Another Fine March Day

March 7, 2024 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

And there it was, another fine March day! The temperature was around 11 C and the sun was trying to burn away the clouds and SWMBO and I set out to a couple activations. What a great way to spend some time on a day off! We decided to stay near home and to revisit the familiar. It has been a bit since we activated Big Springs SP and Tuscarora State Forest so that is where we went. We started at Big Springs. It was nice and quiet there. We got set up quickly. The temperature was 11 C when we got there and 14 C when we left. It did not take long to make 35 contacts on 40 meters including 6 park-to-parks. The band was co-operating and contacts were coming pretty fast. I cut it off at 35 ( my log reflects 37 as a couple were 2fers) so that we could move on. The first location in Tuscarora I wanted to try was not good for us as there was no internet. I prefer to have a means of spotting our activation, I am funny that way. lol. In any event, we went to the 3 Square Hollow Vista which overlooks Cumberland Valley PA. Nice view. Very quiet though there was some traffic. I switched between 40 and 20 meters and worked 35 contacts including a DX from Spain. SWMBO had a good time logging. We had one curious person drive past, stop, back up, check out my antenna and then drive on. He didn’t ask any questions though I would have been happy to provide answers. While driving around we got to observe 5 turkeys (turkies?) and 5 squirrels (4 of them semi-suicidal). There were also the usual assortment to tweety birds and hawks. The nice thing about these parks is getting out in nature and away from most of the trappings of civilization but now I am going to have to wash my car again. Well kidlets enuff for now. Namaste.

Zarathustra and Charade with my Buddistick at the vista

Hilltop Hamming at Kings Gap

February 22, 2024 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

I think I am blaming myself for this weather. I bought that ice fishing shelter and the weather turned warm. I have only used it twice this winter so the warm winter must be my fault. The shelter and the propane heater. Oh well. It was a beautiful day. SWMBO and I set out to do an activation and went to Kings Gap, K-4361. The usual spot where I set up was usurped by a crew that was cutting wood and grooming the forest so we went next to the mansion. It didn’t take long to set up and the activation was legit within a short period of time (18 minutes) on 40 meters. I did a little band hopping but my best results were on 40 though I did manage to work an Italian station on 20 Meters. The most surprising contact was on 15 Meters when I was contacted by a station who was mobile and about 4 kilometers (straight line) away. I worked 3 park-to-park contacts and had no encounters with lions, tigers and/or bears; it is a good idea to have an owl with me. My long suffering wyfe did a great job with the logging and we really make a good team. Anyway, I made a total of 24 QSO’s and the important thing is that we had fun. Namaste for now kidlets.

A day to remember maybe

February 18, 2024 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Hi all. It was a beautiful day so we went out. We started with breakfast at the Newville Diner in Newville PA. After a filling and hearty breakfast we set out for Gettysburg, PA. Yes, that Gettysburg. We arrived at the first hill overlooking the town from the north. There is a tower here and it is across from the Peace Light. I started to set up and broke my tripod. The tilt control snapped. We took off to the local Walmart and got a new tripod which I resolved to not leave in the car during freezing temps. We got back to the location which I thought might be relatively quiet and set up. There were more cars in and out of the parking area than I had thought there would be but we were in a spot where we were not in the way. I did observe a van pull up next to us at one point and a young man (late teens, early 20s) jump out wearing fake military cammy and carrying an airsoft “assault” style rifle. He and his group went up into the tower and I believe he took some selfies. They departed a short time later. The wind was blowing relatively strong which made it chilly. Even Tootsie didn’t want to leave the car. Between 20 and 40 meters I worked a total of 35 contacts including some park-to-parks. It was a good activation in spite of the broken tripod. SWMBO and I are making a good team on these excursions. 🙂 We left there and went to the ATV lot in Michaux State Forest on Bendersville Road above Pine Grove Furnace. The lot had some ATV riders there along with their vehicles and trailers but we found a good place to park and set up. Yup. then I started making mistakes lol. First I tuned my coax to a perfect 1:1 on 20M. Yup. Tuned the coax without it being attached to the antenna. Luckily my long suffering wyfe pointed that out to me. “Aren’t you going to connect your cable to the antenna?” she asked. After I got it attached, I got on the air. Worked 20M for a while and then went to 40M to let the locals have a chance. Finally when we were ready to go, I looked at my antenna and LO! and Behold! the tilt had loosened and the wind had blown it over. Lesson learned. Always have the antenna in your line of sight. Also, always check the tightness of any and all connections on new equipment. How do you spell duh? Amazing thing was the last few contacts came in just fine and it didn’t seem to affect the SWR. We logged a total of 26 contacts there including some park-to-parks. We got home ok and then got all equipment put away and entered the qso’s into the log. Then had a catastrophe. One of our cats does not get along at all with the 2 younger cats. we try to keep them separated. I was carrying one of the youngsters up from the basement and slipped. He is ok but I am nursing a very sore arm/wrist/ribs/knee. Oh well, as the philosopher said: “you take the good, you take the bad”. Enough for now. Namaste kidlets

The view out the windshield at Gettysburg

And the Days Go Bye

February 8, 2024 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Wow, what a day! We didn’t set out to do it, really we didn’t. We started out having breakfast at the Newville Diner in Newville PA. Our intent was to have a breakfast and, while eating, decide on a destination in Cumberland County to activate. Easy enough, we did. We set out after breakfast for Kings Gap Environmental Education Center, K-4361. This is a very pleasant hilltop with a stone mansion and a lot of areas to operate from. I like the place as it is nice and peaceful. While we were there we were approached by a man with a pair of binoculars. He was a bird-watcher heading to the mansion and was curious. He understood ham radio but was wondering about the owl on the hood of my car lol. I chatted with him for a few before going back to hamming. Between 40 and 12 meters I worked 29 contacts including Italy and Sweden on 12 meters. A good day indeed. But wait! There’s more! My long suffering wyfe said, and I quote : “Hey! Let’s go to the ATV lot!”. Well, there was nothing to do but to comply, after all, I call her SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) for a reason! We quickly packed up and trolloped (yes I use Trollop as a verb meaning to travel or move) off to the Michaux State Forest ATV lot (K-5471) on Piney Mountain. It did not take long to settle in there and get set up with some coffee. The ATV lot is located on Bendersville Road at the top of Piney Mountain above Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Between 17, 20 and 40 meters we worked 38 contacts and had a great time. Today we worked a total of 4 Park-to-Park contacts of which 1 was a double so 5 really. With the temperature around 11C it was a very comfortable day for February. We even had to open the car door as it was getting too warm in there. Well I am going to close for now. Have fun and stay radio active, kidlets. Namaste!

calling CQ and getting an answer

Milestones and Mill Stones and Little Lambs Eat Ivys

January 30, 2024January 30, 2024 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Got an interesting mail from the ARRL yesterday: a certificate and a pin saying I have been a member for 25 years. Damn, makes me feel old! lol.

Anyway, my long suffering wyfe and I made our way to K-4361 Kings Gap Environmental State Park today and had a nice activation. Every time we head out we get better and better at loading, setting up and taking down and loading back up. Today, setup took us about 18 minutes and take down took us 12 minutes. We were in no hurry, we just did it. The sky was a solid gray and the temperature was a steady 5C. It was nice and comfortable in the car, though. 2 people kept it warm along with the radio generating a bit of heat. I started out on 40M and quickly made enough to be bonafide. I worked 40 for a bit more then tried first 10 then 15 then 17 with no luck. The propagation gods were not looking on me favorably, I think. I migrated to 20M and things started looking up! Along with Spain, Italy and Alaska, I was able to get several other contacts in the log. I then returned back to 40M for a while before going QRT for the day. All in all, a good day. SWMBO and I had a nice time and spent some quality time. She got to hear DX stations which she rarely does and she is being a great help logging. This is great practice for future activations such as we may do when we are on vacation or travelling around on day trips. I have worked out of the “British Mountain Climb-Mountain Assault” mentality. I have stopped bringing an ass-load of un-necessary gear and have pared my equipment down to the essentials. I think simple actually is better. Tootsie came along to supervise and to keep away the lions and tigers and bears (oh my!). Well, until next time, kidlets. Namaste!

Still life with Buddi-stick, owl and Subaru

Because it’s there

January 25, 2024 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

It was a dismal and drizzly day so my long-suffering wyfe and I went to the ATV parking lot where Piney Mountain Ridge Road intersects with Bendersville Road in Michaux State Forest and activated K-5471, Michaux State Forest. The weather was gloomy but the rain stayed away. The temperature was around 12 C which made it comfortable outside and actually too warm in the car at times. I had to open the door. I set up the Buddistick and was on the air pretty quickly. I made 37 contacts in about an hour. I tried 15 and 17 meters with no luck but did very well on 40 meters. The parking lot is pretty large and was empty which was a good thing. There was minimal traffic on Bendersville Road and few distractions. This is the second time we have set out without a lot of gear; just the bare bones seems to be all we really need most times. It wasn’t cold enough to require the pod (my ice fishing shelter) and I didn’t need my big tool box. I had my radio, tuner, antenna, tripod, logbook, battery, thermos of coffee and my owl Zarathustra. Each time I go out I learn something new. This time I learned that less can be more. I seem to be going back to my minimalist roots. I am looking forward to warmer weather and camping season. POTA has really provided an opportunity to be more active in the outdoors.

Well that is it for now. Namaste, kidlets.

I Got Some ‘Splainin To Do

January 24, 2024 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Ok, I guess my posts have been somewhat obfuscating and confusing to folks who are not familiar with ham radio and/or with my sense of humor, so I am going to strive to clarify a few things.

First off, the owls. No owls have been harmed in the writing of this blog. I like to take one of my owl decoys along with me when I am doing an activation as a sort of mascot/decoration. I have 3 owl decoys: Zarathustra, Tootsie and Ptolomey. I also have a plastic flamingo named Charade. Yes, I am a big kid and like to have toys.

Next I should explain the whole POTA thing. Back in 2010, some hams got together and put together a program to get hams more physically active. There is a SOTA program (Summits On The AIr where folks can climb to a mountain top and operate from the top) but not everybody is cut out for that. Some hams are older or not physically able to climb mountains so HAMPARKS.ORG came into existence in September of 2010. The idea was to encourage hams to get outdoors to State and National parks and operate portable stations. It caught on and became very popular … so popular that in 2016 the ARRL (American Radio Relay League, a national organization for ham radio operators) ran a year-long event called National Parks On The Air. This sort of melded into the POTA program and it has evolved into what it is today. There are hams who go into the parks and operate (activate) and there are hams who contact these hams from home (hunt) and there are hams who do both. There are various awards and certificates for levels of achievement and thresholds crossed. The program is run by dedicated volunteers. It is also a way for hams to practice setting up in off-the-grid situations and to practice operating in less than optimum conditions. Myself, I use it as a way to keep active and maintain mental acuity and to have fun. It gets me out into the woods. 🙂

Well that is all for now. My fingers are all finged out from the typing. Namaste, kidlets until next time!

Plans are very likeable when they assemble

January 12, 2024December 31, 2024 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Yesterday was a very nice day so my long suffering wyfe and I set out to do an activation. Instead of the usual large scale British-mountain-climbing-expedition style of gear I only brought the bare essentials necessary to activate from my car. It was in the low 50’s F (about 11.5 C or those who use a proper temperature measuring system) so the pod was not necessary. We decided to operate from the car for the first time. We did it as sort of a practice for vacations when we will be activating on the road. I used my Buddistick antenna which only requires a tripod, a strip of copper mesh for the ground, a 1 gallon jug of water as a weight and some coax. We went to Kings Gap and got set up in a very short while. As I was setting the antenna up, SWMBO went for a short walk and took some pictures. Once the antenna was in place it took only a couple minutes to hook up the radio and tuner and find an empty frequency. I showed my wonderful wyfe how to log and we were POTAing. It didn’t take long to make the required 10 for a bonafide activation and soon I decided to switch bands. All in all I worked 40 and 15 Meters, had 2 Park-to-Park contacts, 1 hunting and 1 hunting me, and made a total of 32 contacts in about 1/2 hours. At one point I had to open the car door as it got too hot in there. We had some curious looks from people driving by and there was some work going on by a couple of men driving skid loaders with smelly exhausts, but all in all it was a great day and a very successful experiment. Namaste for now, kidlets.

More from the POD Person

January 2, 2024December 31, 2024 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Heidi-Ho. Wow, 2 posts in 2 days. Something must be off with me lol. I decided to activate today because the weather was nice …. for January. The temperature was pretty mild …. about 3.5 C (38.5 F) which was not too bad. First, I tried to go to Fowlers Hollow State Park but there was oo much road construction activity there so I decided to go to Big Springs State Park, my old stand by. We got the POD set up and I got on the air. I put the heater in it and soon was in shirtsleeves. BTW, all my owls declined to make the excursion with us so I was mascot-less. Oh well, their loss. We were set up and on the air in a short period of time and I quickly made the required amount of contacts for a legit activation. After about half an hour I switched from 40 meters to 15 meters and made more contacts. I even made 2 DX contacts: Spain and Canary Islands. Overall I made a total of 45 contacts in an hour on 3 bands, 40, 15 and 20 meters using an inverted Vee antenna and my Yaesu ft891 at 75 Watts. My Wyfe is urging me to try operating from the car as a practice for our vacation so I am going to look at streamlining my setup. I will fill in more about that in later posts. Well the log has been uploaded, I am warm and am drinking coffee and my motional sports cat is by my side so I think it is time to sit back and relax. As always, namaste kidlets until we meet again.

Always have a plan “B”

November 16, 2023 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Once again it was too nice a day to waste, so my long-suffering wyfe, my owl Ptolomy and myself set out to activate a park. I wanted to get a new one (at least new to me) in the books so we headed to Col Denning State Park, just on the other side of Doubling Gap. It was a great day and it did not take long to get set up. Unfortunately I was unable to make more than one contact. He was mobile and in RI so I know it wasn’t my antenna. Just circumstances, I guess. There was no internet signal where I was so I could not see if I was spotted, nor could I spot myself. Oh well, such is life and ham radio. On to Plan B. Not too far away is the Three Square Hollow Vista in Tuscarora State Forest, which I have worked from before. It is a beautiful location with an outstanding view and good radio visibility. Within about 1/2 hour of operating I was able to make 29 contacts including some park-to-parks which helped ease the sting of an unsuccessful attempt. All in all it was a great day. I even got to chat a bit with some of the other hams out there. I am attaching the obligatory photos of Ptolomey, my radio and the view from both locations. Namaste, kidlets, until next time.

Nature, Radio, and Me

A POTA Explorer's Diary

Mobile Operations