! After I was done on the radio I strolled around and took a few pictures of the misty lake.
Speaking of radio, this past week was a bit hectic. I worked Monday through Thursday (inclusive) all 12 hour days. Luckily I was able to squeeze in some radio time. On July 1st (Wednesday) the 13 Colonies Special Event began. The goal is to work specific stations from all 13 of the original 13 colonies plus 3 bonus stations. You can get QSL cards from each station and also send for a certificate if you want. You only need 1 station to get a certificate though the majority of people elect to try for a “clean sweep” of all the stations. It is one of the fun activities in ham radio and the certificates and cards are well designed. I had finished my clean sweep by the evening of the 3rd (Friday).
On Saturday, July 4th, we had breakfast at the Blain Hotel and then took a drive to Ollie’s (Good Stuff Cheap). They had a 15% off sale for card members. Later on, since there was little to no radio activity with the CME roaching the ionosphere, SWMBO and I decided to take a ride up Hemlock Road and cruise with the windows down. The idea sounded nice until when we got to the road the sky opened up and a torrential thunderstorm hit. We went back home and waited for the power to go out (which it didn’t here, luckily). Other places in the area got hit hard and will be without power for the next couple of days.
Well, I am back to work tomorrow so I think I will spend the rest of the evening in a slothful state of relaxation. Namaste, kids and keep your reality real.
Hubert the gnome and Ollie the Owl watching my 6A misty lake scene with reflections of the opposite shoreMuffin resting up for more chaosCalamity being cuteGotta love the look in Foggy’s eyes
Howdy kids. This entry will be written over several days.
Today is 21 June 2026, the first day of summer (don’t argue) and the longest day of the year. SWMBO and I are up in NH for a week of relaxation and blatant tourist activity. We drove up on the 18th (Thursday) and the trip was uneventful, thankfully. The weather was cloudy and I believe we outran the rain. We took a drive up to Errol NH and then came back through Grafton Notch ME, down to Fryeburg ME, through North Conway NH and back up Crawford Notch NH. We also took a drive up Jefferson Notch Road to the highest elevation of a highway in NH. We did stop in Errol at Cote’s store and had our annual slice of pizza.
On the 19th and 20th, Friday and Saturday, we did some driving around and visited some thrift shops. It was raining off and on but not too badly, just enough to stop any yard sales. On Saturday a bear crossed the road in front of us but was too fast to get a picture of.
I did manage to do an activation yesterday: US-2653 Franconia State Park. It took me some driving around to find a good spot to work from but I managed 11 contacts in about an hour. One of my contacts was the president to the Perry County Amateur Radio Club, KB3PSN.
So far, for birds, I have heard Chipping Sparrows, Song Sparrows, American Crows, Black-capped Chickadees, Indigo Buntings, Chestnut-sided Warblers and Red-eyed Vireos. When I hear more I will post them.
Monday the 22nd, we started the day off right by seeing a moose right off the bat. We watched him for a few minutes and then SWMBO reminded me not to hog the moose as other cars were stopping. I pulled away and let others have their turn at ogling nature. We then went to an aquarium where we fed stingrays and tortoises, had our hands nibbled on by some small fishes and walked around gawking at various aquatic critters. After this, we drove into Vermont to the city of Montpelier and visited a couple cemeteries. Green Mount cemetery was really worth going to. We had been here before but wanted some pics of a couple monuments such as the one dedicated to Little Margret. Her memorial statue is something special to see. Her tragic story can be found at: Margaret Caroline “Little Margaret” Pitkin (1892-1899) – Find a Grave Memorial
Tuesday the 23rd, we set out early and went to Portland Maine to visit Portland Head Light. The rain kept the crowds away, as we had hoped. When we got back we activated White Mountain National Forest US-4512. In 12 minutes we worked 10 stations and then went for a ride to Zealand Road.
Wednesday the 24th was almost a bittersweet day. We knew we were leaving for home on Thursday and we were sorta wrapping things up. First we took a drive into VT and went to Lyndon State Forest US-5556. Over the course of half an hour we were able to work 22 stations (4 of them park-to-parks) and we even worked our club president, KB3PSN who was back home in PA. We heard Red-eyed Vireos, Black-throated Green Warblers, Ovenbirds, Alder Flycatchers, Black-capped Chickadees, Common Yellowthroats, Black-and-white Warblers, White-throated Sparrows, Chestnut-sided Warblers, American Crows, Blackburnian Warblers, Hermit Thrushes, Veerys, Northern Yellow Warblers, and Common Ravens. We were well serenaded!
Thursday we drove from 3am until around 2pm. We had a couple of traffic slowdowns and then had to deal with our bank as I found some bad charges to SWMBO’s card. We got that straightened out quickly.
We are back, now, trying to relax and getting ready for Field Day, which is tomorrow.
28 June 26 I admit I have been resting up from vacation. lol. Yesterday I went to the PCARC Field Day site and helped set up and then made a few contacts. I also spoke with a ham who wants to join the club and learn as much about radio as he can. Enthusiasm is nice. It is hard to believe that I have to return to work tomorrow. Time has flown past and I was glad to get home and sad to leave New Hampshire at the same time. Well there is always next year. Now we are looking forward to doing a camping trip or 2 and exploring some new areas.
I guess it is time to close out this entry. I hope everyone is having an enjoyable day. Namaste and keep your stick on the ice.
A sculpture in Franconia NHThe top of Jefferson NotchA remote weather station at the top of Jefferson NotchA mooseLittle MargretBlack Aggie … if you sit in her lap at midnight you will dieMe at the aquariumLighthouse keepers house and lighthouse at Portland Head Light in Portland METhe old man and the ocean?
Driving North up Franconia Notch in NH
Driving North through Crawford Notch in NH
Looking around Casco Bay in Maine from Portland Head Light
Hi there kidlets. A hot day in June made more intense by the impending threat of a thunder storm. It is currently 34C (93.2F) which is on the edge of being too warm for some people.
This morning, SWMBO and I set out at about 0630 and went to Gettysburg PA us-0027 for an activation and a ride on a tour bus. We set up on Culp’s Hill and made 29 contacts within 33 minutes; all on the 40M band. It was an enjoyable activation. When we arrived, the temperature was already 26C (79F) but we were in the shade. While we were there, we heard the following birds: American Robins, House Finches, Mourning Doves, Wood Thrushes, American Goldfinches, Chimney Swifts and Eastern Wood-Peewees. A very bird-active morning.
We then took a drive around the battlefield to charge the phone batteries before checking in at the Gettysburg Tour Center. While in the center we got a couple stickers and magnets. The bus is a double-decker with the top part open to the air. We enjoyed a nice, narrated 2 hour tour and survived being hit by low branches. We also survived the 30+ C heat. After the tour we went to a well deserved lunch in an air-conditioned building.
Now for a bit of the thoughts of me on activating. First off, I have read a lot of books and articles on activating along with watching a ot of videos. One common piece of advice I have heard/read is not to have something else to do after your activation … to make sure you have time to get your 10 contacts. For the most part, I do not set timelines but sometimes it is unavoidable like today. We had the bus ride scheduled for 10AM and had to be there prior to 0930. Not a problem the tour center is about a 5 minute ride from Culp’s Hill so there was plenty of time to activate. Another area which I have heard opinions that differ from mine is in the Solar-Terrestrial Data readings. Some people check the data religiously before going out and activating and will not go out if the K index is too high. I never check the data before I head out as it sorta gives me expectations. For more info on the Solar data you can go to: https://hamradiofornontechies.com/current-ham-radio-conditions ( a great site with very good explanations)
Hi kids. Time for another entry in my blog. I hope you are all well and enjoying the late Spring weather.
Why do I do POTA activations, you may ask? Well that is something to answer. I first started doing ham radio as a hobby back in 1998. I saw it as an extension of my electronics degree and discovered how fun it is. The club I belonged to did communications for local dirt bike and bicycle races. The races were held (and still are) in an area that has almost no cell service; also you have to learn the tricks to getting a radio signal out. There are spots where if you roll your car 2 meters (6 feet) forward or back it can go from no signal to a strong (full quieting) signal. Mostly it was on the 2 Meter band and using a repeater but there were places where it was necessary to use relays from check points back to the marshalling area where the net control was set up.
After a while I upgraded my license to where I could use the HF bands. This allowed for longer distance communication from home and from out in the field. I got hooked on using CW (morse code) and QRP (low power) both from home and operating from a remote location. I would drive out to a park or other area such as a ridge and operate portable. This gave me quite a bit of experience with various types of antennae, band conditions and weather. I was ridiculed by the then club president (now a silent key) who would mock me for having a “peanut whistle” signal which no one would hear. I ignored him as hard as I could.
Fast-forward to 2023 when I first started working POTA stations and then finally to activate parks myself. I found it a great way to get outside and to operate away from the house. I enjoy nature and love sitting in the woods and taking it all in. I also enjoy experimenting with different set ups . It is nice to receive the achievement awards available but the main satisfaction I get is from setting up in a park and making a bona fide activation (working at least 10 stations). So, basically, I do it because I can. It also allows me to keep my skills sharp and to learn new things.
Today, Sunday 7 June 2026, I did yet another activation of Big Spring State Park US-4335. The weather was great with partly cloudy skies and a temperature of 33 C (92 F) that became 30.5 C (87 F) under the trees of the park. There was a good amount of traffic in the area, on the main road and also people walking through the park. I even got some curious looks from a trio of men on those skateboard things which have only 1 wheel in the middle of the board. I stayed there and was able to work 12 stations on 40 meters in about an hour. I heard the following birds: red-eyed vireos, american redstarts, acadian flycatchers, eastern wood-pewees, carolina wrens and ovenbirds. A nice assortment and pleasant to listen to.
Well enough for now. Namaste, kidlets and go out in nature!
Ptolomey, Missie and Moxie enjoying a day at the park.
Howdy kidlets. Another entry in the blog. I was off yesterday and tonight (Monday and Tuesday) so here is an update
Yesterday I had to get a new card from my bank. The monitoring service had voided mine due to a bad transition. We drove down to the bank and got that taken care of, then we had lunch. The next thing was to put the woodchipper I just bought together. It was pretty easy. We managed it with a minimum of swearing and the instructions were actually written in English. Of course, after we were done assembling it, we had to give it a test drive. It works good and we spent about an hour reducing the pile of bamboo and tree limbs we have acquired over the years. We still have more to do, but we are going step by step. I intend to use the mulch to cover our path from the porch to the driveway.
This morning I activated Little Buffalo State Park US-1376. When I first arrived, the temp was 10.6C (51 F) and there was mist rising from Holman Lake. I got set up and on the air and stayed for about 45 minutes, working 29 stations. I had to make a temporary repair to the power cable for my radio but that didn’t take long and held through the activation. While in the park I heard the following birds: red-winged blackbirds, chipping sparrows, orchard orioles, baltimore orioles, american robins, cedar waxwings, song sparrows, american crows, red-eyed vireos, northern cardinals, swamp sparrows, tufted titmouses, eastern warbling vireos, carolina wrens, northern yellow warblers, eastern towhees, northern mockingbirds, eastern kingbirds, chimney swifts, tree swallows, american goldfinches, european starlings, hairy wood peckers, common yellowthroats, brown-headed cowbirds, black-capped chickadees, northern flickers and common grackles. Whew! What a cast of characters!
This afternoon I made a more permanent repair to my radio and to test it I activated Big Spring State Park US-4355. I am very fortunate to live close to a bunch of different parks, but Big Spring and Little Buffalo are the closest. I set up and the band conditions were not as good as they were this morning. It happens. about 35 minutes to work 11 stations. Something I found cool was that my first contact at both parks today was VE3PYJ from Toronto. Anyway, I managed to active the park. While there sitting under the trees, I heard an american redstart was singing its heart out. Like all bird songs, it was pleasant to hear but mostly their songs warn of danger or announce territory.
Well, kidlets, time to relax and enjoy the evening. Namaste and keep your stick on the ice.
The mist rising off of Holman LakeTootsie watching my 6 and enjoying the sunshineLooking West down the length of Holman LakeTootsie at Big Spring SPScout having a snooze
CQ Parks On The Air … CQ Parks On The Air .. this is KB3CVO , KB3CVO calling CQ POTA and standing by. The call rings out over the air and the pause for a response and then calling again. You know the formula. Sometimes the replies come fast and furious, sometimes there is a few minutes between hunters; it makes no real difference depending on how you see things. Sometimes, I need to take a deeper look into things rather than coasting along on auto-pilot.
And then it happens: the “sad ham” chimes in and makes a negative or derogatory remark. Sometimes these grumpy folks just tune up on your signal without saying anything. They don’t seem to identify themselves as they are well aware that they are in the wrong. No matter, they do it anyway. I know we have all had a “sad ham” admonish us for using “their frequency” or “a net frequency” or using a band for something they do not approve of.
I believe this comes from a fear or discomfort caused by anything new or different. Just as chickens will peck at a bird that is different, these “sad hams” will peck at things they are not used to. It happened (long before my time in ham radio) when SSB became popular and the “sad hams” of the day were complaining about SSB signals sounding like duck speak and crowding out the pure, clean AM signals. It happened when PSK31 and other digital modes came along; lots of noise and complaints from “sad hams”. To this day, I hear complaints about contesters using up all the bandwidth.
In any event, I do what I enjoy and do my best to keep to the regulations.
Yesterday it was rainy to start out (Wednesday May 27th) which changed my plans a bit. After I got up, we went to lunch and then I tackled the yard with my weedwacker (strimmer for those Brits who may be reading this). I cleaned the edges of the yard up and chopped down some more bamboo. I couldn’t mow as the grass was still too moist from the rain so weedwacking was the limit. I then went out to Little Buffalo State Park.
SWMBO wasn’t feeling very POTAish so I went to Little Buffalo State Park US-1376 alone. The weather had cleared and it was sunny and temperature was about 29C (85F). I parked facing away from the sun and spent the next 45 minutes working 23 contacts, 3 of which were Park-to-Parks. Conditions were a bit rough but that happens. I heard the following birds: Eastern Warbling Vireos, Red-winged Blackbirds, Cedar Waxwings, American Robins, Chipping Sparrows, Killdeers, Eastern Bluebirds, American Goldfinches and Eastern Kingbirds.
The main event for today (aside from getting groceries) was performing an all-out assault on Satan’s Putting Green with my lawnmower and an attitude. The weather was nice and sunny with a temp of 26 C (79 F) and I was able to get it done in about an hour. We then went to the local Lowes and got face shields for when I get the wood-chipper going.
I guess that is all for now. Namaste and keep your reality within the boundaries of sanity.
Moxie, Ollie and Missie watching my 6Muffin and I having some quiet time
Nature, Radio, and Me 